Saturday, August 22, 2009
You can lower the valley's carbon emissions
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Sean McGinnis
McGinnis, of Roanoke, is on the Roanoke Citizens for Clean and Green Committee, a board member of the Southwest Virginia chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and director of Virginia Tech Green Engineering.
The subject of carbon dioxide emissions is increasingly in the news. It's a real challenge to filter through all the information -- new scientific data and results, proposed legislation and political posturing, and strong opinions regarding the scale of the problem and potential solutions.
Nonetheless, responsible citizens educate themselves and act on such issues to improve their communities and the environment for future generations.
There is no debate that fossil fuels -- coal, oil and natural gas -- emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when combusted for energy. And nearly all climate scientists agree that this greenhouse gas is a significant contributor to global warming. Data confirm that both energy use and carbon emissions are rising.
There is also no question that supplies of fossil fuels have limits. As energy demand increases, prices will continue to rise without substitutes for fossil fuels. We see local evidence of this in recent requests for electrical utilities to increase rates. In a world with rising energy prices and a difficult economic climate, efforts to reduce carbon emissions will necessarily save money for homeowners and businesses.
Moreover, there are local health and environmental effects that result from other chemicals emitted by burning fossil fuels. Auto exhaust, for example, contains chemicals that form smog. This pollution is visible in the hazy mountain views, and the Roanoke Valley's air quality during the summer months approaches the EPA limit for ground-level ozone. Ozone has a range of serious negative health impacts.
While national programs and legislation have been slow to address carbon emissions, many local governments, businesses and organizations have taken action. Collective action can make a difference, locally and beyond, and Roanoke has been recognized for its efforts.
The city's Clean and Green program has won several state environmental awards. Gov. Tim Kaine visited Roanoke this summer and lauded the efforts of the Clean and Green Business Coalition, businesses committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, saving money and improving local environmental quality.
In 2007, Roanoke began considering the issue of carbon emissions. A detailed inventory of the amounts and sources of carbon dioxide emissions was compiled as part of a baseline analysis, or carbon footprint. In September 2008, city council passed a resolution setting a goal of communitywide reduction of carbon emissions by 2 percent per year, for a 10 percent reduction by 2014.
An increasing awareness of carbon emissions is critical, but only the first step; action is required to reduce carbon emissions in any meaningful and sustainable way. The city's carbon analysis identified significant emissions from all sectors: residential, commercial and industrial. Therefore, we need action across the entire community to substantially reduce carbon emissions.
This spring, the Citizens Clean and Green Committee began to consider communitywide reductions in the residential sector, which accounts for about 25 percent of city carbon emissions. Committee members are developing and implementing programs to help meet the city's goals, and participation from all citizens and organizations is encouraged.
The citizens committee is kicking off several programs to increase awareness and action. First, the Citizens Clean and Green Pledge was developed to provide a list of residential items that citizens can act on to reduce carbon emissions. The list ranges from no-cost behavioral changes such as adjusting thermostat settings, to low-cost products like compact fluorescent lights, to major investments such as Energy Star appliances and fuel-efficient vehicles. These actions not only reduce carbon emissions, but save money over time.
Second, the "Fill Your Bin and Win" contest has begun to encourage recycling in the city. By signing up your bin and recycling, citizens can win $100. Participation in the city's recycling program is only 40 percent, resulting in tons of recyclable material going to the landfill daily. This hurts the environment in several ways: More natural resources are required to make new products, more landfill space is occupied, and more energy use results in additional carbon emissions to manufacture products from virgin rather than recycled materials.
Finally, the "Greenest Loser" contest this summer will feature local families competing to reduce energy use and carbon emissions. Follow this contest in the coming weeks to see the unique local challenges and successes of people in your community as they strive to reduce their energy use and improve the environment.
The Citizens for Clean and Green Committee urges you to check out the information on the city's Clean and Green Web site, www.roanokeva.gov. We need action from the entire community.
Individual actions do make a difference. Commit to the carbon reduction pledge, recycle as much as possible, and encourage your neighbors and friends to reduce carbon emissions. You will save money, improve environmental quality in the Roanoke Valley and help to reduce global warming risks for future generations.
