Monthly newsletter from the City of Chula Vista

Office of Sustainability

Calling All Building Owners and Property Managers

The Building Energy Saving Ordinance requires owners of multi-family, commercial and industrial buildings 20,000 square feet and greater to report their energy use data annually on the free ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager platform. Failure to comply with reporting may result in a fine.

Reporting energy use data, otherwise known as benchmarking, helps building owners and managers save on their single largest operating expense - energy. Additional benefits include greenhouse gas emission reductions and improved air quality.

Data can be submitted online at chulavistaca.gov/benchmarking The deadline to submit building energy use data to the City of Chula Vista is May 20, 2023.

Not sure where to start? Visit the Chula Vista Energy Benchmarking website at chulavistaca.gov/benchmarking for a step-by-step "How to Comply" document, YouTube tutorials or to schedule one-on-one assistance.

For additional questions, please email benchmark@chulavistaca.gov or call (619) 691-5134.

Save the Date: Bike Anywhere Day May 18

SANDAG Bike Anywhere Day (formerly known as Bike to Work Day) is back. Take the FREE pledge to GO BIKE on Thursday, May 18, and join thousands in the San Diego region as they pedal to work, school or...anywhere! Roll into one of our many pit stops between 6 and 9 a.m. and pick up a free t-shirt (while supplies last).

The City of Chula Vista office of Sustainability is partnering with the Living Coast Discovery Center, Rambler Motel and Collins Aerospace to host a pit stop at the Living Coast Discovery Center parking lot on the corner of Bay Blvd and E St, Chula Vista. Join us for free giveaways, refreshments and an animal encounter!

Don't forget to share your pledge on Instagram for your chance to win a $250 gift card. Visit SANDAG.org/BikeMonthfor more information.

Celebrating Earth Day with Creek to Bay Cleanup

More than 5,000 registered volunteers removed 83,000+ pounds of litter and debris from streets, canyons, parks and the coastline in communities spread across 107 sites around San Diego County - including Chula Vista - for the 21st Annual Creek to Bay Cleanup on Earth Day, April 22.

"We are thankful for all the volunteers, from all corners of San Diego County, who celebrated Earth Day with us at Creek to Bay this year," said Ann Marie Sack, Director of Community Engagement at I Love A Clean San Diego, an environmental nonprofit on a mission to foster zero waste lifestyles and beautify communities throughout the region.

Plastic in all its forms remains the chief pollutant found at the annual Earth Week event. In 2022, nearly 70% of all the litter removed from community and countywide cleanups was a form of plastic or single-use item. Volunteers included residents, corporate groups, community groups and other regional environmental organizations who diverted litter and debris across all sites and kept it from reaching our neighborhoods, creeks, bays and ocean.

Among the notable items collected at this year's Creek to Bay Cleanup were a doggy bed, Easter eggs, stop signs, a BBQ grill, a bullet case and lobster net.

The Creek to Bay Cleanup is one of two annual countywide cleanups hosted by I Love A Clean San Diego. The next major cleanup event is International Coastal Cleanup Day on September 23, 2023. Check out I Love A Clean San Diego website here if you are interested in volunteering at a future cleanup event.

Make the most use of your recycling dollar by utilizing ALL the space available in your recycling bin. One way to do this is to flatten your boxes so they take less room. You might be surprised how much space you will gain by taking the extra step to flatten your boxes. For more information about recycling, please visit our web page at chulavistaca.gov/sustainability.

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day A Huge Success!

Thank you to all the residents who participated in National Drug Take-Back Day at Otay Ranch Town Center on April 22! Approximately 632 cars came to the drive-thru event, responsibly dropping off more than 1,200 pounds of prescription and over-the-counter medications. Our electronic waste vendor, SES Recycling, also collected nearly 39,000 pounds (that's almost 20 tons!) of electronic waste, such as broken televisions, computers, monitors, vacuum cleaners and more.

The next Prescription Drug Take-Back event will be held in October - exact date and location TBD. Remember that you don't have to wait for these events. Chula Vista residents can bring their expired/unused medications to the Chula Vista Police Department (315 Fourth Avenue) and place them in one of the three collection bins located in the lobby, Monday - Friday, 8 am to 4 pm. Contact Environmental Services at (619) 691-5122 with any questions.

Thanks for Attending South Bay Earth Day

On April 15, the Office of Sustainability hosted the annual South Bay Earth Day, which was a wonderful opportunity for residents to come together as a community to celebrate the planet and promote sustainability. The event is designed to raise awareness about environmental issues and to provide valuable resources and information to community members. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about topics like recycling, energy conservation and sustainable living practices. There was a variety of activities and entertainment, including live music, tie dye, a bicycle valet, food trucks and vendors.

We encourage all community members to attend South Bay Earth Day in the future to show their support for sustainability. Let's work together to create a healthier, more vibrant community and a brighter future for our planet. See you in 2024! In the meantime, if you need some inspiration for living a more sustainable life, check our website at chulavistaca.gov/sustainability.

New Incentives for Electric Heat Pump Heating and Cooling

In an effort to help transition residents away from polluting natural gas to clean renewable electricity, the state has brought back a $1,000 incentive for residential heat pump heating and cooling systems (HVAC). Heat pump technology is what keeps your refrigerator cold, but when used for HVAC, it can keep homes cool and also run in reverse to keep homes warm. The units typically consist of a compressor unit located outside and can either be connected to existing ducting or use "mini split" with small units in each room you want to heat or cool. To receive the incentive, residents will need to make sure they meet all the requirements and will need to work with a qualifying contractor. Residents can learn more about both of these at The Switch is On, switchison.org that has full eligibility criteria, a list of qualifying contractors in your community, a list of other rebates and helpful background information on the new electric technologies. Rebates for heat pump water heaters will also be coming later in the year.

Zero Waste Tip: Coffee Drinkers - It's a No Brainer!

Busy, working people often buy a cup of coffee on their way to work. Let's say someone buys one cup a day for each workday, so about 20 cups a months for 10 months. Let's figure the other two months there are no trips to work because they are celebrating holidays or on vacation.

So conservatively, those 20 cups a month x 10 months equals 200 cups a year. If someone gets a $3 cup of coffee that equals $600 a year! If they get a more expensive $5 brew that comes to $1,000 a year! If their favorite coffee shop provides, let's say a 10-cent discount for filling their reusable thermos, they save $20 during a year.

Let's take a deeper dive. Did you know that 200 single-use-throw away paper cups, if placed inside one another (minus the lids) would create a 9-foot-high stack. If individually tossed into a trash can, it would be overflowing and littering the ground. All those cups have only one destination - the landfill. Using a reusable thermos cup costs about $20, the same amount you would save when getting the bring-your-own cup discount for buying 200 cups of coffee - the reusable thermos cup pays for itself. You benefit by saving money and doing your part to save the environment by using your own reusable cup, nothing goes to the landfill. It's a no brainer!

Single-Use paper cups VS. Reusable Thermos cups