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This Chapter's...

introduction

strategy

indicators

drafting group


Sustainability Plan / Air Quality / Strategy

 goal 1   To assure a level of air quality that has no negative impact on the health of humans or the ecosystems of the natural environment.
   
     
 goal 2   To maintain a level of air quality that prevents damage to buildings and infrastructure.
   
     
 goal 3   To eliminate human causes of climate change and prevent depletion of natural barriers against ultraviolet rays.
   
     
 goal 4   To link air quality and energy issues.
     
 goal 5   To maintain air clarity.







 goal 1

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To assure a level of air quality that has no negative impact on the health of humans or the ecosystems of the natural environment.
   
   long-term objectives
   
 

1-A. Means of travel, power production and industrial production that do not cause chemical, heat, or particulate pollution of the atmosphere have been adopted.

1-B. Healthy indoor air quality is pervasive throughout the city.

1-C. The City has air quality standards for:

  • Procurement programs,

  • Maintenance practices for buildings and grounds, and

  • All new construction of municipal buildings

and incentives for the private sector to do the same.

1-D Environmental education is offered at all levels and environmental awareness is incorporated into the social consciousness.

     
     5-year objective
     
   

1-1. The environmental health function of the City is staffed at a level that enables it to develop, implement, and monitor air quality objectives.

1-2. City and other key decision-makers include air-quality goals when making policy choices.

1-3. All new municipal building projects meet specifications that incorporate air-quality concerns (including specifications for the use of integrated pest management).

1-4. Five to ten auto-free zones have been developed in San Francisco as model projects.

1-5. Vehicle-miles traveled in private automobiles have been reduced by 10%.

1-6. The City purchases only clean fueled vehicles for its fleet.

1-7. 25% of conventionally fueled (gasoline and diesel) vehicle-miles traveled have been replaced with alternatively fueled vehicle-miles traveled.

1-8. Air quality exceeds federal and state air quality standards on an ongoing basis.

1-9. Indoor air quality standards have been established for all indoor environments.

1-10. Residential and commercial buildings have modified the purchasing specifications for cleaning and maintenance products to minimize airborne toxicity.

1-11. All buildings exceed the current American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, & Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards for indoor air quality on an ongoing basis.

1-12. Engineering, architecture, design and urban planning schools include indoor and outdoor air-quality programs in their curricula.

1-13. An education syllabus on indoor and outdoor air quality is in use at 100% of the City’s public and private schools.

       
       actions
       
     

1-a. Develop participatory process to identify and plan for auto-free zones.

1-b. Increase the use of clean-fuel vehicles.
(Suggested for the private sector and city government)

1-c. Reduce individual vehicle-miles traveled.
(Suggested for individuals)

1-d. Adopt a program to phase out conventionally fueled vehicles from the City fleet and investigate possibilities to replace conventionally fueled heavy equipment and public transit vehicles.

INDOOR

1-e. Design publicly funded buildings with indoor-air-quality design criteria and develop incentives to encourage the private sector to use the criteria.

1-f. Establish a budget for and hire an indoor-air-quality coordinator.
(Suggested for the Department of the Environment)

1-g. Endorse and, as appropriate, adopt technical manuals and standards such as those issued by ASHRAE and the U.S. Green Building Council. *
(Suggested for city government)

Use these guidelines and incorporate new codes to assure good indoor air quality.
(Suggested for the Department of Building Inspection)

1-h. Establish guidelines for purchasing low-emitting products and distribute them widely to city agencies, businesses and consumers.
(Suggested for city government)

1-i. Institute stronger health-based occupational standards.
(Suggested for city government)

EDUCATION

1-j. Establish a resource center to provide public access to information on air quality and the health effects of the ingredients of common products.
(Suggested for the Wallace Stegner Environmental Center at the San Francisco Public Library)

1-k. Reduce personal impact on the shared indoor environment by limiting the use of scented personal-care products. (Suggested for individuals.)

1-l. Implement public education campaigns about:

  • The importance of air quality and the need for research,

  • The need to reduce dependence on automobiles, and

  • Each individual’s impact on the shared indoor environment (such as airborne emissions from fragrances and cleaning and maintenance products).

1-m. Create and distribute an education syllabus on indoor and outdoor air quality for use in the schools.

1-n. Implement a city-wide notification program so that the public can be informed in advance of the release of air-borne toxins, such as pesticides and roofing-tar fumes.










 goal 2

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To maintain a level of air quality that prevents damage to buildings and infrastructure.
   
   long-term
   
  2-A. [See Objective 1-A]

[1-A. Means of travel, power production and industrial production that do not cause chemical, heat, or particulate pollution of the atmosphere have been adopted.]
     
     5-year
     
   

2-1. [See Objectives 1-1, 1-2, and 1-4 through 1-8]

[1-1. The environmental health function of the City is staffed at a level that enables it to develop, implement, and monitor air quality objectives.]

[1-2. City and other key decision-makers include air-quality goals when making policy choices.]

[1-4. Five to ten auto-free zones have been developed in San Francisco as model projects.]

[1-5. Vehicle-miles traveled in private automobiles have been reduced by 10%.]

[1-6. The City purchases only clean fueled vehicles for its fleet.]

[1-7. 25% of conventionally fueled (gasoline and diesel) vehicle-miles traveled have been replaced with alternatively fueled vehicle-miles traveled.]

[1-8. Air quality exceeds federal and state air quality standards on an ongoing basis.]

       
       actions
       
     

2-a. Study research on effective policies to improve air quality done in other cities and countries and apply it to local policies and practices.

