12 Moments that Celebrate Sustainability in Glendale

The City of Glendale celebrates years of progress with the opening of Glendale’s Office of Sustainability. Here’s a quick snapshot of the top 12 moments in sustainability in our city:

1. The Beeline - The City of Glendale has been operating its own circulator bus system since December 1984. The Beeline, operating with 34 heavy duty transit buses (27, 40-foot buses and seven, 35-foot buses) on nine routes, provides in-town mobility for ~3,000,000 passenger trips per year on buses using compressed natural gas (CNG) engines. The Beeline connects Glendale residents with LA Metro and Metrolink regional services. Beeline also provides Dial A’ Ride services for Glendale seniors and those with disabilities.
   
   
2. Renewable Energy Initiative - Glendale Water and Power (GWP) was among the first municipal utilities to tap into methane emissions from the City’s landfill gas, using the gases as a renewable fuel source for electricity. The system resulted in significant renewable power generation and kept dangerous greenhouse gases from being released into the atmosphere.
   
   
3. Energy Efficiency and Solar Programs - Since 1999, GWP has been a leader in the development and implementation of energy efficiency programs for its customers. These programs have consistently ranked among the best in the California in terms of annual demand and energy savings produced. In addition, GWP is a leader in promoting solar programs and incentives for its residents.
   
   
4. Renewable Portfolio Standard – In 2004 Glendale Water and Power adopted a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). The RPS defined the City’s power generation mix and spurred the shift to renewable energy resources. The RPS has been repeatedly updated to comply with changes in California law.
   
   
5. Green Fleet - In 2010, the City of Glendale began developing a Green Fleet of alternatively fueled vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and partial zero emissions vehicle gasoline engines. By 2020, the Green Fleet includes 20 EVs and 30 hybrids.
   
   
6. Green Building Standard - In June of 2011 the City of Glendale adopted a Green Building Standard which exceeded the CalGreen code. In early 2017, the City adopted the revised California Green Building Code with its requirements for construction and demolition debris recycling. Now the City is implementing the 2019 California Green Building Code with first-of-a-kind solar energy requirements.
   
   
7. Zero Waste Plan - In 2011, the City of Glendale took the pioneering steps to create a Zero Waste Plan. It set stretch goals of a 75 percent waste diversion by the year 2020, and 90 percent diversion by 2030. Glendale provides a comprehensive recycling program for its citizens, from mandatory commercial and organic recycling and multi-family recycling to school programs and community education to residential and business incentives.
   
   
8. Greener Glendale Plan - In 2012, and in an effort to expand and build on existing sustainability policies, programs, and initiatives, and to align with the frameworks of international efforts, the City of Glendale completed the Greener Glendale Plan for municipal operations and community-wide sustainability.
   
   
9. Bicycle Transportation Plan - Between 2014 and 2016, the Public Works Department implemented Phase I and Phase II of Glendale’s Bicycle Transportation Plan. Since then, Glendale has added five miles of bicycle lanes and 4.7 miles of shared roadway markings.
   
   
10. Energy Storage – In 2017, Glendale Water and Power installed a new battery energy storage system at its Grandview Substation. The new two-megawatt battery energy storage system helps GWP provide more reliability power for its customers and continues the utility’s modernization efforts and use of distributed resources.
    
    
11. Mayors National Climate Action Agenda - In 2017, Glendale City Council resolved to support the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda—an initiative founded in 2014 by mayors of Los Angeles, Houston, and Philadelphia--which meets “the spirit and the goals of the Paris Accord.” Signatories committed to join other cities nationwide in updating their climate action plans and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.
    
    
12. Compressed Natural Gas Trucks – In 2018, Glendale’s Public Works Department retired the last of its diesel-fueled refuse trucks. All have been replaced with clean-burning, compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks. CNG trucks produce 95% fewer tailpipe emissions and 20 - 30% fewer emissions overall than their petroleum counterparts.