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City builds on last year's success in national campaign with an expanded focus on sustainability
Source: Mayor Kevin Faulconer, the Wyland Foundation, SDG&E
April 1, 2016 (San Diego) - In celebration of San Diego winning the 2015 Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation and after enacting one of the most ambitious climate action plans in the country, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer will be kicking off the 2016 campaign on April 1 by expanding the city’s effort to promote sustainability in all facets of the community.
While the challenge has traditionally focused on water conservation, the 2016 campaign will challenge residents to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency by making smart energy choices, eliminate hazardous waste from entering local waterways and promoting an overall greener lifestyle.
“From winning this challenge last year to setting a goal to move to 100 percent renewable energy, San Diego is showing the nation that the city with the most beautiful environment also knows how to protect it,” Mayor Faulconer said. “This challenge is about making our community more resilient, pledging to use energy more efficiently, reducing waste, and improving environmental health to build our better future.”
Presented by the Wyland Foundation and Toyota, the nonprofit campaign encourages residents to make conservation pledges throughout the month of April at www.mywaterpledge.com. Participants from cities with the highest percentage of residents who make pledges in their population categories qualify to win more than $50,000 in prize drawings.
Residents who heed the call have a chance to win a 2016 Toyota Prius, a home improvement store shopping spree, irrigation makeovers, environmentally friendly cleaning products, and hundreds more eco-friendly prizes.
The campaign is presented in association with EPA WaterSense, The Toro Company, National League of Cities, Conserva Irrigation, Earth Friendly Products (makers of ECOS) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E).
The challenge is designed to bring together neighbors, businesses and civic groups to follow their city’s progress in the campaign throughout the month and encourage others to make the conservation pledge.
Last year, San Diego was the top-ranked city in the 600,000-and-over population standings. To recognize the city’s efforts for sustainability, the national kickoff took place on Friday, April 1, from the SDG&E Energy Innovation Center in San Diego, one of only 10 double platinum LEED certified buildings in the world. SDG&E is a Wyland Foundation community partner.
One of the world’s leading eco-friendly vehicles, the Toyota Prius and the new Toyota Mirai Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicle, also will be showcased at the event, as well as the Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Experience – an interactive 1,000-square-foot experience on wheels that has been on a national tour in support of the challenge. Other eco-friendly prizes on display will include Toro Smart Irrigation products and ECOS environmentally friendly cleaning products.
Mayors from cities across the nation, including Portland, Tucson, and Dallas, have already thrown their hats into for the 2016 challenge. Students and teachers can take part too by accessing a special section of the website. Once there, teachers can download lesson plans relating to conservation, make the pledge on behalf of their classes and enter to win classroom supplies and gift cards for their school.
About the Wyland Foundation
Founded in 1993, Wyland Foundation, a 501(c)3 charity, is dedicated to promoting, protecting, and preserving the world's ocean, waterways, and marine life. The foundation encourages environmental awareness by bringing communities together and inspiring thousands of people each year to become more positive, solution-oriented stewards of our global marine resources. Learn more at www.wylandfoundation.org or visit mywaterpledge.com.
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