The City of Santa Clarita's Transit Maintenance Facility (TMF) was constructed using a variety of green building strategies and was certified at a gold level by the US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The walls of the TMF, shown here during construction, used rice straw grown in Northern California. They provide superior insulation and require no wood or metal studs, gypsum boards, or paint. All this from a product usually considered to be waste material.

Why do we care?

• Life - We are all living organisms dependent upon clean air, clean water, and food (the environment) for life.
  
• Saving Natural Resources - Our planet’s natural resources are limited. Eventually we will run short of the materials we now use and discard. It is essential that we protect these resources through recycling. To see how you are doing go to www.ecologicalfootprint.org.
  
• Drinking Water – Santa Clarita obtains 50% of its drinking water from underground wells and 50% is imported from Northern California. Pollution prevention efforts and proper management of hazardous waste helps to preserve the quality of our drinking water in this valley.
  
• Prevent New Landfill Development – Landfills are closing throughout California. To prevent landfills from being built in our community, recycling and waste reduction must become a way of life for all of us.
  
• Economy – Energy production can cause pollution and can have a negative impact on the environment. Energy conservation can help eliminate this form of pollution.
  
• The Future – Preserving resources and the environment for our children and future generations is one of the most important tasks we have today. By managing our natural resources responsibly, we help to ensure that our children and future generations will have adequate resources to enjoy a high quality of life.

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