Sustainability in Temecula


Temecula's Sustainability Plan
Temecula's Sustainability Plan was adopted by the City Council on June 22, 2010. This plan is a comprehensive program that includes eight areas of focus: Energy, Water Resources, Air Resources, Green Buildings, Open Space, Waste Management, Transportation, and Community Outreach. The plan involves strategies to reduce waste, conserve water and energy, encourage green buildings, increase open space, promote better air quality, and expand alternative transportation opportunities.  

Click here to view a copy of the City of Temecula Sustainability Plan

What is Sustainability?

Sustainability is related to the overall quality of life in a community. Sustainability does not have one single definition; however the general concept of sustainability involves the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.


Sustainability focuses on three components: the natural environment or natural resources of a community, the social connectedness among people in the community, including the education, skills and health of the population, and lastly the economic and financial prosperity of the community. When these three components come together sustainable solutions result. The benefits of sustainability are three-fold and positively impact the environment, the economy and society.


"The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired in value."

- Theodore Roosevelt

 


The City's Current Sustainable Practices

The City of Temecula is already implementing a number of green practices in its efforts toward a more sustainable future. 

Energy
-Municipal Facilities Energy Retrofit Program (under development)
-Residential Energy Efficiency Improvement Program (under development)
-Installed a 55kW photovoltaic system to power 90 percent of the Civic Center parking structure electricity needs

Green Buildings
-Civic Center  - Designed to achevie USGBC LEED Silver Certification
-All new construction of City facilities to be designed to acheive USGBC LEED Certification

Water Resources
-Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (Chapter 17.32)
-Water Quality Management

Air Resources
-Installed 28 waterless urinals at City facilities
-Replaced approximately 83,700 square feet of turf with drought tolerant landscaping
-Reclaimed water used at approximately 142 acres of parks, medians, and parkways
-Member of the Clean Cities Coalition
-Green House Gas Emissions Inventory and Climate Action Plan (under development)

Waste Management
Ø-Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events
-Household Recycling
-Green waste Recycling
-Implemented a paperless RFQ/RFP requisition process
Acheives greater than 50 percent diversion of construction and demolition waste
-Acheived a waste reduction of 4.8 pounds per person in 2008, in advance of the State mandate of 7.0 pounds per person by 2010

Transportation
-Planning for a Transit Center along Jefferson Avenue
-Participated in the I-15 Interregional Partnership - Smart Growth Concept Working Group
Ø-Adding ØPark and Ride Lots Øopportunities within the community

Open Space
-Prepared the Bikeways and Multi-Trails Master Plan Øand Bikeways and Trails Map
-Acquired 113 acres to protect the escarpment area
-Pursuing the annexation of approximately 4,500 acres of the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve
-Planted approximately 1,000 street trees Citywide as part of the Trees for Temecula program

 
"The future is literally in our hands to mold as we like. But we cannot wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow is now."

- Eleanor Roosevelt