The Sunnyvale Sun

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

Environmental
group praises
the city council

The Sunnyvale Cool Cities Team, a group of Sunnyvale residents and friends organizing to help Sunnyvale reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, would like to acknowledge our city government's substantial accomplishments in building a sustainable future. Our Sunnyvale city staff and council have been acting to reduce global warming pollution before it became as popular an issue as it is today:

For years Sunnyvale has used reclaimed landfill gas to generate electricity, saving money and reducing pollution.

Sunnyvale converted its garbage truck fleet to compressed natural gas.

Sunnyvale continues to replace gas-powered fleet vehicles with hybrids.

Sunnyvale also implemented an extensive and effective curbside recycling program.

Sunnyvale has replaced traffic signal bulbs with LEDs and installed computer monitors with flat screens, again saving energy and reducing pollution.

Solar electric panels are up and running on the senior center, with another photovoltaic system being installed on a firehouse.

Sunnyvale is currently replacing four roofs on the community center with cool roofs and replacing HVAC systems in both city hall and the library with more energy-efficient models.

Actions taken by the city council and implemented by staff have already reduced the carbon footprint of city government to 17 percent below the 1990 level, while saving taxpayers money.

Sunnyvale continues to build on this foundation. We have broken ground on the downtown development, which is already registered with the U.S. Green Building Council. The council recently voted unanimously to ratify the Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement, committing the city to significantly reducing its carbon dioxide emissions. The bike and pedestrian bridges, recently unanimously approved by council, will provide a safe means to access the industrial park without driving.

We applaud our city's progress and look forward to many further steps to ensure that our children inherit a safe and healthy planet.

Sunnyvale Cool Cities Team

Sunnyvale