NEWS RELEASE
Department of General Services
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DATE: April 17, 2007 |
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CONTACT: Bill Branch (916) 376-5036 |
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FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATE | |
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NUMBER: | |
INTERNET: www.dgs.ca.gov |
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WEST SACRAMENTO – California state government is holding one of its biggest Earth Day celebrations in many years Wednesday (4/18) at the Ziggurat on West Sacramento’s River Walk promenade adjacent to the Tower Bridge.
“We’re inviting the public, state workers, and the business community to join us for a spring day on the grassy banks of the Sacramento River to see all the exciting, innovative things state government is doing to keep our planet green,” said Rosario Marin, Gov. Schwarzenegger’s Secretary of State & Consumer Services. “There will be food, fun and music. And with the help of 40 exhibitors, we’ll show you what individual Californians can do to make every day Earth Day.”
The celebration is hosted by the California Department of General Services (DGS) at its headquarters at one of downtown Sacramento’s most visible landmarks – the bright yellow, 10-story, pyramid-shaped Ziggurat Building just across Tower Bridge from Old Sacramento. It’s located at 707 Third Street in West Sacramento.
Participants are encouraged to “arrive green” by biking to the event, carpooling or riding Regional Transit. There will be valet bike parking.
Highlights include:
- Car-crushing demonstration shows how the state pays citizens $1,000 to crush gross-polluting vehicles to remove them from California roadways.
- Display of latest green vehicle technology: hydrogen fuel-cell cars, hybrids & plug-in electrics.
PG&E giving away compact fluorescent bulbs in return for taking the Energy Star pledge.
Utility companies show how to save energy at homes
UC Davis Lighting Technology Center demonstrates energy-saving home lighting solutions they’re developing.
DGS will show how it is saving energy, protecting the environment & cutting greenhouse gasses by greening state buildings & purchasing environment-friendly products.
Electronic-waste recycling station for old computers, monitors, printers, cell phones, etc.
Goodwill Industries will accept other household recyclables.
Strolling mascots to entertain the kids – Smokey Bear, “Dinger” from the River Cats and “Chipper” from the CHP.
Or stretch out on the lawn, watch the lazy river drift by and enjoy the springtime.
At the event, DGS will announce that it is seeking the coveted LEED certification for its leased headquarters building, the Ziggurat. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design. The certification is awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council, a coalition of building industry leaders working to promote green buildings around the world.
“Because the Ziggurat is one of the Sacramento area’s best-known landmarks, turning it into a green laboratory will have special significance for state government’s commitment to lead by example,” said DGS Interim Director Will Bush. “It’s another vital step in Gov. Schwarzenegger’s directive to reduce the energy consumption in state buildings by 20 percent by 2015.”
California state government is currently seeking LEED certification for nearly 70 new construction projects and for 50 existing buildings to help meet that 20 percent goal. The average LEED-certified building uses 32 percent less electricity, 26 percent less natural gas and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 350 metric tons per year – equivalent to removing 70 passenger cars from California roadways.
“Earth Day at the Ziggurat” will be celebrated Wednesday, April 18th, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Special guest speakers 12:00 to 12:30 p.m. Tree planting 12:35 p.m. Car crushing 12:45 p.m. and during speeches.