> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# ‘10Fest’ gives nod to the ‘green factor’
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/10fest-gives-nod-to-the-green-factor/
- Published: 2004-09-30T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T05:14:25.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Environment, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Energy saving measures save city resources, money*

*By Daily Press staff*

For many Santa Monicans, being green is just a fact of life.

On Sept. 20, 1994, the City Council adopted the Sustainable City Plan, a set of what’s been described as groundbreaking policies that touch many areas of government.

Since then, City Hall has cleaned up Santa Monica’s beaches; instituted environmental purchasing and toxics reduction policies; built a facility to recycle urban runoff; purchased 100 percent renewable electricity, and saves 328 million gallons of water per year and 1 million tons of solid waste from going to landfills, city officials said.

Santa Monica also has the first locally-grown, organic school salad bars in the nation. The Big Blue Bus has been voted the best bus line in the country and is a leader in clean air technology, officials said.

City officials are celebrating the plan’s success this week with what’s been dubbed “10Fest.”

The plan has helped guide citywide policy changes, most notably to improve the health of the beaches and bay. The plan also has saved the city money: n By buying 100 percent green power. The city of Santa Monica is paying 5 percent less for energy use than if it were to purchase power from conventional sources. n By using a systems approach to pest management, the city has eliminated chemical pesticides and has saved 30 percent in pest management costs. n By switching to green cleaning products in public facilities, the city has cut cleaning costs by 5 percent.

10Fest events from Sept. 27-Oct. 3: n Green building tours: self-guided green home tour, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

A65,n Free movie screening: “Kilowatt Ours;” Lincoln Middle School, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. n Family health fair; American Red Cross, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. n Organic cooking demonstrations at the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market; Saturday, 10 a.m. n Leadership series at Ken Edwards Center: “Sustainable City Plan — Are you in the Equation?” Thursday, 7 p.m,. n Sustainable Lecture Series: “Climate Change and Energy Policy,” Thursday, 6:45 p.m. n 10Fest Awards Ceremony; Patagonia, Friday, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

For more 10Fest information, log onto www.smepd.org or call (310) 458-2213.

Officials’ sustainable advice: n Change a light bulb. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use a third of the electricity of incandescent bulbs, and last 10 times longer. n Walk or bike to the store (or skate and skateboard). Besides being good for your health, turning on your car for short distances pollutes the air more, as car exhaust is at its worst when the engine is cold. n Stop junk mail for good. U.S. residents receive a combined 4 million tons of paper junk mail each year. Even if you recycle, think of the loss of virgin forest to create the glossy mailers. Start by sending a postcard or letter to Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, PO Box 643, Carmel, NY., 15012-0643\. Include your complete name, address, zip code and a request to “activate the preference service.” Get more tips at www.obviously.com/junkmail/. n Sound off. Send a post card or e-mail to the president, or your U.S. and California elected officials about an issue you’d like to see improved — or to let them know you support their position. See www.congress.org to identify the state and U.S. elected officials who represent your area and to get contact information for them. n Take out the recycling. The city’s “Blue Bin” program allows you to recycle your paper, glass, metal and plastic products. n Explore a local farmers’ market. Santa Monica has four farmers’ markets to choose from that take place on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. See http://farmersmarket.santa-monica.org, for times and locations. n Bring unwanted clothes to a thrift store or organization that helps needy people. Donations can be tax deductible. And while you may think putting them in the alley does good, more often than not it creates more trash that goes to the landfills. n Visit the HHW facility. Take old paint, unused pesticides and fertilizers, household cleaners and used oil to the Household Hazardous Waste Center, 2500 Michigan Ave. Visit http://pen1.santa-monica.org/environment/resdisp.htm for hours and a list of hazardous wastes.

For more information, log onto www.smepd.org.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 30, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/093004.pdf?ref=smdp.com)