Dear Mayor Newsom: We appreciate the emphasis you have placed on making San Francisco a "green" city.  We are writing to propose the use of a technology which would drastically reduce the amount of electricity consumed by computers and related electronic equipment in city offices. Normally computers (and most electronic equipment) consume only 55 to 65 percent of the energy drawn from the power grid.  The remaining 35 to 45 percent is wasted.  This energy is converted to higher order harmonics which do no useful work.  The amount of this loss is known as power factor, and is corrected by the technology Read This Post »

Many cities are converting all street lights and traffic signals to "Green living" LED's or energy saving light systems. It's green, the right thing to do, and in long run, saves the city money.   Peter Read This Post »

Topic 1:  -5 Volts California, actually minus 4 to 5 volts comes from Dr. Bill Wattenburg of KGO Radio.  He said it should save CA about $700 million. Topic 2:  Population Control Pass out a designer flyer to students that says "FEWER BABIES IS GREENER."  It can also be placed in condom boxes to curb unwanted pregnancy. Johnny Chan Read This Post »

Dear Mayor Newsom, My name is Jared Moskowitz and I am the Vice Mayor of the city of Parkland in South Florida. I wanted to share this environmental program that I am proposing to the city commission. I have attached an article below explaining the program. It would be great to have your thoughts as you are a leader in the environmental arena. I think you will find the idea of returning tax dollars in exchange for participation in environmental programs innovative. Sincerely, Jared Moskowitz ----- Parkland plan gives residents incentives for going green By Lisa J. Huriash |South Florida Sun-Sentinel PARKLAND - Residents could soon Read This Post »

My company, CSRware (www.csrware.com), is moving software technology into SF business to certify GREEN INITIATIVES - it quantifies, certifies and reduces emissions.  We want to partner with Mayor Newsom in moving this forward.  How can I talk to him directly?  I met him last night during his City tour. Name Withheld Read This Post »

Do this every month!  It's such a fantastic idea!  Thanks for being such a great Mayor.  Cristi Read This Post »

While in Europe this summer I noticed something that seemed like a great idea, and wondered why it couldn't happen in the US. At all of the public transportation stations, the escalators ran on sensors--so unless a person approached the escalator to use it, it was not running (presumably to save energy and money). Can the city of SF look into that to save money and energy too? Seems like it would be worth the trouble. Name Withheld Read This Post »

Have all workout machine producing energy enlist to power their own club facility. So many people go to the gym so much energy wasted. Elise Pichon Read This Post »

Hybrids for city only since they can really go any faster than 40 mile/hour anyway.  Regular cars for airport transfer since they need a big trunk and hybrids cars are too small for suitcases. Most of the time you need to call a cab to go to the airport so it can be scheduled in advance and we won't have these huge cars polluting are streets. Emma Hyndman Read This Post »

What with all the push to use 'green' fluorescent lighting, has anyone addressed the disposal of the spent lamps?  Since they contain mercury and are dangerous to the environment, I would suggest that an educational poster be required at all sales outlets to instruct the consumer about the proper disposal method. Stan Haskell Read This Post »

Summary First, define measurable objectives.  Next, identify and implement strategies to reach the objectives. Sample objective: Set target energy generation goals for the private sector.  For example: By 2010  -  2 Megawatts     (500 homes with 2KW systems) By 2020  - 10 Megawatts    (2,500 homes with 2KW systems) Sample Strategies to reach objectives Educational campaign to educate building owners of potential energy cost reduction. Provide city funded financial incentives such as:     - Property tax relief through a "Renewable Energy Exemption" -  Property Transfer Fee reduction for solar enabled homes. - Reduced or free building permits for solar installations done by approved contractors - Interest only loans to homeowners - principle Read This Post »

Mr. Mayor, please support the Community Choice Energy plan that the board has put forward. Name Withheld Read This Post »

The new building at City College that is about to be built over the old reservoirs could serve as a wind generating station. It sits smack dab in the middle of the Alemany wind corridor. If the proposed lots were actually removed and the building built a little higher and with a concave design facing west, it could funnel wind below the building through the lots. This would also help the heating costs of the other campus buildings as it would slow down the wind. Its very difficult to find places to put wind turbines but this is perfect for Read This Post »

Should the city look into investing in a gasoline refinery to supply citizens of the area with a consistent source. It is a public necesity just like telephone or water or electricity. How does cable TV manage to get government control when it is used less universally than gasoline. Part two should the city look into making gasoline come under the control of the public utilities commission it is that valuable and in that much of a need to be controlled. Alan Carson Read This Post »

One of our huge problems is limiting green solutions by focusing on the technology end of things.  How much energy do we use to transport water to the City that could be retrieved from the aquifer.  How much energy  do we use repairing flood damage to our streets, hills and such?  We could reduce that immediately by changing zoning regulations to legalize and even require homes and small businesses to allow run-off from roofs to reach the ground and soak into the aquifer.  It could work just like the Friend of the Urban Forest tree planting program.  Have a non Read This Post »

Please stop pushing Compact Fluorescents!  I've installed them throughout my house and, frankly, the light quality is poor, the dimmable bulbs work poorly, and I've had a 30% failure rate with $12 bulbs that, aside from the energy savings, are full of toxic Mercury.  Please help push for the use of LED bulbs. They are as or more efficient than Compact Fluorescents and are completely Non-Toxic and recyclable.  Dimmable LED bulbs are already available (but expensive) and a push from the city could help drive their costs down.  Let's be leaders on this issue and steer the nation and the Read This Post »

Hello Mayor Newsom, I am so glad that you have created this website!  Have wanted to share ideas with you for a while. Just returned from 2 weeks in Europe and was impressed with some of the environmental things they do to conserve energy that would be great for our country and, of course, San Francisco is the city to lead the way... 1.  Have lights for public areas set on motion sensors to conserve energy. This would be great for restaurants, stairwells in apartments, parking garages, bathrooms, office buildings, etc. Why do we need to have the lights on in empty office buildings Read This Post »

My husband and I are at a loss to comprehend why wind energy is not harnessed in our city!  Various parts of our city are perfect venues for the intallation of power-generating windmills -- clean energy that can lower cost and harness a free resource.  We traveled to Copenhagen last year and were noticed windmills along the banks of waterways, even at the far stretches of the shores.  I have heard that some people are opposed to the look of windmills.  Perhaps a lower energy bill or subsidized windmill would appeal to them.  Or, a remote location, on beach heads Read This Post »

Please let go of plans for the Williams Natural Gas plant for San Francisco.  We don't need it, or want it. Seriously! Nick Freeman Read This Post »

Pass it.  Support it.  Become a world leader.  Create a model that other cities might follow. Spare the native Southwest, long torured by coal-fired power, and spare Bayview Hunters Point from the gas turbine peaker plants, and the oil-burning plant sitll out there. And, as the vote approaches, watch this viceo: http://blip.tv/file/133936/ --Ann, San Francisco Read This Post »

Hi-I work at UCSF and more than likely its a windy day. How about installing the wind towers up on Mt. Sutro and utilize all that windy energy for the city. Keri Hadfield Read This Post »