In 1998 Blue & Gold Fleet formally developed and adopted Greenwaves, an initiative that prescribed a number of goals and actions; intended to increase the environmental sustainability of operations.

For more information contact:
Kent McGrath
Director of Engineering and Purchasing, Blue & Gold Fleet
(415) 705-5592

Sustainable Facilities

Joe Serna-Cal/EPA Headquarters Building

The 25-story, 950,000 square foot office building was completed in 2001, the city's largest commercial high-rise real estate development project. The building is recognized nationally as one of the most energy efficient and sustainable commercial office developments in the country. The building was certified LEED-EB Platinum from the U.S. Green Building Council, making it the first high rise certified above Gold in any category and the greenest high rise in the nation.

This building incorporates state-of-the-art green building practices in:

Janitorial

• Maintenance
  
• Tenant improvements
  
• Equipment replacements that improve air quality and reduce energy consumption
  

Being certified LEED Platinum is a significant accomplishment. As such, building operators, Thomas Properties Group, educates its peers to encourage green building development and retrofit.

For more information contact:
Craig D. Sheehy
Director of Property Management
(916) 551-1449

West Valley Branch Library

This City of San Jose public library is LEED certified based on energy and water efficiency, site conservation, recycled materials, indoor environment quality and innovative architectural design. It even has a "green" artwork made of found objects and certified wood and using passive water from dew and storm runoff from roofs

This is the first library in the nation to receive LEED certification. The West Valley Branch uses 30 percent less energy and 50 percent less irrigation than standard buildings of the same size. It has diverted over 96 percent of construction waste from landfills and was built within budget. The new library experienced a 33 percent increase in use of library materials the first year.

This project demonstrates the environmental and social benefits of "sustainable building" and the city is now doing more sustainable buildings.

For more information contact:
Domenic Onorato
Department of PublicWorks, Architectural Engineering
(408) 794-1407

DPR Construction, Inc. DPR/ABD Office Building

This privately owned, 53,000 square foot building, built by DPR Construction Company, and received Silver LEED certification for recycled materials, waste reduction, energy and water conservation and air quality. The company is using this building to demonstrate how green buildings can contribute to environmental quality and employee health while being cost-effective over a short term and requiring little additional up-front investment.

For more information contact:
Sandra Graham
DPR Marketing
(916) 568-3434

Children's Environmental Education

Arcade Creek Project

As part of the core science curriculum at Mira Loma High School for the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, over 200 juniors and seniors per year participate in a comprehensive field study of Arcade Creek. This urban aquatic ecosystem provides riparian habitat and flood mitigation and serves as a working lab for the ongoing study involving Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Environmental Systems. Student-led teams work in six locations along the creek. Since inception, nearly 1,000 students have participated in the project - in addition to classroom study, all students contribute 40 hours each year to Arcade Creek.

Mira Loma is the only high school in Sacramento participating in the IB Diploma Program (one of approximately 60 schools statewide), a two-year comprehensive and rigorous pre-university curriculum intended for economically disadvantaged students. Successful IB candidates are typically granted advanced placement in the finest universities and colleges in the U.S. The Arcade Creek Project is tangible and a benefit to the community - and offers exceptional service learning. The curriculum definitely exceeds the California academic content standards according to the CDE.

For more information contact:
Cindy Suchanek
IB Environmental Systems Instructor
(916) 971-7415 Ext. 6656

Yosemite National Institutes

Yosemite National Institutes (YNI) is a private, non-profit organization that has provided environmental education programs to K-12 students since 1971. Each year over 25,000 students and teachers participate in residential programs conducted at campuses in Yosemite National Park and the Marin Headlands.

Curriculum is based on the California Science Framework. The program entails a week-long outdoor education camping trip teaching "Sense of Place", "Interconnections", and "Stewardship". The program has been evaluated in both 1998 and 2001 with grad students from Stanford University's School of Education. They established a Diversity Initiative in 1998, with a scholarship program. Their scholarships target underrepresented schools in California totaling $525,000 in 2003.

For more information contact:
Maureen Keefe
VP of Development and Marketing
Yosemite National Institute
(415) 332-5776

Environmental Expo

In its 18th year, the Environmental Expo brings 10,000 attendees to California State University, San Bernardino for family education about the environment. The event is free, through support of agencies and businesses. The event involves art/craft contests, school gardens, an all-species parade, and a water festival. All activities are correlated to the California Science Standards.

This event is more than a one-day saturation of environmental education; it's a culminating event for a year's worth of work in the local schools. The Expo is tied into teacher workshops, an environmental resource center, and student contests to spur interest and learning. Strong environmental justice focus and outreach, partnering with their "Gear-Up" Program for middle and high school students - to get them to a campus and higher learning.

For more information contact:
Darleen K. Stoner
Professor and Director
Environmental EXPO
(909) 880-5640

O'Neill Sea Odyssey

O'Neill Sea Odyssey was founded in 1996 by wetsuit innovator and surfer Jack O'Neill. A 'living" classroom was created on board Jack's 65-foot catamaran sailing the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Since its inception, approximately 27,000 students have participated (3500 per year) in this one-day program involving the catamaran and in O'Neill's shore-side education center. There is no cost, but students must design and perform a project to benefit their community. The curriculum is tied to both the California State Science and Math Standards and National Science Content Standards.

Here's a businessman wanting to give back to his community and to children. Non-profit who has also created a recycled products business - Stylin' Recyclin'. This program is booked for 04/05 already; they can't meet demand. Very appealing to kids...and adults!

