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Research Reports
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Oakland is Green
Leadership, Local Community and Location Contributes to the Rankings
of US’s Most Eco-Friendly Cities
Oakland is regularly featured in the rankings of the U.S.’s top eco-friendly cities, including those prepared by publications and organizations.
Here are just a few of Oakland’s listings:
National Geographic’s Green Guide
Sunset Magazine
Sustain Lane
Each list uses different criteria, but common mentions include Oakland diverse public transportation system, commitment to recycling and renewable energy initiatives and local food production. Oakland’s commitment to green business and community practices is visible throughout the city, making it a perfect destination for eco-conscious travelers.
Commitment to Leadership: Since Mayor Ron Dellums took office in January of 2007, Oakland has adopted a "Zero Waste by 2020" plan, launched an "Oil Independence Oakland by 2020" task force, and banned plastic bags and styrofoam takeout containers.
Public Transport and Cycling: 23 percent of Oakland residents commute by bike and/or public transportation, including BART, buses, Amtrak and ferries. The option to take bikes on BART, buses, Amtrak and the ferries gives commuters the ability to use public transport to reach areas that might not be convenient with public transport alone. Many Oakland residents peddle to Oakland events, where bicycle valet service is often available, and to bars and restaurants with bicycle stands. The Actual Café on San Pablo Blvd has been featured in the New York Times for its innovative indoor bike parking. More information: 511.org, eastbayferry.com, Bay Area Bicycle Coalition
Land Use and Parks: Oakland devotes 11 percent of city land to parks. These include redwood forests, estuary shorelines and urban parks managed by the East Bay Regional Park District and City of Oakland. Here are just a few worth visiting:
• Lake Merritt: This tidal lagoon located just east of downtown was designated the United States' first official wildlife refuge in 1870. The lake’s 3.4 mile circumference is a ringed with a necklace of lights and is popular place for running, walking and cycling. The park covers 155 acres of land and offers golf, sailing and rowing. Children’s Fairyland at Lake Merritt teaches young people about nature and environmental issues such as recycling.
• Redwood Park: Just a few miles from downtown Oakland is a stately forest of 150-foot coast redwoods Sequoia sempervirens. The park's 1,829 acres also contain other evergreens, chaparral, and grasslands. Wildlife within the park includes rare species such as the golden eagle and Alameda striped racer snake. Deer, raccoons, rabbits, and squirrels are often seen.
• Middle Harbor Shoreline: With spectacular views of San Francisco, this 38-acre shoreline park has more than two miles of pathways encircling Middle Harbor Basin. It provides unprecedented access to the shoreline, with views of the bay, natural habitats and maritime activity. The 180-acre Middle Harbor Enhancement Area adjacent to Middle Harbor Shoreline Park is restoring shallow water habitat and providing habitat enhancement, including eelgrass, in the former Navy Fleet Industrial Supply Center.
More information: www.ebrp.org and www.oaklandnet.com
Green Lodging: Several Oakland hotels have a California Green Business certification. This certification looks at waste and reuse, energy, communication and education among employees and customers, participation in recycling, indoor air quality, water efficiency and transportation. To maintain the California Green Business certification, hotels must participate in two new environmental practices and submit performance data annually. The following Oakland hotels are certified, rated on a "Palms" scale:
Oakland Marriott City Center - Two Palms
Oakland Marriott Courtyard - One Palm
Homewood Suites by Hilton - One Palm, endeavoring to get Two Palms and Energy Star certification
Executive Inn & Suites - One Palm
Waterfront Hotel - Two Palms
Hilton Oakland Airport - One Palm
Renewable energy: Oakland joins in on Bay Area initiatives for renewable energy. Solar energy use has been expedited by an Oakland initiative that allows solar production facilities to waive design review requirements for installation, which has sped up solar energy generation use by the city. Oakland city officials have committed to installing 5 megawatts of solar power. By reducing reliance on non-renewable energy, this should help mitigate the short-term within a 24 hour period small particle pollution problems. An example of large-scale solar use is the Oakland Ice Center. For more information: www.oaklandnet.com, www.oaklandice.com
Local Food Production: Urban farming and small food manufacturing is thriving in Oakland. Many high-end food producers who sell at the San Francisco’s Ferry Building is produced in Oakland, including Blue Bottle Coffee, Miette Patisserie and Mariposa Bakery. Oakland’s farmers markets are some of the most popular in the Bay Area, with a great diversity of vendors and throngs of buyers. The Eat Real Festival is a social venture created to inspire eaters to choose tasty, healthy, good food. Through a vibrant, local festival in Oakland, CA, and a focus on delicious and sustainable “street food,” Eat Real puts eaters in contact with the real people -- the farmers, chefs, and producers -- who make our food. For more information visit: eatrealfest.com
Green Programs: Oakland Shines is an energy program for local businesses in Oakland with the goal to make downtown Oakland the most energy efficient business district in the nation. The program provides a free energy audit for businesses and makes advanced technologies accessible to everyone. Two ways that Oakland Shines will reduce energy costs include:
Offering high incentives for advanced technologies that can cover 30-80% of project costs.
