Regional Dashboard

About the Dashboard

 

About the Regional Quality of Life Dashboard

The San Diego Regional Quality of Life Dashboard was initiated in 2009 by the Equinox Center to shine a spotlight on the questions that truly matter to San Diegans:  Will our businesses have access to resources such as energy and water so they can continue to provide economic opportunities to all of the region's inhabitants? Do our residents have ample access to natural areas and outdoor recreation opportunities?  Does our transportation network allow us to move easily from our homes to jobs, schools and other destinations?  Simply, is our quality of life improving?

Equinox Center’s set of indicators is intended to be a quick and easily digestible snapshot, not unlike the set of gauges on a car’s dashboard that tell you how well your vehicle is running and when there is a problem.  We recognize there are areas we haven’t covered that some may consider important to quality of life in the region, but we focus primarily on issues within Equinox’s purview: energy, water, transportation, land use and the built environment.  Almost everything we do in our daily lives— how we get to work, how we water our yards, what kind of home we live in— has an impact on these areas, or is affected by them.

When possible, this inaugural Regional Quality of Life Dashboard includes California and national averages to provide reference points for San Diego’s data. We have included targets for indicators where a local agency or a state or federal authority has established goals which our region is expected to meet. Where no target has yet been set for a particular indicator, our intention is to provide baseline data and stimulate regional conversations about setting goals for some of these indicators.  As these conversations progress, we will add benchmarks and comparison regions against which to measure San Diego’s progress.   

Equinox Center will update the Dashboard regularly.  Please check back for the most recent information.

 

Key Findings

In the next 20 years, San Diego County is projected to add 750,000 more people. Mobility, affordable housing, ample parks and natural areas, sparkling beaches, clean and reliable energy and water all add up to an exceptional quality of life.  The Dashboard reveals our status in these areas-- excelling in some measures and needing attention in others. Bottom line: our region needs to adopt a more balanced and integrated approach to growth.

Priority Issues:

WATER

  • The region must use its water supply more efficiently, especially for outdoor landscaping. The County imports 85% of its water and 60% of residential water use is for landscaping.  By 2020, the State requires a 20% per capita reduction in consumption. The region needs to continue to develop additional local sources to support new residents and growing businesses.  Using water more wisely will reduce energy consumption, and outdoor water conservation will also prevent pollution in rivers and streams and help prevent beach closures. 

TRANSPORTATION

  • San Diego has one of the worst traffic congestion rankings nationally.  The long term trend of rising vehicle miles traveled will need to be stemmed to meet greenhouse gas emission targets and reduce congestion. The majority of local employers consider traffic congestion to be a major impediment to doing business in the region. Other modes of transportation are vital to the health and mobility of our residents.

ENERGY

  • The county will not meet the State requirements to generate 20% of total energy from renewable sources by the end of 2010. 

Significant efforts are needed to ramp up solar energy, other renewable sources and energy efficiency programs to help the region meet its climate, energy security and air quality goals. 

Equinox Center will support the region’s leaders, including policy makers, community groups and business, in tackling these and other issues. We will continue to participate in regional dialogue and to conduct additional research, analyze data, and identify best practices and possible solutions  so that San Diego residents may all enjoy the quality of life we envision for future generations: healthy, prosperous, productive and exceptional.

 

Acknowledgements


Equinox Center Board of Directors                             Prepared by Equinox Center Staff

Martin Brown                                                              Marion Paul, Executive Director

Trevor Callan                                                              Ann Tartre, Program Director

Aaron Contorer                                                           Kirby Brady, Research and Communications Coordinator

Scott Grimes

Phyllis Huckabee

Diane Rosenberg

 

Special Thanks to:
Equinox Indicators Task Force                                  Expert Advisory Panel

   Martin Brown                                                           Scott Anders, Energy Policy Initiatives Center, USD

   Martyn Collins                                                          Jim Stone, San Diego Natural History Museum

   Aaron Contorer                                                         Dr. Mark Thiemens, UCSD

   Scott Grimes

   Gina Rogers

 

Dashboard Volunteers and Interns

Kari Chan

Nick Hein

Sharmila Krishnamurty

Mika Nagamine

Ron Paul