2-b. [See Actions 1-a through 1-d, 1-l and 1-m]

[1-a. Develop participatory process to identify and plan for auto-free zones.]

[1-b. Increase the use of clean-fuel vehicles.
(Suggested for the private sector and city government)]

[1-c. Reduce individual vehicle-miles traveled.
(Suggested for individuals)]

[1-d. Adopt a program to phase out conventionally fueled vehicles from the City fleet and investigate possibilities to replace conventionally fueled heavy equipment and public transit vehicles.]

[1-l. Implement public education campaigns about:

  • The importance of air quality and the need for research,

  • The need to reduce dependence on automobiles, and

  • Each individual’s impact on the shared indoor environment (such as airborne emissions from fragrances and cleaning and maintenance products).]

[1-m. Create and distribute an education syllabus on indoor and outdoor air quality for use in the schools.]










 goal 3

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To eliminate human causes of climate change and prevent depletion of natural barriers against ultraviolet rays.
   
   long-term
   
  3-A. San Francisco’s contribution to greenhouse gases has been minimized and the production and use of stratospheric ozone-depleting gases has been eliminated.

3-B. [See Objective 1-A]

[1-A. Means of travel, power production and industrial production that do not cause chemical, heat, or particulate pollution of the atmosphere have been adopted.]
     
     5-year
     
    3-1. [See Objectives 1-2 and 1-4 through 1-8]

[1-2. City and other key decision-makers include air-quality goals when making policy choices.]

[1-4. Five to ten auto-free zones have been developed in San Francisco as model projects.]

[1-5. Vehicle-miles traveled in private automobiles have been reduced by 10%.]

[1-6. The City purchases only clean fueled vehicles for its fleet.]

[1-7. 25% of conventionally fueled (gasoline and diesel) vehicle-miles traveled have been replaced with alternatively fueled vehicle-miles traveled.]

[1-8. Air quality exceeds federal and state air quality standards on an ongoing basis.]
       
       actions
       
      3-a. [See Actions 1-a through 1-d, 1-m and 2-a]

[1-a. Develop participatory process to identify and plan for auto-free zones.]

[1-b. Increase the use of clean-fuel vehicles.
(Suggested for the private sector and city government)]

[1-c. Reduce individual vehicle-miles traveled.
(Suggested for individuals)]

[1-d. Adopt a program to phase out conventionally fueled vehicles from the City fleet and investigate possibilities to replace conventionally fueled heavy equipment and public transit vehicles.]

[1-m. Create and distribute an education syllabus on indoor and outdoor air quality for use in the schools.]

[2-a. Study research on effective policies to improve air quality done in other cities and countries and apply it to local policies and practices.]









 goal 4

top 

       
To link air quality and energy issues.
   
   long-term
   
  4-A. [See Objectives 1-A and 1-B]

[1-A. Means of travel, power production and industrial production that do not cause chemical, heat, or particulate pollution of the atmosphere have been adopted.]

[1-B. Healthy indoor air quality is pervasive throughout the city.]
     
     5-year
     
    4-1. [See Objectives 1-1, 1-2, 1-11, and 1-12]

[1-1. The environmental health function of the City is staffed at a level that enables it to develop, implement, and monitor air quality objectives.]

[1-2. City and other key decision-makers include air-quality goals when making policy choices.]

[1-11. All buildings exceed the current American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, & Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards for indoor air quality on an ongoing basis.]

[1-12. Engineering, architecture, design and urban planning schools include indoor and outdoor air-quality programs in their curricula.]
       
       actions
       
      4-a. [See Actions 1-e through 1-g, and 1-m]

[1-e. Design publicly funded buildings with indoor-air-quality design criteria and develop incentives to encourage the private sector to use the criteria.]

[1-f. Establish a budget for and hire an indoor-air-quality coordinator.
(Suggested for the Department of the Environment)]

[1-g. Endorse and, as appropriate, adopt technical manuals and standards such as those issued by ASHRAE and the U.S. Green Building Council. *
(Suggested for city government)

Use these guidelines and incorporate new codes to assure good indoor air quality.
(Suggested for the Department of Building Inspection)]






 goal 5

top 

       
To maintain air clarity.
   
   long-term
   
  5-A. [See Objective 1-A]

[1-A. Means of travel, power production and industrial production that do not cause chemical, heat, or particulate pollution of the atmosphere have been adopted.]
     
     5-year
     
    5-1. [See Objectives 1-4 through 1-8]

[1-4. Five to ten auto-free zones have been developed in San Francisco as model projects.]

[1-5. Vehicle-miles traveled in private automobiles have been reduced by 10%.]

[1-6. The City purchases only clean fueled vehicles for its fleet.]

[1-7. 25% of conventionally fueled (gasoline and diesel) vehicle-miles traveled have been replaced with alternatively fueled vehicle-miles traveled.]

[1-8. Air quality exceeds federal and state air quality standards on an ongoing basis.]
       
       actions
       
      5-a. [See Actions 1-a through 1-d and 2-a]

[1-a. Develop participatory process to identify and plan for auto-free zones.]

[1-b. Increase the use of clean-fuel vehicles.
(Suggested for the private sector and city government)]

[1-c. Reduce individual vehicle-miles traveled.
(Suggested for individuals)]

[1-d. Adopt a program to phase out conventionally fueled vehicles from the City fleet and investigate possibilities to replace conventionally fueled heavy equipment and public transit vehicles.]

[2-a. Study research on effective policies to improve air quality done in other cities and countries and apply it to local policies and practices.]

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