A Green Conference

The Local Government Commission (LGC) and its conference partners work hard each year to reduce the amount of waste generated and energy consumed to produce the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference (NPSG). For the February 2012 conference in San Diego, we did even more to reduce waste, incorporate “re-use” into our planning and production practices, and rely more on electronic distribution of information and materials relating to the event.

The LGC worked closely with the San Diego Sheraton Hotel & Marina to conserve resources used during our event, to ensure on-site recycling was available, and that in most cases, only reusable utensils, napkins and tablecloths were used during the event. We also worked with the hotel to ensure that wherever possible condiments and food were served in bulk, and that locally grown food was incorporated into the conference menu.

The Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina has many “green” policies and programs in place that help them achieve their goals of resource conservation, energy efficiency, and waste reduction. In 2010, the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina was certified at the Gold Level by Green Seal, making it the most sustainable convention hotel in San Diego as well as the largest hotel to be certified at the Gold level. The Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina is owned by Host Hotels & Resorts® (Host) and managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts (Starwood.) More details on their impressive programs:

The LGC secured Old Town Trolley & SEAL Tours of San Diego to provide trolleys for all of the tours of model projects that needed transportation. All the trolleys in the fleet used by this local company run on clean-burning propane.

Addressing the Carbon Footprint of the 2012 New Partners Conference

The carbon footprint for conferences is largely related to travel to and from the conference, as well as lodging for participants, meeting facilities, planning, and event activities. 1,350 people attended the 2012 New Partners conference. The total estimated carbon footprint for this event is 1,159 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

The following is a breakdown of contributions to the carbon footprint for this event:

  • 90.5% related to air travel for participants to and from the event
  • 6.7% related to event space and lodging for conference participants and staff
  • 2.4% related to ground travel and tours
  • 0.4% related to planning and follow-up

To address the carbon footprint related to the event, participants were offered the opportunity to help offset the carbon impacts related to travel and participation in the conference by adding a nominal $12 to their conference registration fee. Those individuals that made this voluntary contribution are recognized as Climate Champions on the conference web site and had a sticker on their name badge during the conference that acknowledged their participation in this important effort. Offsets were purchased from 3 Degrees (more information below). By participating in this opportunity, meeting attendees support innovative projects that fund the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and result in other sustainability benefits. Offsets for this year’s event come from the Garcia River Conservation-Based Forest Management Project, the first large non-profit-owned working forest in California. The project has multiple sustainable and economic development benefits for the community, the environment and the family farmers, and will result in a reduction of more than 77,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually. The carbon reductions are validated and verified through the Climate Action Reserve.

Our goal for offsetting the impacts of this year’s event was to achieve a 30 percent participation rate. In an effort to demonstrate our commitment to this effort and inspire others to participate, the LGC MATCHED every $12 offset fee purchased by others attending the event!

A total of 267 attendees voluntarily offset 23 percent of the event’s carbon impacts; effectively displacing the emissions generated by all the event space, the conference tours, lodging, ground travel, and a portion of the air travel. The LGC matched these offsets to displace almost 47 percent of the total carbon emissions.

Putting it in Perspective

It can be difficult to conceptualize what "carbon footprint" calculations mean but here are a few references to help us all put it in perspective:

The estimated CO2 equivalent impacts related to this event are equivalent† to:

  • 257 average global citizens — annual CO2e emissions
  • 222 average U.S. cars — annual emissions
  • 187 average US households — indirect CO2e emissions related to electricity consumption
  • 55 average US residents — total annual CO2e emissions

The purchase of 534 metric tons of offsets is the equivalent of:

  • The average amount of energy used by 46 homes for one year
  • Avoiding almost 1,372,354 miles driven in an average car

†These calculations are based on factors from the U.S. EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, and Global Warming Mitigation Factoids from A Consumers' Guide to Retail Carbon Offset Providers, Clean Air-Cool Planet. The term "global citizen" represents the estimated average CO2 emissions of each and every person around the world.

HDR Inc.HDR Inc. is an employee-owned architectural, engineering and consulting firm with more than 7,500 professionals in 165 locations worldwide. HDR offers clients the best possible economic, social and environmental value by delivering integrated sustainable solutions. The Sustainable Solutions Program supports HDR's collective effort to deliver high-quality sustainable solutions by catalyzing the skills, knowledge, and ability of professional staff. HDR's Sustainable Solutions Program includes an internal Corporate Sustainability Initiative, a Climate Change Initiative, and services in the following areas of expertise: buildings, mobility, water, energy, waste, community, site development, and economic and environmental modeling. Learn more at http://www.hdrgreen.com.

