Thousand Oaks Takes Bold Steps Towards Building a Sustainable Future

May 2024. The City of Thousand Oaks demonstrated its commitment to environmental sustainability with the adoption of its first Climate and Environmental Action Plan (CEAP) at the May 7 City Council meeting. This comprehensive Plan, which was developed through extensive community engagement, establishes the City’s path forward for reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions responsible for climate change and enhancing overall environmental resilience.

The CEAP, a result of years of planning and public input, reflects Thousand Oaks' dedication to addressing climate change and fostering a sustainable future for generations to come. Through defined policies and actions, the City plans to mitigate carbon emissions, address the impacts of climate change, and support a healthier, more resilient community. Click here to view the CEAP.

Progress and Targets

The CEAP sets clear and achievable targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions that are aligned with the State’s, by establishing reduction goals of 42% by 2030 and 85% by 2045 relative to 2010 emissions. Community-wide emissions have been reduced by 27% through 2020. The Plan defines measures that will reduce emissions by a further 15% this decade to meet the 2030 target.

Focus Areas

The Plan is divided into six focus areas. The most critical of these are Transportation and Building Energy, which account for 63% and 21% of emissions. 

Transportation emissions arise from trips wholly within the City and those that originate or terminate in the City. There are two principal means of reducing these emissions. One is to reduce vehicle miles driven, and the other is to transition to zero-emission vehicles. The General Plan (GP) identifies multiple smart growth policies, such as developing a downtown corridor with a mixture of residential and commercial uses so that people can live, shop, and recreate without having to drive. New growth under the GP will be denser and more walkable, reducing driving miles. One of the functions of the CEAP will be to implement support for smart growth, such as updating and implementing the Active Transportation Plan, constructing additional sidewalks, integrating support for e-mobility, and pursuing viable transit options.

A number of CEAP measures are geared towards aiding and accelerating a transition to electric vehicles in the City. Whereas residents of single-family homes can easily charge electric vehicles at home, it is much more of a challenge for those in apartment complexes. The CEAP includes measures to help provide charging opportunities for residents of multifamily complexes - both existing and new ones. The existing building code requirements for new multifamily developments require 35 percent of spaces to be Electric Vehicle (EV) Capable or EV Ready. The CEAP aims to increase this requirement by moving to a Tier 1 or Tier 2 CALGreen requirement (rather than the basic level) or adopting a separate City standard. This change would need to be enacted through a local building code ordinance.

The Building Energy sector includes the electricity and natural gas emissions from energy use in buildings and operations. CEAP measures center on using less energy (i.e., energy conservation and efficiency), electrification (i.e., a shift from the use of natural gas to electricity to perform the same function), and the increased use of carbon-free renewable energy. Since the City's electricity is generated primarily from renewable sources, shifting from natural gas to electricity to power building equipment, appliances, and operations wherever possible will result in significant GHG savings.

The CEAP does not mandate that new buildings be all-electric but allows builders to construct mixed-fuel buildings. However, builders choosing the mixed fuel option would need to add energy efficiency or electrification measures that meet the equivalent GHG savings through selection from a menu of options. This is known as the Flexible Measures Compliance Pathway and has been developed by the California Energy Codes and Standards team. It allows the City to customize an emissions (or energy) reduction target based on the size and scope of the project. The CEAP proposes to utilize this same method for achieving emissions reductions from existing buildings undergoing major renovations or additions.

Implementation, Monitoring and Updates

Most CEAP measures do not go into effect immediately but will be implemented through local ordinances, which provide the mechanism by which improvements in energy efficiency, as well as support for electrification of equipment and vehicles, are enacted in new construction or renovations at a local level. Ordinances also establish standards for water conservation, landscaping, solid waste management, and other environmental practices.

This is the City's first climate action plan and GHG inventory reporting and represents a starting point for action. A CEAP tracking dashboard is available at www.toclimateaction.org. The CEAP will be re-visited at least every five years, providing an opportunity to update projections and strategies in light of expected new State legislation, regulations, and building standards and informed by tracking data from annual emissions and key performance indicators.

Thousand Oaks residents are encouraged to learn more about the CEAP and take action to reduce the City's environmental footprint. Visit www.toclimateaction.org to find out how and to download a copy of the Plan.