In honor of Earth Month, the City of Carlsbad has been sharing tips on how to live more sustainably – from reducing food waste to curbing energy use and being water wise. Working together is the best way we can keep our environment healthy and protect Carlsbad’s beautiful natural surroundings, one of the key goals in the City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan.
This week, we're highlighting some of the ways the City of Carlsbad is leading the way in environmental sustainability. It’s not just something we practice during Earth Month, it’s something we focus on all year long. These strategies not only protect the environment, but also increase efficiency and save taxpayer money.
Below are highlights of key programs the city has been implementing for several years to support a healthier environment:
- Renewable energy: Installed solar panels across various city facilities, including 216 recently added to the Police & Fire Headquarters. Combined, those panels generate over 644,922 kWh of clean energy annually – equivalent to the yearly electricity usage of about 90 homes. The city also launched a new streamlined permitting system to help residents get approved for solar panels in as little as a day.
- Water conservation: Saved 1.1 billion gallons of drinking water annually by using recycled water for irrigation at city parks, HOAs and golf courses, among other places. Unlike drinking water that is often imported from out of state, recycled water is produced locally.
- Sustainable transportation:
- Replaced 96 city vehicles with hybrid/electric vehicles, including eight new hybrid/electric vehicles in the past year. Those eight alone will save 950 gallons of fuel annually, resulting in a decrease of 8.5 tons of CO2 emissions.
- Coordinated 54 traffic signals along many of the city's busiest streets to optimize traffic flow during morning and evening commute hours. Less time waiting at red lights means reduced idling, leading to lower emissions and improved air quality.
- Installed 29 EV charging stations at city facilities, including 15 that are open to the public. The public charging stations are used nearly 1,000 times per month and help encourage Carlsbad residents to make the switch to electric vehicles.
- Waste reduction: Brought all city buildings into compliance with the state’s organic waste recycling laws and educated our employees on what types of waste go where.
The city is committed to continuing these efforts and exploring new opportunities to protect our environment and build a more sustainable future for Carlsbad.
More information
Environmental Sustainability webpage