Our 2012 Conference Climate Champions

The following individuals and organizations made contributions to reduce the carbon footprint of our event and support greenhouse gas reduction projects.

  • Russ Adams, Alliance for Metropolitan Stability
  • Robert Agostinis, Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues
  • Nalani  Aki, Capacity Builders LLC
  • Diane Alecusan, Ohio Department of Development
  • Shani Alford, Local Government Commission
  • Kimberly Allen, Wells Fargo Regional Foundation
  • D. Elizabeth Almonte, Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities
  • William Anderson, AECOM
  • Kate Ange, Renaissance Planning Group
  • Carla Angeli Paladino, City of Grants Pass
  • Anna Anglin, Salt Lake City Corporation
  • Jeanne Anthony, AARP
  • Carline Au, University of California, San Diego
  • Rangineh Azimzadeh, Ubuntu Green
  • Nancy  Baer, Contra Costa Health Services
  • Nahketah Bagby, City of Covington
  • Candis Beaudry, City of Billings
  • Wildaliz Bermudez, City of Hartford
  • Marc Bierdzinski, City of Buellton
  • Doug Bisson, HDR, Inc.
  • Michael Black, City of Grants Pass
  • Patricia Bluman, CityPlace Planning
  • Shelley Bolser, City of Seattle
  • Courtland Boozé, City of Richmond
  • Kim Braud, Ascension Parish Government
  • Michael Brennan, City of Oakdale
  • Bev Brody, University of Hawaii - Get Fit Kauai
  • Sherry A. Brooks, SEDC
  • Garnett Brown, City of Atlanta
  • Ronit Bryant, City of Mountain View
  • Rachel Burdon, Kaiser Permanente - Northwest
  • Tom Butt, City of Richmond
  • Tim Bynum, Kauai County Council
  • Shannon Cairns, Arup
  • Erik Calloway, Freedman Tung + Sasaki
  • Georgia Case, City Fabrick
  • Arly Cassidy, City of Emeryville
  • Teri Casso, Ascension Parish Government
  • Dickie  Chang, Kauai County Council
  • Donald Chase, Marstel-Day, LLC.
  • Lisa Chen, Public Health Law & Policy
  • Linda Cloud, Local Government Commission
  • Stuart Cohen, TransForm
  • Mitchell Conner, ArchiLOGIX
  • Judy Corbett, Local Government Commission
  • Cathy Costakis , Montana State University
  • Amy Cotter, Metropolitan Area Planning Council
  • Paul Crabtree, City of Ojai
  • Gary Cuneen, Seven Generations Ahead
  • Seth Cutter, Caltrans
  • Radcliffe Dacanay, City of Portland-Bureau of Planning and Sustainability
  • Carla Danley, METRO Transportation Policy Alternatives Committee
  • Dave Davis, Initiatives: Idea-Design-Strategy
  • Anthony Delucia, Kingsport Tomorrow
  • Danielle DeRuiter-Williams, HEAL Cities Campaign - CCPHA
  • Steve  Devencenzi, San Luis Obispo Council of Governments
  • Sophia DeWitt Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries
  • Richard Dial, HDR, Inc.
  • Harry Dodson, Dodson Associates, Ltd.
  • Colleen Doyle, American Cancer Society, Inc.
  • Teri Duarte, WALKSacramento
  • Gilda Duran, City of Lawrence - Community Development Department
  • Mali Dyck, Nevada City Sustainability Team
  • David Early, The Planning Center | DC&E
  • Miya Edmonson, Caltrans
  • Jared Eigerman, Reuben & Junius, LLP
  • David Engel, The San Diego Foundation
  • Romeo Estrella, Caltrans
  • Dolan Eversole, University of Hawaii Sea Grant College
  • Jen Ferguson, City of Wauwatosa
  • Mighty Fine, American Public Health Association
  • Catkin Flowers, St. Philips Academy
  • Christopher Forinash, Institute for Sustainable Communities
  • Steven Foster, City of Ojai
  • Philip Frankl, Quadriga Landscape Architecture & Planning Inc.
  • Daniel Frattin, Reuben & Junius, LLP
  • Eric Fredericks, Caltrans
  • Michael Freeman, Center for Community Progress
  • Steven Frisch, Sierra Business Council
  • Debora Fudge, Town of Windsor
  • Adam Fukushima, Caltrans
  • David Fukuzawa, The Kresge Foundation
  • Chris Galanty, Booz Allen Hamilton
  • John  Gedney, Caltrans
