Last Wednesday evening, the Santa Cruz GreenWharf Project received the state’s most prestigious environmental honor for 2014: The Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA). Twelve organizations from around the state received the award for “protecting and enhancing the environment while at the same time promoting economic growth.”
Mobile Ranger was part of the GreenWharf Project via our Santa Cruz Wharf App. As Ranger in Chief for Mobile Ranger, I was invited to the award ceremony. I was impressed with some of the tangible accomplishments of many of the winners:
- Parducci Wine Cellars transformed a polluted pond into a bird sanctuary, recycled and re-used 100% of their wastewater for irrigation, and saved 1.5 million gallons of water per year—all while doubling wine production.
- Dr. Nicole Gatto created three community gardens in key areas of Los Angeles where fast-food, convenience, and liquor stores outnumber grocery stores.
- The Elkhorn Slough Foundation purchased important pieces of land within the Elkhorn Slough Watershed and created active programs in education, scientific research, and restoration.
- Raytheon Corporation turned their El Segundo campus into a “Zero Office Waste” site and achieved a 75% recycling rate for their very large overall operations.
What Does Green Mean for the GreenWharf Project?
These days whenever a business calls themselves “green” it is smart to wonder what that really means. Is it just marketing spin? Is more money being spent on advertising “green” than is actually spent on environmentally sound practices? In the case of the GreenWharf Project the advertising budget is almost non-existent, and over $150,000 has been raised in grants from over seven different agencies/groups in order to accomplish the following:
- Installation of a wind and solar energy “testbed.” The wind turbine is the first off the coast of California to be permitted by the Coastal Commission. The testbed charges the batteries for the Wharf’s electric maintenance vehicles and saves $425 annually in liquid fuel costs.
- A free mobile phone app by Mobile Ranger that highlights a project called the ECOTOUR as well as the Wharf’s history and local marine life. The ECOTOUR focuses on environmental protection efforts, ongoing research, and the Wharf’s certified green businesses.
- Free docent-led ECOTOURS of the Wharf by the Seymour Marine Discovery Center.
- A complete street and pedestrian lighting retrofit to LED technology that saves $5,600 annually in electricity and maintenance costs.
- Installation of the first electric vehicle charging station on the Wharf.
- Installation of cigarette butt and discarded fishing line receptacles for wildlife protection in association with the non-profit Save Our Shores.
- Green certification of seven Wharf businesses and the Wharf Headquarters through the “Green Business Challenge.” Cumulatively the seven certified Wharf businesses and the certified Wharf Headquarters facility have saved 67,800 gallons of water and 34,000 kWh of energy; diverted 2,400,000 pounds of solid waste from the landfill; and prevented the emission of 225 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
- Launch of the Wharf Centennial paper shopping bag campaign, in collaboration with Wharf businesses, aimed at eliminating the use of plastic bags on the Wharf.
- Creation of 39 internships and 6 educational field trips.
Installation of the CERF wind turbine. Picture © Tiffany Wise-West/UCSC. All this was accomplished with a partnership that began in 2011 with the City of Santa Cruz and UCSC. It has grown to include a number of non-profit organizations, Wharf businesses, private sector entities, students, and interested members of the public. For more on the sponsors and entities involved, go to the GreenWharf Project Website.
- Bonnie’s Gifts
- Made in Santa Cruz http://www.madeinsantacruz.com
- Noland’s on the Wharf Noland’s Website
- Olitas http://www.olitassantacruz.com/
- Ports of Call Ports of Call on Yelp
- Venturequest http://kayaksantacruz.com
- Vino Prima http://www.vinoprimawines.com
Further Information
GreenWharf Project Website
Mobile Ranger’s Free Santa Cruz Wharf App featuring the ECOTOUR
Green Businesses on the Wharf
