Sustainable San Mateo County Announces 2020 Award Recipients
Sustainable San Mateo County (SSMC) will honor San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine, the San Mateo County Office of Education’s Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Initiative, the Campaign for Fossil Free Buildings in Silicon Valley and long-time SSMC volunteer Afsoon Shahrdar, at its 21st Annual Awards Celebration on Friday, July 10, for their contributions to sustainability in San Mateo County. For the first time, the awards event will take place online from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. This virtual celebration is free and open to the public, but you must register in advance at bit.ly/3gdPOQa.
In addition, SSMC and the American Institute of Architects, San Mateo County Chapter, will present the 2020 Green Building Award to the Genentech Child Care Center in South San Francisco and give a Green Building Honorable Mention Award to the North Block Hillsdale Shopping Center in San Mateo. SSMC also will issue the first Reach Code Awards to the County of San Mateo County and the Cities of Brisbane, Menlo Park, Pacifica and San Mateo to recognize their adoption of local green building codes that will result in safer and more comfortable buildings, increase EV charging infrastructure and reduce carbon emissions.
The City of Brisbane adopted Reach Codes addressing electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, building electrification, on-site solar generation and fire protection. The City’s EV Reach Codes are among the strongest in the state, requiring all new residential units (single-family and multi-family) to have at least one Level 2 EV-ready circuit, as well as 25 to 50 percent electrified spaces in non-residential buildings. The City followed the “Menlo Park model” for building electrification, requiring all-electric buildings with exceptions for natural gas cooking and fireplaces in residences, and for life science buildings in the commercial sector. The City also extended previously existing Reach Codes for on-site solar generation and fire protection.
The annual SSMC awards are designed to raise awareness of sustainability in the community and inspire others to take action. For more information, visit sustainablesanmateo.org and register today for the Awards Celebration!
