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• Transportation - Innovative Strategies offered in LA

  2011-06-23 14:21:57 UTC

  The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. and the Environmental Defense Fund teamed up to produce "Vision Los Angeles," a 41-page plan with 15 strategies intended to improve the region's transportation network and quality of life. The report looked at ways to build upon the existing plans for the region by addressing needs such as the "last mile" problem and better use of technology to connect with transit.
  
  See http://www.visionlosangeles.org/
  
  Parfrey Jonathan
  Executive Director
  Green LA Coalition
  United States
  www.greenlacoalition.org

• Re: Water Conservation in Urban Areas

  2011-04-09 11:47:53 UTC

  Los Angeles imports 80% of its water -- so conservation is crucial.
  
  In 2010, the City of Los Angeles used 20% less water than in 2008. Certainly, the economic downturn played a role in reducing water use, as did media coverage on California drought, (only lifted last month.) There were however four policy approaches that I think helped reduce water consumption.
  
  1. In 2008, an ordinance was passed restricting outdoor water to two days per week, and then only allowed in the morning and evening. (The City Council recently expanded watering to three days per week.) Citations were issued to those violating the watering ordinances -- however the citations were not punitive but meant to alter behavior.
  2. In 2009, tiered-rates were introduced which penalized over-watering and rewarded conservation.
  3. In 2009, ordinances were passed which mandated standards of performance for plumbing fixtures in new construction.
  4. LA Department of Water and Power's incentive programs. These currently include: 1) compensation for converting turf to drought-resistant plants; 2) rebates for irrigation controllers; 3) rates for washers and toilets.
  
  Last, in the hope of reducing the volume of imported water, it may be helpful to note that Los Angeles is expanding its programs for stormwater capture and recycled water.
  
  Parfrey Jonathan
  United States

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