At the Department of the Environment, we are working every day to help San Francisco be a sustainable and healthy city for all of its residents; human, plant and animal. We know we will face pressing challenges. Many residents and families struggle to find safe and affordable housing and good jobs to pay their bills. At the same time the threat and impact of climate change has never been more real for San Francisco and the world. With rising sea levels and more unpredictable weather patterns, we must simultaneously prevent more harm to our environment, as we prepare our City to grow and thrive.”Read more…
Deborah Raphael
Director
We are a trusted source of information about environmental challenges, drawing on deep expertise to create solutions that make a measurable difference.
We experiment and prototype to identify the best solutions to address environmental challenges, setting examples for other cities to follow.
We understand that working with a range of partners is critical to our success. We are an engaged member of the San Francisco city family and passionately work with business and community stakeholders to advance shared civic goals.
Our programs benefit all residents and businesses in San Francisco and focus on supporting those communities most in need. All our initiatives are underpinned by a commitment to inclusiveness and accessibility.
We know that the condition of San Francisco’s environment is critically important to the quality of life of all residents, and our programs clearly demonstrate a resilient environment is possible.
Collaborate with key stakeholders to research and identify safer products, practices and materials
Partner with low-income and public housing developers and managers to expand integrated pest management (IPM) principles and other environmental initiatives
Encourage residents, businesses and city departments to use safer, less-toxic products and practices through targeted programs and outreach
Invoke the Precautionary Principle to accelerate best practices in decision making
Increase the size, health and biodiversity of our urban forest, natural areas, open spaces, and community gardens
Support intergovernmental efforts to advance building standards and codes that reduce environmental and health impacts
Research and facilitate compost application on City-owned and agricultural properties for carbon sequestration impacts
Floor area of private and municipal building stock certified through an environmental rating system such as LEED or GPR
Employees that have received racial equity training
In recognition of the fact that addressing institutional racism across all levels of government requires leadership and political will, on March 14, 2018 the SF Department of the Environment launched a racial equity initiative. The resolution affirms the Department’s commitment to racial equity and sets a path to develop a Racial Equity Action Plan with measurable outcomes.
The priority is educating people, be they kids or adults. Workshops, education on what the environment is and how we can help from our own homes.”
Benchmark the city’s built environment to identify energy efficiency and on-site renewable generation potential to advance innovation and implementation of programs
Foster walking, biking, and the use of public transportation and shared rides by implementing the Citywide Transportation Demand Management plan in partnership with partner agencies
Leverage innovation funding for activities that result in market transformation for Distributed Energy Resources.
Promote policies requiring energy efficiency improvement in existing buildings and new construction such as driving adoption of high-efficient heat pump technologies
Align Department programs to support greater adoption of CleanPower SF
Rapidly expand charging and refueling infrastructure to scale Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) technologies across the city through partnerships and policy development
Transition light and medium duty vehicle classes to ZEVs through partnerships, coalition building, increasing consumer awareness and demand, and bulk procurement
Floor area of commercial building stock participating in annual energy benchmark summary
Of greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels
Percent of vehicles registered in San Francisco that are Zero Emission Vehicles
I care about living within a vibrant city while connecting to nature and having easy, convenient, sustainable transportation.”
Evaluate the stands of the Green Business Program to more effectively enable small, local businesses to participate
Decrease energy costs for residents by partnering with utilities and other jurisdictions through public goods charge funding and construction ordinances
Collaborate with city departments to develop a clean energy workforce that can rapidly scale distributed renewable generation and energy efficiency upgrades
Provide entry-level environmental career pathways through Public Service Trainee (PST) program
Decrease energy costs for residents through construction ordinances and by partnering with utilities and other stakeholders to offer incentive and rebate programs
Provide interdisciplinary expertise, resources, and thought leadership on climate resilience to both public and private entities
Incentive dollars provided to multi-family housing and commercial housing sector for energy efficiency upgrades
Green Businesses in San Francisco
Of all Department of the Environment grant funds allocated to low-income communities or public housing
By understanding individual communities—values, ideas, history, culture—and making initiatives responsive and inclusive of all people.”
Develop tailored outreach and engagement programs so that more San Franciscans properly dispose of recyclables, compostables, and hazardous waste
Expand number of recyclable and compostable materials accepted throughout the city
Increase collection opportunities for household hazardous waste by expanding number of local business drop-off sites
Accelerate innovation and enable robust community involvement through Zero Waste grant program
Develop policies and coordinate with other jurisdictions to implement producer responsibility programs for waste streams that are difficult to manage
Oversee investment in processing facility upgrades, beginning with the highest priority needs
Drive awareness and provide solutions that radically shift the food waste paradigm
Tons of material send to primary landfill on an average workday
Homes serviced for household hazardous waste collection annually (equivalent loads)
In October 2017, the SF Department of Environment and Recology announced the most significant changes to the City’s recycling program since it was launched in 2000. The City’s “Fantastic Three” bin system for recyclables, compostables and landfill-bound material has been updated to allow San Franciscans to recycle more than ever. Read more…
How to use ecological products and services. Knowing more about these programs would help maintain the quality of our environment.”
Tie all SFE series to San Franciscans’ priorities and everyday lives by adopting user-centric program design
Increase public-private partnerships that accelerate local innovation and engagement
Ensure messaging in all SFE content is consistent, relevant, and accessible to its intended audiences
Collaborate across program areas and with partner agencies on engagement timing and messaging
Develop long-term relationships with community leaders and organizations by establishing community councils, innovation sprints, community dialogues, and hosting community events
Inspire children and young adults to take action and serve as environmental leaders in their families, schools, and communities
Invest in existing neighborhood actions that amplify community cohesion and increase climate protection
K-12 students reached annually through the school education environmental sustainability program
Volunteers, interns, and Public Service Trainees recruited annually
In 2018, SF Environment's Carbon Fund awarded $150,000 in grants. The San Francisco Carbon Fund is the first fund of its kind to invest solely in local projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions close to where they were created – rather than large scale offset projects across the globe. The San Francisco Carbon Fund's impact can be seen and felt by the community daily. Read more…
That our legacy as a forward-thinking, compassionate, responsive, inclusive city continues. That we recognize our moral leadership to address the climate crisis.”