PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach has once again been recognized for its industry-leading environmental best practices, as it was recently awarded second place in the 2023 Green Garage Awards by the National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA). The award recognizes the most progressive and environmentally committed and innovative vehicle fleet maintenance garages in the nation and acknowledges environmentally friendly fleets that prioritize sustainability and lower carbon footprints throughout their operations.

“The recent recognition of our Fleet Services Bureau for their dedication to sustainable practices demonstrates that Long Beach is a model city for sustainability," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "This award serves as a powerful symbol of our commitment to not only responsible governance, but also the health and well-being of our community. We are proud to be leading the way towards a greener future for all."

The Green Garage Award recognizes excellence in areas such as facility maintenance, recycling, procurement, innovation and community outreach. The City was recognized for numerous accomplishments, including its tire recap and recycling program, gray water recycling at the on-premises car wash, and active efforts to reduce reliance on paper by transitioning to digital facility inspections, paperless ticket writing for vehicle maintenance orders, and digital meeting agendas and handouts versus printed, among other efforts. Notably, 25% of eligible City vehicles, which includes approximately 600 vehicles utilized across all City departments, have transitioned to reusable oil filters, cutting costs and reducing filter waste; and maintenance operations have reduced overall aerosol usage by 75%, with 90% of automotive lubricants and degreasers transitioned to non-aerosols. Additionally, environmentally conscious features have been integrated into the physical property of Fleet Services, including the transition to LED lighting, faucet aerators and solar panel installations. The City was also recognized for its community outreach through its ongoing support of environmental awareness events and community showcases of its zero emission vehicles.

The City’s Green Fleet is comprised of 80 electric vehicles, 86 plug-in hybrids, over 90 electric vehicle charging stations, and four portable solar EV charging stations.

“The City fleet has a long history of alternative fuel use and emissions reduction. This Green Garage award and our ongoing fleet conversion to zero-emissions illustrate our continued dedication to fleet sustainability,” said Fleet Services Bureau Manager Dan Berlenbach.

The Green Garage award is presented by NAFA, a nonprofit organization that propels the fleet and mobility profession through its world-class certification, education, advocacy, and peer-networking programs. The City’s Fleet Services’ relationship with NAFA has been a critical partnership for resource sharing, staying up to date on the latest technology and techniques, and knowledge sharing among the 2,000 individual fleet manager members in both the public and private sectors nationally.

The complete list of the2023 Green Garage winners is available here.

About the City of Long Beach 
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.