Redlands Gets Awarded for Energy-efficient Practices

The Institute for Local Government and the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative honored the City of Redlands with two Spotlight Awards for the city’s efforts to save energy and adopt policies and programs that promote sustainability. The awards were presented Sept. 20 during the 2013 League of California Cities Annual Conference in Sacramento. The city’s achievements were recognized as a part of its participation in the sustainability recognition program, the Beacon Award: Local Leadership toward Solving Climate Change. Redlands received the Silver Spotlight Award for Agency Electricity Savings (5 percent savings, 2004–2012) and the Silver Spotlight Award for Sustainability Best Practice Activities. The city was recognized for achieving 5 percent electricity savings in agency facilities and operations since 2004, saving more than 1.1 million kWh, enough electricity to power approximately 175 average California homes for a year. Redlands was also awarded for completing at least one best practice activity in each of the Institute’s ten sustainability best practice areas. “We appreciate the recognition from the institute for Local Government,” said City Council Member Jon Harrison, a longtime advocate for sustainability goals and policies. “As residents and business owners in Redlands, we are all very proud of the steady progress we are making towards being a more sustainable community.” The Institute for Local Government is the nonprofit research and education affiliate of the League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties. The Institute’s mission is to promote good government at the local level with practical, impartial and easy-to-use resources for California communities. The Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC) is an alliance to help cities and counties reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save energy. SEEC is a collaboration between three statewide nonprofit organizations, including the Institute for Local Government and California’s four Investor Owned Utilities. The Beacon Award program is funded by California utility customers and administered by Southern California Gas Company, San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Southern California Edison, under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.