For Immediate Release
Contact: Crystal Morrow
Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Office of Councilmember LeZotte
(408) 535-4918
(408) 535-4901

Councilmember LeZotte Celebrates
Sustainable Silicon Valley's First Annual CO2 Reduction Report

San Jose, CA-Councilmember Linda J. LeZotte, a long time supporter of Sustainable Silicon Valley (SSV), will be joining SSV on November 16th at DeAnza College's Kirsch Center for Environmental Studies to hear the first annual CO2 reduction report for all nineteen SSV partners. First established in 2001, SSV has been working with community leaders to reduce CO2 emissions by 20% by the year 2010.  The combined effort of Sustainable Silicon Valley participants has prevented the production of over 743 million pounds of Carbon Dioxide.

During the report, Councilmember LeZotte will be speaking on the progress of SSV and the efforts of the City of San José.  "Sustainable Silicon Valley is a ground-breaking organization that has captured the spirit of innovation that built this community, by encouraging the public and private sectors to invent new techniques to conserve energy, reduce CO2 emissions and model sustainable design for the rest of the world" said LeZotte.  "I look forward to hearing about what our collaboration has achieved with SSV's encouragement and I am even more excited about the steps we will take in the future that will continue our efforts to make the Silicon Valley sustainable," LeZotte continued.

As one of the first municipalities to sign on to SSV, San José has made great strides in creating a sustainable city.  San José's Green Building Policy, which requires all newly built or renovated City buildings over 10,000 gross square feet meet the requirements for Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) certification, is one of many steps the City has taken towards meeting the goal set by SSV.  All LEED Certified building are built and designed to be environmentally sustainable.  As an ardent backer of the Green Building Policy and member of the Green Building Task Force, LeZotte led the effort to have District 1's West Valley Library become the first LEED Certified public library in the world.  Additionally, San José
became a signatory city of the United Nations' 21-point Environmental Accords on November 1st.  By signing this agreement, San José will further its commitment to the goals of Sustainable Silicon Valley.

Crystal Morrow
Council Assistant
Councilmember Linda J. LeZotte
San José Council District 1
Phone: (408) 535-4901 Fax: (408) 292-6448
200 East Santa Clara Street, 18th Floor
San José, CA 95113