In this edition:                                          December 30, 2015

City Office and Library Closures
 2015 Green Highlights
Events Around Town
 Link to Full City Calendar
HappyCity Office and Library Closures
Happy New Year!

City offices will close at Noon tomorrow, December 31 and remain closed through Friday, January 1. The Library will close at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow and remain closed all day Friday.

The City of Burlingame wishes you and your family a healthy, safe and happy New Year!
green2015 Green Highlights
Summary of achievements

Throughout 2015, Burlingame made progress in helping the City and its residents and businesses conserve resources, improve the environment, and save money. Here are our top 10 green highlights of the year:
  1. Four Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs were adopted to help make renewable energy and energy efficiency projects more affordable. PACE programs allow property owners to spread the cost of energy improvement projects over many years as part of their annual property tax.
  2. Over 100 Burlingame residents signed up for a free solar energy audit as part of Peninsula Sunshares - a regional bulk renewable energy purchasing program.
  3. Permits completed for residential solar energy systems grew by fifty percent, from 50 permits in 2014, to 75 in 2015. Going solar is contagious, studies show that people are more likely to go solar after their neighbors install solar energy systems. In support of these initiatives, Burlingame has zero permitting fees for going solar.
  4. San Mateo County, with the support of Burlingame and 19 other cities, launched a Community Choice Energy (CCE) effort called Peninsula Clean Energy. CCEs allow local governments to pool their electricity demands to purchase cleaner energy and reinvest in local renewable energy.
  5. City staff prepared its first Sustainability Plan to save resources and money in City operations.
  6. Local businesses are recognizing the benefits of going green. Putnam Automotive in Burlingame saved resources and costs by installing energy lighting retrofits and significantly reduced waste going to the landfill by improving recycling and composting at its dealerships.
  7. The City surpassed the state's water conservation target of 16% through the summer months. In May, June and July the City conserved water by 25%, 37% and 35%, respectively, compared to the same months in 2013.
  8. A new free sprinkler nozzle head program launched to save help residential water customers save water in landscape irrigation.
  9. Four electric vehicle charging stations were installed at the Burlingame Caltrain Station.
  10. The City was recognized with four Spotlight Awards from the Institute for Local Government for reducing electricity use and greenhouse gas emissions in City operations and community-wide.
  The City's 2015 green achievements are summarized here and here.
EventsEvents Around Town
Adult Coloring
Thursday, January 14 at 7:00 p.m.
Lane Room at the Main Library

Come and experience the latest trend in stress reduction and relaxation...Adult Coloring! Studies show coloring can have a calming effect on the adult mind and help to promote overall wellness.
  
Come and enjoy a relaxing evening of coloring in pages designed especially for adults.
Coloring sheets and colored pencils will be provided. Adults only, please. 
  
*One lucky attendee will win a copy of the bestselling coloring book "Lost Ocean"
*Attendees will receive a coupon good for 20% off coloring books purchased through January 2016 at Books Inc. on Burlingame Ave.
  
Please call (650) 558-7400 x2 for more information.
CommCenterCommunity Corner
(The community events listed here are not sponsored or endorsed by the City of Burlingame)

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