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Sustainability Actions and Accomplishments Archives

2015

City of Palo Alto Utilities launched PaloAltoGreen Gas, a gas offset program that pairs Green-e® Climate certified carbon offsets with customers’ natural gas use. PaloAltoGreen Gas is the first Green-e Climate certified gas offset program offered by a municipal-level utility, and the first-ever Green-e Climate certified gas offset program offered to residential customers by a municipal utility.
City and community GHG emissions declined an estimated 36% below 1990 levels.
City natural gas emissions dropped 37% since 2014.
Per capita water consumption dropped nearly 33% since 2005.
Achieved a Renewable Portfolio Standard of 26%.
Reduced the potable water use in parks and open space areas by 35% (based on 2013 base year).
Established a “default to green” policy for City procurement.
Established an “EV first” policy for City fleet.

The City launched its Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) initiative.
The City hosted an interactive “ideas expo” to invite ideas from the community to help advance the City’s sustainability goals.
City and community GHG emissions declined an estimated 35% below 1990 levels.
Palo Alto received the Ready, Set, Charge! Bay Area Electric Vehicle Readiness Award.

Palo Alto became the first city in America to have a 100 percent carbon-neutral electricity supply with the adoption of the Carbon Neutral Electricity Plan.
City and Community combined GHG emissions declined an estimated 29% below 2005 levels.
Community GHG emissions declined an estimated 41% below 1990 levels.
Total water consumption declined 9% from 2007 to 2013.

The City reduced municipal GHG emissions an estimated 53% below 2005 levels, far exceeding City Council’s goal to reduce these emissions by 20% by 2012.
City and Community combined GHG emissions declined an estimated 22% below 2005 levels, exceeding the Council goal of 15% reduction below 2005 levels by 2020.
Community GHG emissions declined an estimated 28% below 1990 levels.
The Department of Energy and EPA awarded the City of Palo Alto the Green Power Leadership Club for demonstrating exemplary environmental stewardship.

The City reduced municipal emissions 12% below the 2005 baseline.
City Council set a target of reducing municipal emissions by 20% below the 2005 baseline by 2012.
City Council approved an updated Ten-Year Electric Energy Efficiency Plan for 2011-2020, with new annual energy efficiency goals that were more than double those approved in the 2007 plan.
Palo Alto’s Green Purchasing Program received the Green California Summit and Exposition Award for Leadership in Green Purchasing.

Electric supply from renewable resources reached 19%, up from 17% in 2008.
City Council approved an electric efficiency financing program for small businesses.
The City started a commercial compostable collection program.
The City launched an employee bike share program.

City Council approved an Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Policy (Adopted as part of the 2007 Climate Action Plan)

Palo Alto adopted the Climate Protection Plan - one of the first municipal climate action plans in the U.S. – which set a short-term goal of reducing municipal GHGs 5% from 2005 levels by 2009 and a long-term goal of reducing City and Community GHGs 15% from 2005 levels by 2020.
City Council approved a Ten-Year Energy Efficiency (EE) Plan in April 2007

The City launched the PaloAltoGreen program, which became the nation's top-ranked voluntary renewable energy program until it was suspended in 2013.