State and Local Climate and Energy Program

Expanding River-Friendly Landscaping Practices to Reduce Greenhouse Gases

Sacramento County, California

Federal Funding: $486,668
Project Timeline: February 2010 – December 2012

Project Summary
Community Characteristics
Program Results/Estimated Results
Project Websites
Media Coverage
Photos

Project Summary

Facilitating Green Landscaping Practices in New Development and Urban Parks to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Sacramento is continuing to reduce greenhouse gases through greener landscape practices. The final draft Greenhouse Gas Reduction Estimation Tool has been released for beta testing and will be finalized and distributed soon. The County has completed the final draft of the River Friendly Landscaping (RFL) standards for urban parks, which will be integrated into the park standards training for staff in early 2012. The County is also working on determining the need to expand the Green Gardener program to include a course in Spanish. Additionally, the County has been working on finalizing the outreach plan and planning upcoming RFL community workshops.

With water supplies threatened in the region, Sacramento County has implemented the River Friendly Landscaping (RFL) Program as a comprehensive approach to sustainable urban landscapes. The County is currently planning a project that will incorporate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions benefits into the existing RFL framework, resulting in greenhouse gas emissions reductions and achieving several other environmental and public health benefits. This project will:

develop a tool for evaluating the greenhouse gas reductions that result from RFL,
establish RFL standards for urban parks,
expand a "Green Gardener" training program, and
promote RFL to the public.

Sacramento County has established the RFL Program to encourage the sustainable design and maintenance of urban landscapes. Four of the RFL priority areas have a direct impact on GHG emissions:

energy conservation
water conservation
air and water quality protection, and
waste reduction.

This project will expand the existing RFL program by integrating greenhouse gas impacts into the guidelines. The project will first develop a simple tool to quantify the environmental and economic benefits of using RFL practices. Second, the project will encompass the development of RFL standards for park design and maintenance. This will be supported by training for parks staff and multiple demonstration projects. Third, the project will support "green collar" job training by expanding the Green Gardener training program. Finally, the project will launch a promotional campaign for the public to adopt RFL practices, including outreach publicity, workshops, a training program, and educational materials.

The project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10,350 metric tons CO₂e annually through lower water consumption, and this figure is expected to be increased once the benefits for municipal landscapes are assessed. Additionally, the benefits will include a reduction in vehicle miles traveled, reduced solid waste generation, and heat island mitigation. Additional water will also be available for hydroelectric generation as a result. The project will have long-lasting benefits, will build partnerships across multiple stakeholder groups, and will be easily replicable in other communities.

Community Characteristics

Population:	1,381,000
Area:	995 square miles
Government Type:	County
Community Type:	Metropolitan region
Median Household Income:	$57,800

Program Results/Estimated Results

Expected GHG Reduction:	10,350 metric tons CO₂e annually
Expected Households Implementing RFL:	35,200
Expected Water Savings:	30% reduction in households implementing RFL
Expected Waste Reductions:	6,156 tons annually
Additional Benefits:	Lower vehicle miles traveled, heat island mitigation