When it comes to the environment, 'green' is clean
Friendly policies widely adopted
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

HATS OFF TO RECYCLING- Students at Heschel West Day School construct hats made out of recycled material as part of an ongoing effort at the private Agoura school to respect the environment.

Green policies- guidelines geared toward reducing pollution and protecting the environment- have become increasingly popular with schools, governments and other groups.

Rudy Gonzales, public affairs representative for Southern California Edison, discussed the green initiatives undertaken by his utility during a recent meeting of the Agoura Hills City Council.

According to Gonzales, 17 percent of energy provided by SCE is generated by renewable sources. Edison hopes to reach 20 percent by 2010 and 33 percent by 2020.

Renewable energy sources include wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and "small hydro." Biomass is recycled material extracted from trash for fuel and other uses, and geothermal energy is heat from within the earth that can generate electricity. "Small hydro" is defined as a small scale hydroelectric power plant for individual communities or industrial plants and is seen as having a relatively low environmental impact.

The California Solar Initiative aims to create 3,000 megawatts of new, solar-produced electricity by 2017. The move will lower the cost of solar electrical systems for consumers.

Gonzales said energy conservation measures implemented over the past five years saved SCE customers enough energy to power 500,000 homes for a year and reduced greenhouse gasses by more than 2 million tons.

To help combat global warming, the agency is challening customers to join in its "Change a Light, Change the World" campaign. If every household in California switched out five incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescent light bulbs, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions would be equivalent to taking more than 400,000 cars off the road.

The city of Agoura Hills also is trying to do its part. When city hall was built in 2001, energy efficiency was part of the architectural plan, Assistant City Manager Nathan Hamburger said.

Hamburger said the city's heating and air conditioning systems are currently being tested for efficiency. Also, the Agoura Hills Recreation Center will be fitted with energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs.

City Manager Greg Ramirez said employees have been recycling paper for several years and do not use Styrofoam products.

Ramirez said a subcommittee has been formed to look at other green policies the city might implement.

School policies

Superintendent Donald Zimring said Las Virgenes schools began a concerted energy-savings push about five years ago.

Facing a budget shortfall, the school district implemented plans to reduce gas, water and electricity consumption. From December 2002 through July 2003 the district saved a reported $200,000.

"The cities and schools may have opportunities to do something together in recycling," said School Board Member Moorman, who encourages green policites for all campuses and administration buildings. "It is a shared interest."