City-Level Decoupling-Case Studies

CITY-LEVEL DECOUPLING: URBAN RESOURCE FLOWS AND THE GOVERNANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE TRANSITIONS

help of the city, community organisations and residents. Streetlights will make use of LED lighting with smart network control and monitoring systems to reduce energy use. Finally, 160 km of trails will be established by identifying and purchasing land that connects with on- street bike paths. 168 Implementation is driven by individual goal leaders, while the entire project is overseen and facilitated by the City Manager’s Office. There is increasing emphasis on partnerships between the city and the private sector. Achieving the vision relies on city funds and on grant funding from the county and the state, but these are limited so the city is exploring alternative funding mechanisms. 169 Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) that exacerbate climate change are reduced by increasing the uptake of renewable energy and energy-efficient products, recycling solid waste and waste water, using alternative fuels, planting trees, and encouraging walking and cycling. Water is saved by the recycling and reuse of waste water, and land is used more efficiently and is less polluted as the need for landfills is reduced by better waste recycling. Socio-economic sustainability is improved as the creation of jobs and growth of local industries means that more money remains in the region, welfare costs for the unemployed are reduced, and quality of life improves. Besides reducing carbon emissions, the extensive biking and walking trails help to improve people’s health and allow those from different backgrounds to mix. 170 Improving city sustainability

By 2010, progress made towards San Jose’s Green Vision goals was as follows: 171

• 4,350 clean tech jobs have been created;

• Per capita energy use has fallen by 2.4% (4.8% of their target figure);

• 15% of the city’s electricity comes from renewable energy sources;

• Over 3.7 million out of the 50 million square feet of certified green buildings have been completed;

• 74% of waste is diverted from landfills;

• 21% of waste water is recycled or beneficially reused;

• A full Draft Plan document has been completed;

• 42% of city fleet runs on alternative fuel; GHG emissions have been cut by 28% (2003 baseline);

• 4,500 new trees out of 100,000 have been planted;

• 0.5% of streetlights have been replaced with smart zero-emission lighting;

• About 85 km of the goal of 160 km of trails have been created. In the last four years U.S. Census has indicated a 125% increase in bike trips in San José, 50% above the national average.

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