Burbank Green Spotlight Awards: 2012

Burbank Green Spotlight Awards: 2012

The Green Spotlight Award (Dec 2011) is presented by the Sustainable Burbank Commission to a resident or business for sustainable efforts.

The 2012 winners were acknowledged at the Burbank City Council Meeting, January 15, 2013. Video of Presentations: ITEM H - 1.  Burbank Green Spotlight Award.

Commission Member Nicholas de Wolff, Feb 24 Tweet: Congratulations to our 2012 City of Burbank Green Spotlight Award winners! We're already selecting 2013 recipients.

Jan: Jodie Venturelli, Frederic
Feb: Margie & Louis Dell, Tujunga
Mar: Juan & Angelica Jimenez, N Keystone
Apr: Robyn & David Kreisberg, N Beachwood
May: Suzette Alcantar George
Jun: Blaine McLaughlin, W Chandler
Aug: Kurt Ballash & Ingrid Rushing, San Jose
Sep: Entertainment Partners, N Naomi
Oct: Yoga Blend, W Magnolia
Nov: Vander Borght Group, IATSE Building-Magnolia

Public Works: Transportation

Region’s 1st hybrid bus unveiled
City takes step in sustainability with fuel cell bus that can travel 250 miles before recharging, officials say. It can carry up to 67 passengers.
Burbank Leader: April 30, 2010 by Christopher Cadelago

DOWNTOWN — Burbank officials on Wednesday unveiled the first plug-in hybrid fuel cell bus in Southern California.

The 35-foot-long bus, which emits water as exhaust and uses a hydrogen fuel cell instead of a gas or diesel engine, will be put into service on city routes beginning next week and can travel 250 miles before recharging, tripling the fuel economy of a diesel bus, officials said.

The California Air Resources Board and state Energy Commission awarded the city $1.37 million to fund the roughly $1.7-million program. Burbank operates a hydrogen station and a stable of converted gas-to-hydrogen Toyota Prius models, City Manager Mike Flad said.

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Sustainability, a repeated goal for the council, has manifested itself in the city’s range of public transit options, with every resident living within a 1 1/2 -mile radius of a public park or recreational open space.

BurbankBus operates in and around the city on four fixed routes during morning and evening rush-hour periods. READ MORE !

Public Works: Refuse Fleet

City of Burbank Refuse Fleet Goes 100% CNG
Government Fleet: January 2010 by Shelley Mika

The City of Burbank, Calif., recently placed into service a new 2009 solid waste rear-loader collection truck powered by compressed natural gas (CNG). This small addition to the City’s 485-unit fleet is significant as it completes the goal of a 100-percent natural gas-powered solid refuse fleet

David Rodriguez, fleet superintendent, said the switch to CNG has been relatively easy, aside from the up-front costs. Each unit costs roughly $65,000 more than diesel-powered vehicles, and a capital dollar investment is required to build the infrastructure for retrofitting repair shops and building fueling sites.

“The City’s stance has always been that we understand the technology costs money, and it’s our responsibility to use our money wisely,” Rodriguez said. “We feel it’s more prudent to pay extra initial capital outlay and give our citizens and geographical area better air quality.”

Immediate Payback Seen
The City is seeing immediate benefits from the use of CNG. With vehicles running all day, emissions reduction is significant. CNG costs about $1 less per gallon than gasoline and diesel fuels, which means big savings for the City.

“Take a refuse truck that’s driving eight hours a day, five days a week, and gets about 5 miles to the gallon. That means a lot of savings, not only in the carbon footprint, but in dollars to us,” said Ari Omessi, assistant public works director.

With the switch to CNG, Burbank’s fleet has also realized reduced maintenance and repair costs. READ MORE !

Public Works: Transportation

Green’ Buses Set to Arrive: Natural gas vehicles brings the city’s municipal fleet up to 20% alternatively fueled vehicles.

Burbank Leader: August 28, 2009 by Christopher Cadelago

CITY HALL — Five new compressed natural gas buses will roll onto city streets in the coming weeks, each serving as the latest example of Burbank’s effort to “green” its fleet, transportation officials said.

The 30-seat buses, each with a price tag of about $395,000, bring the city’s number of alternatively fueled vehicles to 101, or about 20% of its municipal fleet, including compressed natural gas, hybrid and hydrogen technologies, said Ari Omessi, assistant Public Works director of fleet and building.

The newest buses were paid for with a mix of city and grant funds.

“We’re one of the cleanest cities out there,” he said. “And it’s genuine. We purchased [compressed natural gas] vehicles and put in a refueling station long before it was [politically correct.]”

To support its green quest, as well as the aspirations of private companies and neighboring Glendale, the city six years ago opened a public natural gas station at 810 N. Lake St., paid for with $600,000 in state grants and $200,000 from ENRG, the company originally contracted to operate and maintain the station for 10 years.

A demonstration hydrogen fueling station is at the city yard at 124 S. Lake St. READ MORE !