We're Doing Our Part
Environmental responsibility requires us all to work together in making our communities,
and our planet a better place to live. The City of Glendale (CA) is committed to doing
our part to promote sustainable living through eco-friendly programs and projects. We
also are committed to the betterment of our community through sustainability outreach
and education to our residents.
Greener Glendale Plan
In March 2012, the City completed its Greener Glendale Plan, made up of the following components:
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In preparation for the planning process,
the "2010 Report" was completed to highlight the City's existing conservation programs,
on which the Greener Glendale Plan would build.
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On Nov 1, 2011, City Council adopted the
Greener Glendale Plan for Municipal Operations.
This document addresses conservation efforts within internal government operations.
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On March 27, 2012, City Council adopted the Greener
Glendale Plan for Community Activities. This document addresses how the City of Glendale can help the community
improve livability and conservation.
Energy & Water
Glendale Water & Power is committed to providing low cost water and electricity in
an environmentally sustainable manner by:
- Increasing local investments in water conservation and energy efficiency
- Developing renewable energy resources
- Tracking green house gas emissions
GWP offers numerous energy and water saving incentives and rebates.
Click here to find out more.
Learn more about
GWP's environmental efforts
Green Buildings
Green Building code
On Jan 1, 2011, the new CAL-Green Building Code went into effect for all California cities.
On June 7, 2011, Glendale went a step further by
adopting additional green building standards.
LEED
We take LEED certified buildings seriously here in Glendale. What's the big deal
about LEED you ask? Simple. LEED certification means that instead of just building
up to code, we go above and beyond to build facilities which provide healthier work
and living conditions. We did just that with two of our Glendale Water and Power
facilities.
GWP provides incentives to the community to build to LEED standards.
Read More
Affordable Housing
For four years, the City Housing Department
has developed numerous affordable housing projects exceeding energy efficiency requirements by at
least 15%.
Reducing Waste
The City adopted
a Zero Waste Plan
on Dec 6, 2011.
In addition, we offer the following:
Learn more about the
City of Glendale's recycling efforts.
Clean Construction
We require demolition and/or construction projects to
divert at least 50% of waste (by recycling, salvage or deconstruction) from
going to landfills. Contractors are expected to implement best management practices
(BMPs) to prevent sediment and other materials from flowing into storm drains. These
BMPs include dust control measures, sandbags, concrete washout areas and street
sweeping.
Urban Nature and Local Food
Glendale offers 4 community
gardens and numerous parks as well
as 3 Farmers’ Markets. The City
also provides free trees and assistance with planting through the
GWP Tree Power
Program.
Community Gardens:
- Verdugo
- Palmer
- Monterey East
- Monterey West
Farmers' Markets:
- Downtown Glendale
- Americana at Brand
- Montrose Shopping Park
Air Quality
Regional air quality is regulated by the South Coast Air Quality Management
District. The City of Glendale reports air quality to SCAQMD and complies with their
regulations. Glendale has received an "A" rating from the American Lung Association.
Breath of Fresh Air Program
Glendale's Breath of Fresh Air smoking
ordiance is an example of Glendale's commitment to clean air and healthy residents
alike! To limit the impact of secondhand tobacco smoke on non-smokers, the City
has adopted regulations to provide smoke-free air in public places and areas where
smokers and nonsmokers might interact.
Transportation
Regional Connectivity
Ten regional routes, provided by Los Angeles Metro, operate along major Glendale corridors,
linking Glendale to Downtown Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, and San Gabriel Valley.
The Beeline
The City offers the
affordable
Beeline Transit System
which provides roughly 3 million passenger trips per year on buses using compressed
natural gas (CNG) engines. Real time bus service information is available
online.
We also encourage our employees to participate in Ridesharing Programs to reduce traffic
and improve air quality.
Dial-a-Ride
Glendale's Dial-a-Ride program offers
affordable
transportation to seniors and the disabled of any age.
Downtown Mobility Plan
Glendale is the second most densely populated City in all of California. With a
daytime population of over 700,000 residents, workers, and students, the ability
to easily and quickly move about the city is a priority for our staff.
The
Downtown Mobility Study addresses how to best accommodate expected population
growth in downtown Glendale, which is essential to achieving Glendale's vision of
a vibrant multi-use downtown, without significantly increasing auto congestion or
impacting Glendale's quality of life.
Bicycle Transportation
In the past three years, Glendale has added five miles of bicycle lanes and 4.7 miles of shared
roadway markings. The
Bicycle Transportation Plan
is currently being updated.
Glendale Safe & Healthy Streets Plan
The Glendale Safe & Healthy Streets Plan is a collaboration of the Los Angeles
County Bicycle Coalition and the City of Glendale. Our goal is to make Glendale
a better, safer place to walk or ride a bike.
A Collaboration of the L.A. County Bicycle Coalition and
the City of Glendale
Every Little Bit Helps
Seemingly small changes can go a long way towards improving our environment and general
quality of life. Below are just a few examples of day-to-day changes we have made
in our city.