Director's Report
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CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO COMMISSION ON THE ENVIRONMENT DIRECTOR’S REPORT September 27, 2016 ------------------------------- This report covers San Francisco Department of the Environment updates for the period of July 1 – August 31, 2016 Residential Programs - SCHOOL EDUCATION: Gave 11 assemblies/presentations to 985 students at six schools and youth programs across the city. - TOXICS REDUCTION: Approved, with conditions, the Safe Drug Disposal Product Stewardship Plan submitted by MED-Project. Plan approval is a major milestone in implementation of the 2015 Ordinance, which requires installation and operation of a minimum of 55 free medicine collection locations for San Francisco residents to safely dispose of their unwanted and expired medicines. The approved Plan commits to installation of all 55 collection locations by the end of 2017. - ENERGY: The San Francisco BayREN Multifamily program is on track to meet our units-served goal (1,250 units) for 2017. Moreover, projects in other neighboring counties BayREN programs been canceled, resulting in an 800-unit deficit for the regional BayREN (administered by the Association of Bay Area Governments). San Francisco BayREN will help the region make-up that deficit by bringing in an additional 400 units by December 2016. - ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: Working with the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development to provide Healthy Homes trainings and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) services at two HOPE SF sites, Hunters View (HV) and Alice Griffith. Provided IPM workshop with Pestec at Hunters View in July. - OUTREACH – ZERO WASTE: The RealFoodiesCompost.com campaign launched in Mid-July and runs through Mid-October. The campaign targets those who are new the city and least aware of the green bin program, with a goal of raising awareness and ultimately keeping organics out of the landfill. Campaign tactics include: Online Banners, Online Video, Online Influencer Marketing, Postcard Mailing, and Bus Shelters Ads. Success will be evaluated based on the campaign's ability to raise awareness among those within the target audience who were exposed to the message. Results of the campaign's success will come in November. So far, anecdotes and initial data analysis point toward success. - OUTREACH – ENERGY: Hosted two BayREN Home Upgrade workshops, both at capacity, with a combined total of over 60 attendees (West Portal Clubhouse – July 30th & Ingleside Library – August 27th). To promote this program and these events, the Department worked with the SFE/SFPL Greenstacks collaboration, engaged the community using NextDoor and collaborated with individual neighborhood associations, as well as umbrella organizations - each comprising over twenty neighborhood groups. To promote the next workshop at the Ortega Branch Library on September 28th, 500 mailers were sent to homeowners within a half a mile radius of the workshop in addition to engaging the community through NextDoor and Page 1 associations. These 500 homeowners were identified based on psychographic, demographic and building characteristics using our department’s new audience targeting platform. - ZERO WASTE: Conducted waste assessments at 7 apartment buildings and gave 2 presentations to seniors on zero waste. (898 units) Worked with Outreach to launch outreach campaign and website realfoodiescompost.com including mailing three serial postcards urging increased composting to 20,000 new residents in 121 apartment buildings. Additional online, social media and display advertising to roll-out over next 3 months. - OUTREACH: SF Environment staff and volunteers participated in total of 15 outreach events- including Giant Sweeps, Sunday Streets, Street Fairs and Back-to-School celebrations. Commercial Programs - OUTREACH – TRANSPORTATION: Mailed over 4,000 warning letters to businesses that are subject to the San Francisco Commuter Benefits Ordinance to determine their level of compliance. The Ordinance, passed in 2009, applies to businesses with locations in the city and 20 or more employees nationwide. With the passage of the Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program in 2014, businesses with more than 50 employees in the city report to the regional program instead of the San Francisco Ordinance. - TOXICS REDUCTION/GREEN BUSINESS PROGRAM: There are currently 229 Recognized Green Businesses and 104 businesses in process. The Green Business program has been working very closely with San Francisco International Airport (SFO) airport to recruit retail and restaurants at SFO to the program. - TOXICS REDUCTION: There are now 37 recognized Healthy Nail Salons in San Francisco and 12 in process, out of a total of approximately 250 nail salons in