Lafayette is committed to developing and implementing environmental policies and programs that will enable the City and its residents to meet their present needs without sacrificing the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Carl Anduri, Councilmember Lafayette, California

Lafayette Accomplishments:

General Plan Update

• The City Council last updated Lafayette’s General Plan in 2002. At that time it included minor elements on energy conservation, reducing vehicle emissions and solid wastes and conserving water. http://www.ci.lafayette.ca.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B2E805533-3CEC-4E46-9FA5-785DF678A2EE%7D&DE=%7B3630714D-6616-4E04-ABA9-3930DADA8206%7D

Climate Action Planning

• Formed the Environmental Strategy Task Force and adopted a mission statement to guide the city towards sustainability. http://www.ci.lafayette.ca.us/vertical/sites/%7BC1C49B72-3D02-4C7B-82A7-92186ABD75FF%7D/uploads/%7B803CC742-8694-4CB4-8DCA-5FF81567A5F8%7D.PDF
• School District saves money through Green Summit efforts and parent volunteer groups. http://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue0424/Lafayette-School-District-Saves-Money-with-Green-Initiatives.html
• A growing number of businesses are choosing to go green and adopt best practices. The initiative is supported by the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce through its Green Committee. http://lafayettechamber.org/community/lafayette-green/
• Community wide Greenhouse Gas Inventory completed. http://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue0127/pdf/Lamorinda-Gets-Its-Carbon-Footprint.pdf
• Signed the US Mayors climate Protection Agreement. http://www.usmayors.org/climateprotection/agreement.htm
• Joined ICLEI‘s Cities for Climate Protection Campaign. http://www.icleiusa.org/

Energy

• In 2012, Lafayette ranked 19^th in California for solar installations per person in cities with 10,000-50,000 people. http://www.environmentcalifornia.org/sites/environment/files/reports/California%27s%20Solar%20Cities%202012%20-%20Final.pdf
• Through ABAG program updated boiler and lighting in Community Center. http://www.ci.lafayette.ca.us/vertical/sites/%7BC1C49B72-3D02-4C7B-82A7-92186ABD75FF%7D/uploads/%7BF58B8C89-835B-456B-882A-C09D2CCD373C%7D.PDF
• Installed 42 kW photovoltaic system on Library and Learning Center. http://www.ci.lafayette.ca.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={6CB53804-4F3E-43AE-9F0F-33D73B85A2CC}&DE={BC7BBB81-3B89-4F32-8BB6-3B7AB231D89B}
• Environmental Task Force  is committed to developing and implementing environmental policies and programs http://www.ci.lafayette.ca.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={94F53E4E-B922-4667-8472-8D1C0EA9DBC6}&DE={5D754291-42F8-4B6B-826D-29462A48DDB4}
• Began a Green Building Ordinance to improve sustainable building practices. http://www.ci.lafayette.ca.us/vertical/sites/%7BC1C49B72-3D02-4C7B-82A7-92186ABD75FF%7D/uploads/%7BB1C9EFA9-7F4C-46E1-BD7D-CC97B714631C%7D.PDF

Waste Reduction

• There are currently no projects in waste reduction

Water Conservation

• Library and Learning Center has water efficient landscaping and irrigation systems. http://www.ci.lafayette.ca.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={6CB53804-4F3E-43AE-9F0F-33D73B85A2CC}&DE={BC7BBB81-3B89-4F32-8BB6-3B7AB231D89B}

Transportation

• City adopted a Bikeways Master Plan to preserve quality of life in Lafayette. http://www.ci.lafayette.ca.us/vertical/sites/%7BC1C49B72-3D02-4C7B-82A7-92186ABD75FF%7D/uploads/%7BB7115D62-0B3E-4CD5-B507-AA092FDBD37E%7D.PDF

Open Space

• Preservation of Open Space provides carbon sequestering. Lafayette has two designated Priority Conservation Areas. http://www.bayareavision.org/pca/contra-costa/
• Creating a designated bike park to stop the destruction of sensitive creek and hillside habitats. Currently under environmental review. http://www.lafayettebikepark.com/Bike_Park.html
• Established an Open Space Committee to address funding sources for acquisition of public lands. http://www.ci.lafayette.ca.us/vertical/sites/%7BC1C49B72-3D02-4C7B-82A7-92186ABD75FF%7D/uploads/%7BB9084C14-58DB-439E-915A-373798DFF26A%7D.PDF
• A Lafayette Open Space Plan was approved. Worked with the City of Walnut Creek & Muir Heritage Land Trust to purchase acreage on Acalanes Ridge. http://www.ci.lafayette.ca.us/vertical/sites/%7BC1C49B72-3D02-4C7B-82A7-92186ABD75FF%7D/uploads/%7BE1667B57-610B-4C9D-9EEE-89A853C3346C%7D.PDF

Community Support

• Lafayette Chamber of Commerce created a Green Committee to promote sustainable and green businesses in Lafayette. http://lafayettechamber.org/community/lafayette-green/
• Residents work closely thru Sustainable Lafayette, a local non-profit organization http://sustainablelafayette.org/
• Local residents participate in The Lafayette (California) Open Space Group which works to identify potential land available for acquisition and to create awareness of the need to protect undeveloped land. http://www.lafayetteopenspace.org/

City of Lafayette Website