January 23, 2016 - San Diego – In tandem with the City of San Diego’s landmark Climate Action Plan, Cleantech San Diego, Measurabl and local business leaders joined Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer to announce the creation of a new district where commercial buildings pledge to create more sustainable work spaces.
San Diego will be the latest city to become a “2030 District” – an urban area where the private sector and local building industry leaders commit to sustainability and economic growth. The goal is to have a 50 percent reduction in energy, water and transportation emissions in participating buildings by 2030.
“The City of San Diego has already made great strides in its landmark Climate Action Plan, but to achieve our goals, the city can’t do it alone,” Mayor Faulconer said. “It takes the commitment of private and public industry leaders to protect our environment and improve the quality of life for our children and grandchildren.”
San Diego will be the latest to join a network of 15 other existing 2030 Districts across North America.
“We are pleased to support San Diego’s plans to become the newest 2030 District,” said Dave Low, Network Liaison at the 2030 Districts. “As a proven leader in climate policy, cleantech innovation, and sustainable business practices, San Diego’s entry into the 2030 Districts network of similarly-focused regions across the continent will add tremendous value to our collective efforts.”
Nonprofit organization Cleantech San Diego will manage San Diego’s 2030 District as part of its Smart Cities San Diego initiative, which has facilitated the deployment of technologies that are saving energy and water at the City of San Diego, the Port of San Diego, the City of Chula Vista, the San Diego International Airport and at PETCO Park. Cleantech San Diego is also engaging the startup community to help secure the future of the region’s cleantech economy and to continue to attract investment.
“Cleantech San Diego is proud to add support of San Diego’s 2030 District to our regional efforts to promote private-public partnerships that benefit both the economy and the environment,” said Jason Anderson, President and CEO of Cleantech San Diego. “Working across industries and verticals in this manner is key to maintaining San Diego’s position as leader in clean technology and smart cities innovation.”
Business leaders are lending support to San Diego’s 2030 District, including leading real estate investment trust Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., multinational corporations Intuit and DNV GL, local sustainability consultancy Verdani Partners and the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.
“As San Diego’s preeminent developer and operator of science and technology campuses at the forefront of innovative workplace design and efficiency, Alexandria is committed to sustainable building practices and reducing the greenhouse gas pollution from our portfolio,” said Dan Ryan, Executive Vice President and San Diego Market Director for Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. “We are proud to be the first real estate company to join the San Diego 2030 District and we look forward to working with the Mayor’s Office, Cleantech San Diego and other business leaders to support San Diego’s urban sustainability initiative.”
“We are excited to support the San Diego 2030 District as it leverages private-sector leadership to reduce the environmental impacts of owning and operating buildings in support of San Diego’s Climate Action Plan goals,” said Douglas Kot, Head of Section for Sustainable Buildings and Communities at DNV GL.
In partnership with Urban Land Institute (ULI) – a member-driven, global research and education organization dedicated to responsible land use and creating sustainable communities – San Diego startup company Measurabl will provide the software to underpin San Diego’s 2030 District developed beyond the 3.5 billion square feet of institutional real estate already utilizing its software. ULI’s Greenprint Center for Building Performance will enhance Measurabl’s work by providing industry best practices that it has developed through work with the broader 2030 District Network and the private sector real estate community.
“Measurabl was born in San Diego. Many individuals on our team were educated at UC San Diego. To now apply our software at home and advance the smart cities revolution San Diego is leading is a dream come true,” said Matt Ellis, Measurabl's Founder and CEO.