Simi Valley's Climate Action Activities
Through its 2010-2012 Energy Leader Partnership with Southern California Edison, Simi Valley is reducing its energy use by demonstrating for residents and businesses easy steps that may be taken to decrease energy consumption, save money, and reduce environmental impacts.
About Simi Valley
Incorporated: October 10, 1969
Population: 126,878 (estimated - 2017)
Location: Southeast Ventura County, adjacent to the northwestern perimeter of the San Fernando Valley, approximately 37 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles
Elevation: Ranges fro 700 feet to 1,000 feet above sea level
Area: Approximately 42 square miles
Climate Action Activities
- SoCal Edison’s Energy Leader Partnership Program Member
- Tree City USA
- Cool Planet Award Participant
- Energy Leader Partnership member
- Green Communities Challenge participant
- Adopted Green Community Action Plan in August 2010, incorporating activities in each of ILG’s Best Practices Areas
- Simi Valley Lives Green website provides information about the city’s sustainability efforts, and opportunities for residents and businesses to share ideas and tips
- Created Sustainable Simi Valley Committee in December 2007
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory in process, expected completion Summer 2011
- Completed Climate Action Plan, 2012
Transit Maintenance Facility
Simi Valley’s newly renovated transit maintenance facility is a model of sustainability in more ways than one. The $2.4 million Simi Valley Transit Maintenance Facility project was funded through Federal Transit Administration and American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds.
In 2012, the city dedicated the LEED-Gold building that incorporates recycled and regionally produced materials plus an energy-efficient design that has resulted in a 25% energy savings. The project also includes a modern bus washing system that filters and recycles wash water in a way that accelerates the washing process and reduces water use by 42%.
But that’s not all. The renovation process allowed the city to expand and upgrade its compressed natural gas (a clean-burning fuel) vehicle fueling facility at the transit maintenance facility. As a result, the city is now able to offer a neighboring agency and private company access to less expensive, clean-burning compressed natural gas through cooperative agreements. This opportunity helped the City of Moorpark make the decision to convert its three city buses from diesel to compressed natural gas. Because of the availability of the fuel locally, a local waste management company was able to convert its fleet of diesel-powered trash trucks to a fleet of 25 new trucks powered by compressed natural gas. In total, Simi Valley sells approximately 700 therms (or 700,000 cubic feet) of compressed natural gas each month at appropriately tiered rates which results in income for the city.
Simi Valley Demographics
Simi Valley, CA has a population of 126,878 and is the 221st largest city in the United States. The population density is 3,041 per sq mi which is 1088% higher than the California average and 3256% higher than the national average. The median age in Simi Valley is 40 which is approximately 11% higher than the California average of 36. In Simi Valley, 59% of the population over 15 years of age are married, 74% speak English and 15% speak Spanish. 61% of Simi Valley residents were born in California, 19% were born out of state, 1% were born outside of the United States and 19% were foreign-born.