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Palm Springs is wise to take a green path to sustainability, says editorial

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 5, 2008 at 6:00 am

From MyDesert.com, this editorial:

Water is becoming more scarce and nearly everything - gas, food, services - is more expensive, but we have the ability to make real change by being more thoughtful about our resources and wasting less.

Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet is leading the charge by outlining steps the city is taking to create a “sustainable community,” which is a community that is self-sustaining by conserving resources, energy and thriving economically because of smart development.

Palm Springs plans to cut water use by 50 percent and reduce energy consumption by 20 percent, and the timing couldn’t be better. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared California in drought conditions Wednesday.

Just how do they plan to do that?

The 20-step plan, “the Palm Springs path to a sustainable community,” calls for greater conservation. Under the plan, agencies should conduct energy, water and waste audits; create new jobs that focus on renewable energy; promote ecotourism; participate in the cities upcoming sustainability summit in November; and work with the College of the Desert to incorporate environmental sustainability training and classes into the upcoming Palm Springs’ campus.

In addition, Palm Springs will develop a recycling action plan focused on zero waste, re-landscape the Tahquitz Canyon median as a showcase of smart water-saving landscaping, award partners who promote sustainability and develop an interactive Web site to spread awareness and get residents involved.