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# SM not making world a smaller place
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/sm-not-making-world-a-smaller-place/
- Published: 2004-04-17T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T04:13:32.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Santa Monica leaves some pretty small footprints to fill*

*By Daily Press staff*

A recent study reveals that Santa Monica uses 5.7 percent less of the Earth’s resources than it did a decade ago.

City Hall has released a study analyzing the change in the city’s “ecological footprint,” which tracks its use of the Earth’s resources in terms of water and land area. Results showed its use shrank by 167 square miles from 2,914 square miles in 1990.

One of the most effective tools for measuring human impacts on local and global ecosystems, the Ecological Footprint takes into account factors such as land use, electricity and natural gas use, gasoline and diesel use, transportation and vehicles, roads, housing, food, products, waste and recycling.

“While the U.S. trend is depleting resources at a faster rate than ever before, the city of Santa Monica is proud of our commitment and progress toward sustain-ability, but we still have far to go,” said Craig Perkins, Director of City Hall’s Department of Environmental and Public Works Management.

> “Right now, we’re trying to fit a big foot into a tiny shoe and we can’t walk very far like that,” — said environmental outreach specialist Andrew Basmajian

The Earth’s total area of biologically productive land and fresh water sources is finite, and must be shared among a growing population of more than 6 billion people, officials said. This finite amount provides about 4.5 acres per person, and the U.S. average is 24 acres per person. The average Santa Monica resident’s footprint is almost 13 percent smaller than the national average, at 20.9 acres per person.

“It’s a matter of limits and we’ve met ours,” points out Dean Kubani, City Hall’s sustainable city coordinator. ”The footprint provides us with valuable information for making better choices, and we feel we can help residents become better aware of those choices.”

Officials say simple things individuals can to do to reduce their ecological impact include carpooling, using public transportation, reducing energy use, eating locally-grown foods and buying in bulk to reduce the amount of waste created.

City Hall will be offering individual footprint workshops at the Santa Monica Festival on May 1 at Clover Park. Also, individuals may calculate their own footprint at www.smepd.org, beginning on April 20.

The Ecological Footprint is one of about 70 indicators used as part of Santa Monica’s Sustainable City Plan, established in 1994 and updated in 2003.

Things you can do to reduce your ecological footprint: ■ Cut reliance on gasoline. Carpool, purchase fuel-efficient automobiles, reduce driving alone, reduce trips (in fossil-fuel cars). ■ Use public transportation more. The city offers an award-winning Big Blue Bus system and electric shuttles that help you get to your destination. ■Walk and bicycle more, or skate and skateboard. ■Cut energy use. Turn off lights, shut down computers when not in use and use sea-breeze ventilation instead of air-conditioning. ■Make eco-informed purchases and buy recycled products. ■Recycle more. The city’s Blue Bin program makes it easy to recycle your paper, glass and plastic products. ■Reduce your waste. Buy in bulk, purchase quality and well-designed items that can be rebuilt or repaired, reduce consumption and re-use when possible. ■Eat locally-grown foods. The city has four Farmers’ Markets for you to choose from. See http://farmersmarket.santa-monica.org for times and locations. ■Cut water waste. Plant low-water landscaping, be mindful of personal water use when bathing. ■Support your city government’s initiatives towards sustainability, particularly reductions in energy use and a continued shift to renewable energy.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 17, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/041704.pdf?ref=smdp.com)