For more information contact:
Dan Haifley
Executive Director
O'Neill Sea Odyssey
(831) 465-9390

Technology Innovation

Advanced Travel Center Electrification Shore Power IdleAire Technologies

This Advanced Travel Center Electrification shorepower technology, which was installed at six pilot sites in California, provides an alternative, less polluting source of energy for supplying heat, AC and other amenities to long-haul diesel trucks for rest and overnight stops. Using a $10 window adapter and $1.25 /hr charge, it delivers energy, internet and phone services at a cost that is less than the price of gas used, and allowing trucks to turn off their engines.

The California Energy Commission says that they are the most cost-effective approach to reducing gasoline use and associated environmental impacts in California. In one year, truckers in California used the system over 600,000 hours, reducing emissions by over 6,000 tons, creating 110 jobs and conserving over half million gallons of diesel.

For more information contact:
John Dory
Manager, Communications
(865) 342-3659

Watershed & Ecosystem Restoration

Sustainable Conservation's Partners in Restoration

Sustainable Conservation is a non-profit organization which developed the Partners in Restoration Program to "broker" watershed-based agreements among agencies to provide one-stop permitting for a pre-approved set of best practices. Over six years, it implemented 45 projects covering 2.5 million acres and reducing soil erosion by over 65,000 tons.

The first and possibly only entity in California that has successfully brokered one-stop permitting agreements for stewardship and restoration practices, the organization is reducing disincentives to conservation by landowners. As a result of their success, agencies and environmental groups are seeking their help and/or training to for other conservation projects, and has developed Memorandum's of Understanding with several agencies promoting this approach. This organization demonstrated perseverance and leadership in addressing a need identified as critical by a wide range of stakeholders, including landowners, environmentalists, industry counties, and restorationists.

For more information contact:
Ashley Boren
Executive Director
(415) 977-0380

Environmental & Economic Partnerships

C.R.E.W. (Concerned Resource Environmental Workers)

C.R.E.W. is a non-profit youth leadership and employment organization founded in 1991 targeting low-income youth, ages 14 to 21. This program addresses four areas:

• Recreation
  
• Youth employment
  
• Habitat restoration
  
• Fire protection
  

160 kids are involved annually - with 22 supervisors and numerous projects involving unique partnerships including the California Coastal Conservancy, Ojai Valley land Conservancy; Senior Citizens Non-Profit Support Center, Local Fire Safe Council; California Native Plant Society, CalTrans, Fire Service and the City of Ojai's local law enforcement, probation and social services.

C.R.E.W. is a very compelling and inspiring program reaching out to at-risk kids and involving multiple levels of partnerships. 60 percent of the kids stay two to three years, gaining valuable work skills and a stewardship ethic while giving kids a real job doing pertinent work!

For more information contact:
Walter McCall
Chief Executive Director
(805) 646-5085

California Sustainable Winegrowing Practices

The California Sustainable Winegrowing Practices was initiated in 2001 by the Wine Institute and California Association of Winegrape Growers in order to promote sustainable strategies in the California winegrowing community. Since 2002, 75 workshops have been conducted and over 2,500 workbooks distributed. More than 800 entities are participating, representing over 200,000 acres of winegrapes (38% of California's acreage) and 141 million cases of wine (57% of annual case production). More than 600 participants self-assess.

For more information contact:
Jeff Dlott
Acting Executive Director
(831) 477-7797

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Voluntary Compliance Program

This voluntary TMDL program assists farmers in meeting water quality regulations. The program serves approximately 469,088 net farmable acres in Imperial Valley and approximately 93 percent of those acres are enrolled in the program. The program was initiated in 1998 with a massive grassroots educational program for the farmers.

This is a remarkable partnership involving the Imperial County Farm Bureau and farmers who are voluntarily monitoring their fields and learning how to control sediment loads/silt reduction - and uploading their individual farm water quality management plans online with access by the RWQCB. TMDL was termed "exemplary" by Celeste Cantu (Executive Director, SWRCB) with a big effect on the Salton Sea, positively.

For more information contact:
Allison Allen
TMDL Program Director, Imperial County Farm Bureau
(760) 352-3831

Bryan Condy - Scotts Valley High School Recycling

Bryan Condy, as a sophomore at the time, started Scotts Valley High School Recycling to reduce waste on campus and generate money for the school. His goals have been accomplished by developing partnerships with his teachers, students, principals, city officials, a local, non-profit environmental organization, and local businesses. To date, the school has kept more than 42,000 bottles out of landfill and has risen over $1,420 for the school.

Mr. Condy had the initiative, enthusiasm, and commitment to start a recycling program at his school and involved a wide range of stakeholders in the process and has inspired many to do the same.

For more information contact:
Bryan Condy
Founder
(831) 461-1120

Land Use Sierra Business Council - 10th Anniversary

Sierra Business Council is a non-profit operation, created in 1994, to help communities and businesses in the Sierra Nevada plan for social, environmental and financial health. It provides information, tools and services that promote land use planning, economic development and conservation activities for maintaining or improving the quality of life and the environment.

This is the only Sierra-wide business organization focused on achieving natural, social and financial well-being. Its success is demonstrated by a 20 percent increase in dues-paying membership from 500 to 600. Its fee-based services to cities and communities assist with planning activities, on-the-ground easement and conservation acquisitions.

This organization has shown vision and leadership in demonstrating the linkages among environmental, social and financial well-being, and providing planning resources to one of California's fastest-growing communities/areas.

For more information contact:
Paquita Bath
Sierra Business Council
(530) 582-4800 Ext. 312