  • Richard Gertson, City of Mesquite
  • John Given, CIM Group
  • Angelica Godinez, Ironworkers Local Union 229
  • Vinita Goyal, City of Oakland
  • Kim Graziani, Center for Community Progress
  • Carolina Gregor, San Diego Association of Governments
  • Gretchen Greiner-Lott, Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers
  • Erin Grushon, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
  • Scott Haggerty, Bay Area Air Quality Management District
  • Michael Hancox, Skeo Solutions
  • Dawn Hanson, Portland State University
  • Erika Hargesheimer, The City of Calgary
  • Melissa Harper-Barton, Local Government Commission
  • Richard Hartman, Town of Longboat Key
  • Dave Harzoff, DH Consulting
  • Chris Hathaway, Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership
  • Erin Hauge, Local Government Commission
  • Debra Hempel, HDR, Inc.
  • Adria Henderson, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
  • Monica Hernandez, Sacramento Area Council of Governments
  • Eric Hesse, TriMet
  • Colin Heyne, Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition
  • Tom Hinman, City of Redmond
  • Mark Hinshaw , LMN Architects
  • Dan Hodge, HDR, Inc.
  • David J. Hogenkamp, Empire State Future
  • Rebecca Hooks, City of Rock Hill
  • Faith Ingulsrud, Vermont Dept. of Economic, Housing & Community Development
  • Rex Jackman, Caltrans
  • Jamie Jamieson, The Village Builders, LLC
  • Michael Janz, Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues
  • Garrett Jensen, Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience
  • Oliver Joseph, Ascension Parish Government
  • Margaret Kaplan, Minnesota Center for Neighborhood Organizing
  • Gayle Killam, River Network
  • Tim Knapp, City of Wilsonville
  • Jane Lafleur, Friends of Midcoast Maine
  • Nick Lagura, City of Citrus Heights
  • Carol Landsman, Landsman Transportation Planning
  • Julia Lave Johnston, UC Davis Extension
  • Allison Leach, Advocacy Associates
  • Bill Lennertz, National Charrette Institute
  • Robert Lenz, Town of Jackson
  • Anthony Leonard, Local Government Commission
  • Michael Licciardello, Local Government Commission
  • Jacob Lieb, Southern California Association of Governments
  • Kelly Lier, Caltrans
  • Jim Lively, Michigan Land Use Institute
  • Chris Loar, Ascension Parish Government
  • Steve Lockwood, Idaho Smart Growth
  • Tara Lodewyk, City of Red Deer
  • Angie Lucas, Town of High River
  • Robert Lucero, Greater Albuquerque Housing Partnership
  • Marlee Luckman, City of Ojai
  • Janis Lysen, Transit for Livable Communities
  • Nancy M Lytle, AICP SEDC
  • Jessica Mark, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  • Tommy Martinez, Ascension Parish Government
  • Charles Mason, Jr., Ubuntu Green
  • Nancy Mathison, Arup
  • Martha Matsuoka, Occidental College
  • Marlon Maus, UC Berkeley
  • John Maximuk , Livable Communities Coalition
  • Barbara McCann, National Complete Streets Coalition
  • Michael McCormick, California Governor's Office of Planning and Research
  • Anne McEnany, International Community Foundation
  • Kevin McKeown, City of Santa Monica
  • Kate Meis, Local Government Commission
  • Josh Meyer, Local Government Commission
  • John Michaels, City of Medford
  • Seth Miller, Partners for Sustainability
  • Melanie Mintz, City of El Cerrito
  • John Mirk, City of Ojai
  • Cheryl  Moder, Community Health Improvement Partners
  • Nancy  Mooney, Western Education Association
  • Rachel Moore, Community Member, Ashfield, MA
  • Colleen Morgan, SRA International
  • Peter Morimoto, County of Kauai
  • Marilee Mortenson, Caltrans
  • Jim Nakagawa, City of Imperial Beach
  • Nadine Nakamura, County of Kauai
  • Jose Naranjo, Ironworkers Local Union 229
  • Arthur Chris, Nelson Metropolitan Research Center
  • Laurence Nicklin, City of Ojai
