(July 2007)

Most scientists agree that global warming is real and if we don't change our energy guzzling habits soon we will suffer some very unpleasant consequences. The Sierra Club has undertaken two initiatives to help its members combat global warming: Cool Cities, http://www.coolcities.us/ - and the 2% Solution, http://sierraclub.org/twopercent/
Last year the City of Davis signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. This agreement is rapidly gathering support and cities that are participating have pledged to reduce global warming carbon dioxide (CO2) to 7% below 1990 levels by 2012. In March of this year the Natural Resources Commission unanimously passed a motion recommending that the City move forward with its efforts to assess its greenhouse gas emissions and develop a plan to reduce those emissions, and the City Council followed by authorizing a local Climate Action Program. City staff has formed a Sustainability Working Group to guide this effort.

How will our community accomplish this goal in the next 5 years and how can we as Sierra Club members and Davis residents help?

The Yolano Group is compiling a list of actions that we hope can help make Davis a “Cool” city. They generally fall into three broad categories: conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy, and improvements to municipal buildings and other municipal infrastructure. We plan to submit this list to the Sustainability Working Group in hopes that they will adopt some of these recommendations.

WE NEED YOUR INPUT - here are some suggestions we have already received (in no particular order) :
1) Buy Local - The less distance products travel, the less they pollute
2) Reduce Automobile emissions - tailpipes create the majority of greenhouse gases. Anything we can do to drive less will make a difference. One member suggested developing a program to encourage residents not to use (or even move) their cars - once a week.
Make your next car purchase a low emissions vehicle
Davis should put more emphasis on neighborhood centers as a way to encourage more walking/biking for daily errands
3) Solar panels on all city buildings, solar heating for city swimming pools, solar panels on UCD buildings, a break on property taxes for new and existing homes when they go solar
4) Decrease Community Water Usage - Household water use in the US is over 70 gallons per person per day. Energy is required to pump and process water and conserving water by fixing leaks, replacing inefficient fixtures and ending inefficient habits will reduce greenhouse gas emissions
6) Energy Efficiency/ Energy Conservation - Encourage Energy Efficient buildings, building construction, and retrofit. Develop and use regulations and building codes designed to encourage energy efficiency.

These are just a few of the ideas we plan to submit to the City - SEND YOUR BEST IDEAS TO : co2co2co2@comcast.net - or to the Yolano Group's PO Box so we can include them.