The Challenge Save money energy and the planet

The Challenge Save money, energy, and the planet! Welcome Greece! Let’s be a Cool Community!

Thanks to: Apple Annie’s

Town Supervisor John Auburger Brought to you by Sierra Club and Color Brighton Green

Your Host: Keri Kaminsky, BSN, RN Co-Chair, Sierra Club Global Warming and Energy Committee Co-Organizer, Low Carbon Diet Challenge

What is the Rochester Low Carbon Diet Challenge? • Ten sites throughout greater Rochester are forming teams • Teams support each other in making simple changes in their daily lives to adopt environmentally sustainable practices • Organizers tracking progress • Cool Communities Grand Awards Celebration • Have Fun!!

The Greenhouse Effect Sun’s energy hits the Earth CO 2 and other gases in the atmosphere trap heat, keeping the Earth warm.

Where does CO 2 come from? Human activities emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere… much faster than plants and oceans can absorb it.

We must act now. “We have at most ten years — not ten years to decide upon action, but ten years to fundamentally alter the trajectory of global greenhouse emissions. ” — James Hansen Director, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies

U. N. EARTH SUMMIT “THE GREATEST CAUSE OF THE DETERIORATION OF THE GLOBAL ECOSYSTEM IS THE UNSUSTAINABLE PATTERNS OF CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION OF INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES. ” (1992)

With 5% of the world’s population

Americans use 25% of the world’s resources

If every person on earth had the same rate of consumption

If every person on earth had the same rate of consumption

If every person on earth had the same rate of consumption

If every person on earth had the same rate of consumption

If every person on earth had the same rate of consumption

It would take six Earths to sustain us all.

We waste up to 75% of what we consume through inefficiency and lack of awareness…

Therefore, conservation doesn’t mean painful cuts… It’s about using resources in a smarter, more efficient way.

Why are we gathered? This is our call to action to face the challenge of global climate change

Half of America’s CO 2 emissions come from our households.

Our purchases influence the other half.

AS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE PROBLEM, AMERICANS CAN ALSO BE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE SOLUTION.

TRADITIONAL SOCIAL CHANGE STRATEGIES OF LEGISLATION, TAXATION AND PROTEST WHILE ESSENTIAL ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR RAPID AND FUNDAMENTAL TRANSFORMATION.

Legislation: 5 to 10 years Scaling up renewable energy resources: 10+ years Scaling up new technology: 10+ yrs

Conservation: AVAILABLE NOW!

Is there a political consensus on Climate Change? The following quotes come from both presidential candidates, the 45 th vice president (D) and the 58 th speaker of the House of Representatives (R) You guess who said what

“My message is that the evidence is sufficient that we should move towards the most effective possible steps to reduce carbon loading of the atmosphere. I think there has to be, if you will, a green conservatism. ”

“My fellow Americans, people all over the world, we need to solve the climate crisis. It's not a political issue, it's a moral issue. We have everything we need to get started, with the possible exception of the will to act. That's a renewable resource. Let's renew it. ”

“Suppose that climate change is not real and all we do is adopt green technologies which our economy and technology is perfectly capable of, then all we’ve done is given our kids a cleaner world. But suppose [the skeptics are] wrong… and climate change is real and we’ve done nothing? What kind of a planet are we going to pass on to the next generation of Americans? ”

“All across the world, in every kind of environment and region known to man, increasingly dangerous weather patterns and devastating storms are abruptly putting an end to the long-running debate over whether or not climate change is real. Not only is it real, it's here, and its effects are giving rise to a frighteningly new global phenomenon: the man -made natural disaster. ”

So what’s stopping us? BARRIERS TO ACTION: 1. WHERE DO I START? 2. WHICH ARE THE IMPORTANT ACTIONS? 3. HOW DO I TAKE THE ACTIONS? 4. WILL IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

DAVID GERSHON and the Empowerment Institute have studied the barriers AND the success factors.

It WILL make a difference This program, when implemented with passion by each person that it touches, mobilizes the entire community. One person influences the next individual or group in the same way that a virus spreads through a population. Suddenly there is a “new normal; ” everyone’s behavior is more environmentally friendly, without a second thought.

“WHEN PEOPLE TAKE PERSONAL ACTION ON GLOBAL WARMING, IT LEADS INEVITABLY TO THEIR DESIRE TO HAVE CHANGES IN POLICIES…. WHEN ENOUGH AMERICAN CITIZENS BECOME PART OF THIS NEW CRITICAL MASS AND THE U. S. CHANGES POLICY, THEN IT BECOMES MUCH MORE LIKELY THAT CHINA WILL MAKE THE CHANGES IT HAS TO MAKE. WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. ” -AL GORE

Climate Change Cafe

Café Question #1 What gives you HOPE ?