  • Kathy Nolan, City of Ojai
  • Daniel  O'Connell, American Farmland Trust
  • Gloria Ohland, Move LA
  • Robert Orr, Robert Orr & Associates LLC
  • David B. Panagore, City of Hartford
  • Terry Parker, Caltrans
  • Elizabeth Patterson, City of Benicia
  • Pat Paul, City of Oakdale
  • Sam Pedroza, City of Claremont
  • Stefan  Pellegrini, Opticos Design, Inc.
  • Sara Pesek, Environmental Finance Center
  • Joel Pfundt, City of Redmond
  • Rosa Pina, Groundwork Lawrence
  • Laura Podolsky, Local Government Commission
  • Jamila Porter, Safe States Alliance
  • Roger Post, City of San Diego
  • Tracey Rattray, Contra Costa Health Services
  • Afrah Rayes, City of Calgary
  • Kathy Renfrow, Monument Community Partnership
  • Dan Reuter, Atlanta Regional Commission
  • Etta Reyes, HDR, Inc.
  • Bruce Reznik, Planning and Conservation League
  • Lianna Rios, San Diego Gas & Electric
  • Christine Robinson, Stillwaters Consultation
  • Andy Rotman-Zaid, Brownfield Renewal
  • Daniel Rowe, King County Metro Transit
  • Victor Rubin, PolicyLink
  • David Rusk, Metropolitan Area Research Corporation
  • Joel Russell, Glynwood Center
  • David Rutter, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
  • Barbara Ruys, Plumtree Productions
  • Sam Salmon, Town of Windsor
  • Glenn Sato, County of Kauai
  • Cheryl  Sbarra, Massachusetts Association of Health Boards
  • Tom Schauer, City of Grants Pass
  • Joseph Schilling, Metropolitan Institute Virginia Tech
  • James Schwab, American Planning Association
  • Claire Seguin, Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation
  • Samuel            Seskin, CH2M HILL
  • Rhonda Sherman, City of Citrus Heights
  • Brent Sinclair, City of Modesto
  • Aatisha Singh, Local Government Commission
  • David Skellie, Pennsylvania Sea Grant
  • Mary Skelton Roberts, The Barr Foundation
  • Lucy Sloman, CIty of Issaquah
  • Bob Smith, Tall Tree Labs
  • Julie Smith, City of McKinney
  • Kristopher Smith, The Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities
  • Jon Snyder, City of Spokane
  • Beatriz Solis, The California Endowment
  • Connie Spellman, Omaha by Design
  • Janet Spilman, Sonoma County Transportation Authority
  • Scott Starr, City of Wilsonville
  • Marny Stein, St. Charles Parish
  • Susan Stein, USDA Forest Service
  • John Steward, Georgia State University
  • Alexandra Stillman, City of Arcata
  • Andrew Stone, Voices for Oregon Innovation & Sustainability
  • Patrick Stoner, Local Government Commission
  • Elizabeth Studebaker, Midtown Business Association
  • David Taylor, HDR, Inc.
  • Barb Thoman, Transit for Livable Communities
  • Caerllion Thomas, Mid-Region Council of Governments
  • Meredith Thomas, San Francisco Parks Alliance
  • Jessica Tovar, Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma
  • Adam   Trimble, City of Longview
  • Steven Turner, City of Palo Alto
  • Rigoberto Vargas, Ventura County Public Health
  • Miguel Vazquez, Riverside County Public Health Department
  • Martha S Vela Acosta, The Kresge Foundation
  • Brett Walker, City of Cheyenne
  • Mike Walsh, MetroQuest
  • Elizabeth Ware, Town of Winchester
  • Michele Warren, Local Government Commission
  • Don Weden, I+I+I=IV
  • Brandi Whetstone, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
  • Ryan Wiggins, Transportation for America
  • Stan Williams, Clarksville Metropolitan Planning Organization
  • Jenny Woods, Local Government Commission
  • Molly Wright, Local Government Commission
  • Philip Wu, Kaiser Permanente
  • Carol Wyant, Form-Based Codes Institute
  • JoAnn Yukimura, County of Kauai
  • Odin Zackman, DIG IN
  • Wig Zamore, Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership
  • Tammy Zborel, National League of Cities
  • Paul Zykofsky, Local Government Commission