While the world celebrates Earth Day this coming Wednesday, two cities in the South Bay are going green every day.
In the city of National City there are sustainability efforts and energy, water and climate initiatives that have contributed to the city’s environmentally friendly strategies.
As for sustainability, National City has created a green business program in partnership with the National City
Chamber of Commerce. This program receives funding through San Diego Gas & Electric to give businesses that are chamber members free energy audits.
Under this program, energy saving experts go to these businesses and inspect their light bulbs, analyze their water use and suggest tips on how their businesses can be more sustainable.
“The program helps businesses conserve and provides ideas on how they can save money,” said Brad Raulston, National City’s executive director of planning and development.
Raulston said throughout the years the city has implemented a climate action plan where newer buildings are constructed to be more energy efficient by adopting green business codes such as preparing the roofs of buildings for solar panels.
Raulston said a lot of the older buildings in National City aren’t energy efficient. He said City Hall and the National City Library were turned into energy efficient buildings.
“I know our energy usage is considerably down as a whole,” he said.
Another program the city of National City has implemented is PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) program. The program receives grant money from SDG&E for home and business owners to finance energy and water efficiency programs on their property tax bill. And just recently started an environmental compliance division that makes sure the city is following the state’s environmental standards.
“The main reason we did that (create the new division) is to ensure that National City complies with all of the programming requirements and regulations established by the environmental regulatory agencies,” said Steve
Manganiello, a city engineer who spearheads the division.
Manganiello said the division’s focus is on storm water pollution prevention, air quality and hazardous materials.
Chula Vista has several environmental friendly programs.
In an effort to reduce food waste the city of Chula Vista has composting courses that teach residents how to compost food.
As part of Chula Vista’s recycling effort they are helping residents get the most of their old products by turning them into something new. For example, Manuel Medrano, recycling specialist for the city of Chula Vista, said instead of throwing away old furniture, keep it and turn it into something else.
“We want to encourage residents to not just throw something away, but to give it more life,” Medrano said.