Provide concierge service to help take projects from development through installation, eliminating unnecessary energy costs while transforming downtown Oakland into the most energy efficient business district in the country.
Leadership: Many green organizations are based in Oakland, including the US Headquarters for Local Governments for Sustainability. For more information visit: icleiusa.org
Green Collar Jobs: The Oakland Green Jobs Corps is a job-training and employment pipeline providing "green pathways out of poverty" for low-income adults in Oakland. This groundbreaking program prepares trainees for careers in the Bay Area's most vibrant green industries, including energy efficiency, green construction and solar. The Oakland Apollo Alliance is a coalition of labor unions, environmentalists, community-based organizations and green businesses, working together to create quality jobs in the new energy economy. The Oakland Apollo Alliance is anchored by the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers IBEW Local 595. The Oakland Apollo Alliance believes that Oakland can become a shining national example of a blue-collar town transformed into a green-collar powerhouse. For more information: ellabakercenter.org
LEED Building Certification: Oakland’s commitment to green building is visible in both private and public buildings. 1111 Broadway in Oakland City Center is the second building in the Shorenstein company's commercial real estate portfolio to be LEED Gold certified through the U.S. Green Building Council's Existing Building Operations and Maintenance LEED EBOM program. LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building employs strategies aimed at improving performance in: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. The LEED EBOM certification comes on the heels of the certification of 555 12th Street, some 20 years after the building first opened. Oakland International Airport’s Terminal 2 was recently awarded the prestigious LEED Green Building Certification, making it the first airport passenger terminal to win the award for saving energy, reducing waste and protecting the environment. For more information: oaklandcitycenter.com, flyoakland.com
Eco-Friendly Innovation: Several innovative eco-friendly manufacturers are based in Oakland. Xtracycle, for example, produces cargo bikes that provide greater storage and transport options than traditional bicycles. Xtracycle's LongTail innovation is a hitchless trailer that allows cyclists to carry a week's worth of groceries, passengers, commercial merchandise such as ladders or sportsgear such as surfboards. For more information: xtracycle.com
Green Education and Entertainment: Oakland attractions don’t just feature eco-education on Earth Day. Chabot Space & Science Center works with award winning educator Bill Nye the Science Guy and a team of internationally renowned climate scientists to create Bill Nye’s Climate Lab billsclimatelab.org, a site to teach children about the challenges of climate change through the lens of opportunity and innovation. The web site uses engaging interactive games and activities to educate and inspire young people. A new Bill Nye Climate Lab exhibit opens at Chabot at the end of this year. In addition to conservation projects around the world, the Oakland Zoo strives to teach “going green” by example. In addition to recycling and composting, the zoo uses solar panels to power the Education Center and animal talking boxes. The PG&E Solar Schools Program teaches guests about alternative energy through a connected kiosk in Maddie’s Center for Science and Environmental Education. The zoo has planted two blooming butterfly gardens and a variety of natives all over the zoo grounds which it uses to support pollinators such as bees and butterflies and to teach visitors about the importance of strategic planting outside the zoo. Young children learn about the importance of nature at Childrens Fairyland through entertainment and presentations by expert arborists. For more information: chabotspace.org, oaklandzoo.org and fairyland.org.
Prepared by the Oakland Convention & Visitors Bureau
May 2010. Updated April 2011.
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