San Francisco. We have a goal of 50 recognized Healthy Nail Salons by the end of June 2017. To date, approximately 450 nail salon technicians have been trained in SF. - TOXICS REDUCTION: 45 furniture retailers in San Francisco have now pledged to sell furniture that is free of chemical flame retardants, out of approximately 170 furniture retailers in the City. We are working toward a goal of 50 pledged retailers. There are 144 furniture retailers in California who have pledged to sell furniture that is free of chemical flame retardants. - ENERGY: The San Francisco Energy Watch Co-pay Microloan pilot program (funded through the SF Carbon Fund) has officially (soft) launched. SFEW and Outreach staff are collaborating on implementing a customer engagement plan to make offers to and enroll customers. - TOXICS REDUCTION: Ongoing outreach to small and medium businesses throughout San Francisco about hazardous waste disposal and Very Small Quantity Generator Program. So far Environment Now has interacted with 144 business owners. - ENERGY: The San Francisco BayREN program secured an additional $40,000 from the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) to lead development of the regional ABAG BayREN Commercial Business Plan. The Plan is due for review/approval by the California Public Utilities Commission in January. If approved, it will enable BayREN to access funding to expand Page 2 its energy work to the commercial sector. The Energy Team presented the plan to neighboring energy efficiency programs (i.e. East Bay Energy Watch), and was met with wide support. - ZERO WASTE: Got 43 commercial accounts composting service compliant and two recycling service compliant. Presented to 270 resident assistants and 25 staff at San Francisco State University and Academy of Art University orientations. Met with Warriors, Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure, Office of Economic & Workforce Development, SSR, Strada and Stōk regarding zero waste aspects of new arena. Diverted 9195 tons at 10 demolitions. Co- presented with Recology to 45+ BOMA affiliated property managers on mandatory recycling and composting ordinance to improve participation compliance. Presented to LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and participated in BC3 Ideas Hub. - ENERGY: Via the California Benchmarking Collaborative, a coalition of commercial property owners, market rate and affordable housing owners & advocates, non-governmental organizations, and governments including SF Environment, advocated for the CEC to implement regulations for CA Assembly Bill 802 (Energy Benchmarking) that are consistent with lessons learned implementing San Francisco's Existing Commercial Buildings Energy ordinance. - ENERGY: Participated in a design charrette with Whole Foods, Arup, and other green building and energy experts from across the country. The day-long event kicked off the 'MarketZero' project to upgrade the Noe Valley Whole Foods Market to zero net energy. The project is funded through a grant from the CEC. - ENERGY: To support the introduction of FCEVs, SF Environment coordinated a Permitting Summit for the first consumer-facing hydrogen fueling stations to be located in the City. Staff brought together key stakeholders from the Planning, Building, and Fire Departments along with hydrogen subject-matter experts from UC Berkeley, and a hydrogen station applicant to develop a permitting roadmap for siting stations in San Francisco. Pending approval from the CEC, two stations could be operational in the 2018/2019 timeframe. Currently the closest refilling station is located in South San Francisco. - ENERGY: SFEW is on target to meet 2016 goal (89% of 800 kilowatt total). City Department Programs - TOXICS REDUCTION: Conducted meetings with Treasure Island Development Authority and contractors to bring Treasure Island into compliance with the Citywide Integrated Pest Management Program. - TOXICS REDUCTION: Currently organizing first-ever Spanish language Bay Friendly Landscaping training – four Wednesdays in October, in collaboration with Recreation & Parks Dept. and SFPUC. - TOXICS REDUCTION: Completed the 2015 Green Purchasing Program Annual Report. Out of a total of $8 million dollars the City spent on computers, cleaning products, janitorial papers, lighting, and office supplies, 82% qualified as compliant products (according to sales reports from citywide contracted vendors). We awarded purchasers from SFO for 95% compliance with janitorial cleaners and papers. - ZERO WASTE: Presented on zero waste to 185 city employees from Laguna Honda Hospital, DPH, SFE, SFPD, Planning and Recreation and Parks. Presented to 30 architects at Public Works-Bureau of Design and Construction on construction and demolition debris recycling Page 3 requirements. Completed 19 recreation center refuse assessment reports and presented results