The Beacon Award recognizes an agency’s holistic approach to addressing climate change. Participating agencies are required to complete each of following five elements to win a Beacon Award:

1. Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
2. Agency Electricity Savings
3. Agency Natural Gas Savings
4. Community Greenhouse Gas Reduction
5. Activities in each of the Institute’s ten Sustainability Best Practice Areas

Congratulations to the 2020 Beacon Award winning cities!

Full Video

Short Video

Congratulations to the 2019 Beacon Award winning cities!

Congratulations to the 2018 Beacon Award winning cities!

Congratulations to the 2017 Beacon Award winning cities!

Cupertino (2020)

Platinum Beacon Vanguard Award Winner

• 24% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 23% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 22% Energy Savings
• Platinum Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices 

Chula Vista (2020) 

Gold Beacon Vanguard Award Winner

• 12% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 29% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 24% Energy Savings
• 30% Natural Gas Savings
• Platinum Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Sacramento (2020)

Gold Beacon Vanguard Award Winner

• 19% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 25% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 43% Energy Savings
• 15% Natural Gas Savings
• Platinum Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

San Diego (2020)

Gold Beacon Vanguard Award Winner

• 24% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 16% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 15% Energy Savings
• 14% Natural Gas Savings
• Gold Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Daly City (2020)

Silver Beacon Vanguard Award Winner

• 20% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 18% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 6% Energy Savings
• 7% Natural Gas Savings
• Gold Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Pacific Grove (2020)

Silver Beacon Vanguard Award Winner

• 23% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 30% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 20% Energy Savings
• 9% Natural Gas Savings
• Silver Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Brisbane (2019)

Platinum Beacon Award Winner

• 20% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 24% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 21% Energy Savings
• 24% Natural Gas Savings
• Platinum Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

San Carlos (2019)

Platinum Beacon Award Winner

• 21% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 45% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 32% Energy Savings
• Platinum Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Carson (2019)

Gold Beacon Award Winner

• 17% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 26% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 22% Energy Savings
• Gold Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Cupertino (2019)

Gold Beacon Award Winner

• 13% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 23% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 22% Energy Savings
• Platinum Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

El Cerrito (2019)

Gold Beacon Award Winner

• 14% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 10% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 26% Energy Savings
• 52% Natural Gas Savings
• Platinum Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Foster City (2019)

Gold Beacon Award Winner

• 20% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 23% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 20% Energy Savings
• 13% Natural Gas Savings
• Platinum Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

San Rafael (2019)

Gold Beacon Award Winner

• 13% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 19% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 11% Energy Savings
• Platinum Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Santa Barbara (2019)

Gold Beacon Award Winner

• 23% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 26% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 10% Energy Savings
• 16% Natural Gas Savings
• Platinum Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Alameda County (2019)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 14% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 14% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 13% Energy Savings
• 5% Natural Gas Savings
• Platinum Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Burlingame (2019)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 7% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 9% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 13% Energy Savings
• Gold Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Santa Cruz (2019)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 23% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 15% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 18% Energy Savings
• 7% Natural Gas Savings
• Platinum Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Truckee (2019)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 33% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 12% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 13% Energy Savings
• 6% Natural Gas Savings
• Gold Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices 

Redwood City (2018)

Gold Beacon Award Winner

• 11% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 20% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 11% Energy Savings
• 10% Natural Gas Savings
• Platinum Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Santa Cruz County (2018)

Gold Beacon Award Winner

• 17% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 12% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 28% Energy Savings
• 13% Natural Gas Savings
• Platinum Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Carson (2018)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 17% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 26% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 9% Energy Savings
• Silver Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Long Beach (2018)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 7% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 16% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 7% Energy Savings
• 27% Natural Gas Savings
• Platinum Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Mill Valley (2018)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 12% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 15% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 5% Energy Savings
• Silver Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Santa Rosa (2018)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 21% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 8% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 8% Energy Savings
• 5% Natural Gas Savings
• Platinum Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Palo Alto (2017)

Platinum Beacon Award Winner

• 21% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 52% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 22% Energy Savings
• 35% Natural Gas Savings
• Platinum Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Claremont (2017)

Gold Beacon Award Winner

• 17% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 54% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 21% Energy Savings
• 15% Natural Gas Savings
• Platinum Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Hayward (2017)

Gold Beacon Award Winner

• 21% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 43% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 25% Energy Savings
• 10% Natural Gas Savings
• Platinum Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

San Carlos (2017)

Gold Beacon Award Winner

• 12% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 15% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 17% Energy Savings
• Platinum Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Alpine County (2017)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 29% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 32% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 29% Energy Savings
• Silver Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Foster City (2017)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 8% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 23% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 20% Energy Savings
• 13% Natural Gas Savings
• Platinum Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Fremont (2017)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 11% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 7% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 28% Energy Savings
• 6% Natural Gas Savings
• Gold Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Sacramento (2017)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 5% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 25% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 43% Energy Savings
• 15% Natural Gas Savings
• Platinum Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Scotts Valley (2017)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 17% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 10% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 7% Energy Savings
• 5% Natural Gas Savings
• Silver Level Award in Sustainability Best Practices

Colma (2016)

Gold Beacon Award Winner

• 29% Agency Energy Savings
• 22% Agency Natural Gas Savings
• 22% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 18% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• Platinum Level Sustainability Best Practices

American Canyon (2016)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 34% Agency Energy Savings
• 10% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 8% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• Silver Level Sustainability Best Practices

Benicia (2016)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 10% Agency Energy Savings
• 10% Agency Natural Gas Savings
• 21% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 6% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• Platinum Level Sustainability Best Practices

Davis (2016)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 5% Agency Energy Savings
• 28% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 7% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• Platinum Level Sustainability Best Practices

Emeryville (2016)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 11% Agency Energy Savings
• 8% Agency Natural Gas Savings
• 7% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 7% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• Gold Level Sustainability Best Practices

Hermosa Beach (2016)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 9% Agency Energy Savings
• 9% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 8% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• Silver Level Sustainability Best Practices

Manhattan Beach (2016)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 26% Agency Energy Savings
• 8% Agency Natural Gas Savings
• 9% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 9% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• Platinum Level Sustainability Best Practices

Santa Monica (2016)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 13% Agency Energy Savings
• 9% Agency Natural Gas Savings
• 44% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 14% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• Platinum Level Sustainability Best Practices

Hayward (2015)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 25% Agency Energy Savings
• 8% Natural Gas Savings
• 21% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions 
• 43% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• Gold Level Sustainability Best Practices

Redwood City (2015)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 8% Agency Energy Savings
• 7% Natural Gas Savings
• 8% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions 
• 20% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• Platinum Level Sustainability Best Practices

South Gate (2015)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 12% Agency Energy Savings
• 5% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions 
• 10% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• Platinum Level Sustainability Best Practices

County of San Mateo (2015)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 5% Agency Energy Savings
• 8% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 15% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• 7% Natural Gas Savings
• Platinum Level Sustainability Best Practices

Palo Alto (2014)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 9% Agency Electricity Savings
• 35% Natural Gas Savings
• 21% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions 
• 52% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• Platinum Level Sustainability Best Practices

San Rafael (2013)

Silver Beacon Award Winner

• 5% Agency Electricity Savings
• 19% Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions 
• 8% Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• Gold Level Sustainability Best Practices