|
The City of Berkeley and UC Berkeley’s commitment to sustainability City of Berkeley’s green policies
UC Berkeley’s sustainable initiatives and programs
sus.tain’a.bil’i.ty n. the ability to meet the needs of the present while living within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems and without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
“In Berkeley, we already have over 200 green businesses – from waste recyclers to solar power companies to restaurants. Now we’re moving aggressively to roll out the ‘green carpet’ and put sustainable businesses at the center of our economic development efforts.” —Mayor Tom Bates Over the years, Berkeley has been known for taking a leadership role on issues of sustainability and environmental restoration and protection. Through special initiatives, public policies, and community programs, the City of Berkeley and the UC campus are getting greener all the time. The City of Berkeley and UCB now have an unprecedented opportunity to build a showcase development in the heart of the city that demonstrates all the “green” pieces coming together in a beautiful vision of sustainability for the 21st Century. Some of the City of Berkeley’s green policies, programs and reports Berkeley's General Plan fifth major goal is to create a sustainable Berkeley Goal #5 States: “The Berkeley General Plan is committed to the challenge of creating and maintaining a truly sustainable community—locally, regionally, and globally. A sustainable community is one that meets its existing needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The General Plan also recognizes that sustainability must be an organizing principle for all Berkeley actions and programs and that we must always consider the interdependent goals of protecting the environment, promoting social equity, and achieving a healthy economy.” Link to plan Berkeley General Plan Policy EM-2 Sustainable Berkeley: Maintain Berkeley’s position as a leader in the creation and implementation of sustainable community practices and programs by taking the following actions:
Berkeley General Plan Policy LU-17 Downtown Development Standards E. Convene a Planning Commission task force to evaluate the need for and appropriateness of a new downtown hotel and conference center /ecological demonstration/mixed use project, taking into consideration:
Berkeley General Plan Policy LU-20 Downtown Pedestrian and Transit Orientation
Berkeley General Plan Policy EM-27 Creeks and Watershed Management Whenever feasible, daylight creeks by removing culverts, underground pipes, and obstructions to fish andanimal migrations. (Also see Disaster Preparedness and Safety Policy S-28 and Land Use Policy LU-20.)
Berkeley’s Green Building Initiative To encourage the adoption of techniques that reduce the environmental impact of buildings, Berkeley instituted The Green Building Initiative. This collaborative effort by the City's Offices of Economic Development and Energy promotes environmentally sensitive design and construction. The Green Building Initiative seeks to remove barriers to green construction and to promote green building for all new construction projects in Berkeley. See this page for more information. Berkeley’s Sustainable Development Initiative Berkeley’s Sustainable Development Initiative, adopted over ten years ago, is a project of the City of Berkeley’s Office of Energy and Sustainable Development (ESD). ESD seeks to “provide leadership and practical solutions to help businesses, residents and City agencies create a healthy physical environment, a more livable community, and a prosperous local economy, now and for the future.” One of the stated goals of this initiative is to “integrate environmental protection with economic growth.” For more information, see this page. City of Berkeley’s “Strawberry Creek Downtown, A Data Collection Study to Daylight Strawberry Creek,” June 1999 In 1998, the Berkeley City Council funded a data collection study for daylighting Strawberry Creek within a nine-block area of downtown, which was prepared by Wolfe Mason Associates landscape architects. The study presented five possible scenarios for daylighting the creek and collected data to serve as a baseline for further discussion. The report outlined potential implications associated with daylighting within the defined study area, identified the range of daylighting possibilities, and provided a framework within which an evaluation of the implications could be subsequently addressed. In a series of public meetings that followed the Wolfe Mason study, the Center Street scenario was selected as the preferred location for downtown daylighting. Copies of the study are available at each branch of the Berkeley Public Library. A summary of the report is on the City’s website. Link to report “Where critical thinking, imagination, perspective and hard work are needed on behalf of the public good, we at Cal have a tradition of responding with vigor. As a respected member of our local community and a world-renowned research institution, we can both improve our local environment and be a role model for other institutions and communities.” —2005 Campus Sustainability Assessment The University of California at Berkeley is taking strides to advance the cause of sustainability. Through special initiatives, classes and student groups, the UC system is getting greener all the time. The City of Berkeley and UCB now have an unprecedented opportunity to build a showcase development in the heart of the city that demonstrates all the “green” pieces coming together in a beautiful vision of sustainability for the 21st Century. Some of UC Berkeley’s sustainable policies and programs Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Sustainability UC Berkeley maintains a Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Sustainability, and strives towards sustainability in the areas of energy, water usage, green buildings, transportation, hazardous and municipal solid waste management and procurement. UCB plans to conduct a sustainability audit or assessment of its operations with oversight by the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee. Courses in different aspects of sustainability are offered in several departments.
2005 Campus Sustainability Assessment The Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Sustainability prepared Cal’s first ever Sustainability Report. Using nine systems (Energy; Water; Built Environment; Transportation; Purchasing & Waste; Land Use; Food; Health & Wellbeing; Academics & Culture) comprised of 32 indicators of sustainability, the report describes Cal’s performance, recognizes recent accomplishments, and identifies potential opportunities. UC Berkeley Extension new Sustainable Design Programs Beginning spring semester 2006, the Interior Design & Interior Architecture Certificate Program and The Landscape Architecture Certificate program will each offer a professional sequence of courses in response to the need for knowing what is happening NOW in these influential Design professions. Courses will be offered in: Principles of Sustainble Design, Sustainability in the Built Environment, Ecologicall Based Site Planning and Design, Ecological Cities, Organic Architecture, Ecologically Responsible Design and Use of Plants, and Certification and Evaluation of Sustainable Design – LEED. Link to page The Berkeley Environmental Alumni Network The Berkeley Environmental Alumni Network (BEAN) has been established to mobilize the environmentally minded alumni of the University of California at Berkeley in order to influence academic and administrative processes through philanthropy, public review, and community involvement. The group functions primarily as a network of environmental professionals who support campus greening and sustainability. BEAN offers quarterly events, guest-speakers, happy hours, and other social or networking engagements. Strawberry Creek Environmental Quality Program The Surface Water Quality Program’s Environmental Protection Team has developed a program that assists the campus in surface water pollution prevention and in the restoration of Strawberry Creek on the central campus. Program activities include providing compliance assistance to campus on watershed management and storm water regulations, sampling and analyzing storm water, assessing sources of storm water pollutants on campus, stenciling storm drains and developing educational guidelines and programs. Since 1987, EH&S has coordinated the Strawberry Creek Environmental Quality Committee, the Chancellor's Advisory Committee on the restoration of Strawberry Creek. Link to page
|
