Rick Hutcheson -- VALLEY VOICE
Environment can be helped by setting definitive goals
Special to The Desert Sun June 15, 2007
Global warming, rising oil prices, melting ice caps. … Many of us
are very worried, yet we may think that as individuals living in the Coachella
Valley we're too small a community to have much of an impact. But
the well-known phrase, "think globally, act locally" takes on
new meaning when we focus on our own efforts at conservation. We
have more power to effect positive change than we might initially believe.
Several other U.S. cities have already demonstrated how local actions
can have vastly beneficial environmental consequences. For example,
since the drought of 1987-92, Los Angeles has reduced water consumption
by 15 percent, despite a growing population. Eugene, Ore., gets
more than 85 percent of its power from wind and hydroelectricity. St.
Paul, Minn. devotes almost a quarter of its land to green space.
Closer to home, the Builders Industry Association and Palm Desert agreed
on a plan to set conservation goals, which can be an example for other
communities.
But in Palm Springs, despite our ever-present sunshine, only 1 percent
of our energy use comes from solar technology.
And although Palm Springs is fortunate to have a large underground aquifer
supplying our water, in recent years, more water has been pumped from
the ground than has been replaced, which casts considerable uncertainty
over meeting future water needs.
In San Francisco, an average household uses 180 gallons of water per
day; but in Palm Springs, a typical single family residence uses 1,400
gallons of water per day, 70 percent to 80 percent of that on landscaping
alone. Clearly, it's time to rethink our usage of water and energy
resources. The city of Palm Springs has a great opportunity to
assume a leadership role.
Setting definitive and realistic conservation goals is a start.
The Palm Springs Planning Commission recently unanimously supported
a proposal recommending to the City Council that the new General Plan
include a policy goal of making Palm Springs "the conservation leader
in the Coachella valley with respect to water and resource conservation
in parks, medians, greenbelts, and at public buildings."
What a great competition among our valley cities this would be - each
community striving to be more energy efficient.
Despite varying opinions and differences, I believe there exists a broad
consensus among our citizens to do what is environmentally right and
necessary. In fact, a wide community coalition already exists - it's
simply waiting for responsible political leadership to act.
The Palm Springs City Council recently created a long overdue commission
to focus on conservation and energy matters, and also followed two other
Coachella Valley communities in supporting California Green Builder standards. But
Palm Springs still lags behind other valley cities.
We can and should take the lead now, because "Palm Springs" is
not only a city of 45,000 but is also a worldwide brand, renowned for
relaxation, recreation and rejuvenation.
Through legislation and other city measures, Palm Springs can extend
its brand also to become a beacon for environmental responsibility.
So I say to Palm Desert, Indio, Rancho Mirage and all our other brother
and sister cities - let conservation and energy efficiency begin.
Rick Hutcheson is a Palm Springs planning commissioner and co-owner
of Vacation Palm Springs and Greater Palm Springs Realty.
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