Café Question #2 What are your FEARS ?

Program Enables individuals to reduce household carbon footprint And help others in their community and workplace to do the same Carbon Footprint = the total amount of carbon emissions that you are responsible for

24 Actions divided into three sections: 1. Cool lifestyle practices (Meeting one) 2. Cool household systems (Meeting two) 3. Helping others lose unwanted pounds (Meeting three)

Process 1. Calculate CO 2 Footprint 2. Choose actions to reduce it by 5, 000 pounds or more You can even take an action to become CARBON NEUTRAL.

THIS WORKS!! Portland Pilot Program AVERAGED 22% OR 6, 700 POUNDS CO 2 REDUCTION

Info needed for Carbon Calculator (see page 5, #4 in book) • Your last few statements from your electricity, natural gas and/or heating oil providers • The average weekly or annual miles driven in each of your household’s cars • The mpg of all your household's cars (If you need help calculating this, see page 17 of the Low Carbon Diet workbook. ) • Number of airplane miles traveled per year www. empowermentinstitute. net/lcd

1. Dumping On Garbage. Reducing Solid Waste § Recycle, Recycle § Reduce packing / purchase bulk § Reduce junk mail § Donate or Reuse Items

2. Am I Clean Yet? § To reduce hot water used in showers: § use low-flow showerheads § time your average shower § reduce shower time to… 5 minutes or less § what can you do to reduce time? ?

3. Scrub-A-Dub Tub § Reducing water used for dishes: § dishwasher: full load only, don’t rinse dishes first; don’t use heated drying mode § hand washing: use a “wash” tub and a “rinse” tub… or get creative! § put an aerator on kitchen faucet § buy Energy. Star® dishwasher when time to replace yours

4. Wear It Again, Sam § wash after each wearing… really necessary? § is spot cleaning so bad? § wash full loads only, in cold water more often § the joys of clothesline drying in Summer! § Energy. Star® washer & dryer when the time comes

5. Better A Sweater § in Winter, home heating = 25% of energy costs! § when home, set thermostat to 65 -68ºF § when out or overnight, set to 55 -58ºF § programmable thermostat- so you don’t have to remember!

6. Plug your Electricity Leaks § Many gadgets use electricity even when turned off! § identify them– tip: use a Kill-A-Watt § turn off via power strip when not in use § unplug items that have block-shaped transformer at plug end (cell phone chargers, etc. ) § buy Energy. Star® electronics when replacing

7. Chill-In § Don’t over-cool, do ensure efficiency of air conditioner § buy Energy. Star®, not too large for area § install in natural shade, else shade from sun § service and replace filter regularly § set at highest comfortable temperature – 78ºF § Turn off when not home, or when temp outside falls § Use curtains, or better– trees for shade!

8. Think Before You Go § Drive less– save lots of carbon (high impact action) § on average, 10, 000 lbs. carbon emitted/year for every adult AND child § keep a trip diary, per car or person; determine: § average weekly miles driven, car’s fuel efficiency in mpg e Co er mb ra ine nd s Sh op fri for en d a bi k ca rp oo l § find ways to reduce miles driven, goal is 20%

9. Drive Earth Smart § Change HOW you drive- reduce carbon AND be safer! § get rid of extra pounds in car § City: smooth steady speed, no quick acceleration, coast slowly to stops, minimize idling § Highway: steady speed of 55 mph § turn engine off if stopped for more than a minute

10. Chew on This § This is also a high-payback action! § Reduce or eliminate meat from your diet: § substitute vegetarian meals- go at your own pace § get creative- try veggie recipes! § encourage vegetarian offerings by restaurants § buy local food when possible- meat and veggies

TAKE PERSONAL ACTION 1. Lower your carbon footprint 2. Help others lower their carbon footprint 3. Volunteer 4. Vote and Advocate 5. Visualize or pray for success

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world. ” Mohandas Ghandi

Some images and content courtesy of EMPOWERMENT INSTITUTE PO BOX 428 WOODSTOCK, NY 12498 PHONE: (845) 657 -7788 WEBSITE: www. empowermentinstitute. net/lcd EMAIL: dgershon@empowermentinstitute. net Copyright: David Gershon, 2007 Photos: Courtesy of Kevin Kelley, NASA, Alan Carey, Sonya Shoptaugh