Acting on Climate

How many more “Hottest Year on Earth” will we have before we take the warnings to heart and make some significant moves? Your guess is as good as mine now that the Supreme Court has blocked the Obama Administration’s efforts to regulate coal plant emissions and be a leader in Paris climate agreement policies.

The U.S., as the world’s second largest contributor to CO2 emissions, should and is expected to lead the efforts in climate change mitigation. Now that this is temporarily (hopefully not permanently, but you never know how this election will turn out) off the table, other countries may likely assume that the U.S. is not committed to protecting our planet and will postpone their efforts to reduce energy consumption and emissions as well.

Most cities in the world experienced higher than normal temperatures. The first half of 2015 alone saw some of the strangest weather events and while a “lag time” must be allowed for all relevant factors to be considered, long-term data suggests a strong link between climate change and these events. There is far too much evidence to keep ignoring these signs and doing nothing.

If you’re as frustrated with the inaction of governments and larger agencies, you may be wondering what you can do to make a difference.

So, how can you help? The good news is there are lots of ways:

Minimize your carbon footprint. You can do a bunch of different things to meet this requirement from leading a low carbon lifestyle to limiting your reliance on fossil fuels. Here are a few: use public transportation whenever possible; change to more efficient light bulbs throughout your home; unplug electric devices and appliances when not in use and turn off lights when leaving a room; insulate your home; set your thermostat to 68°F in the winter and 78°F in the summer; eat locally produced and grown foods; minimize water consumption; recycle and reuse.

Offset your carbon footprint. Offset what you can’t reduce. You can plant trees, but donating to agencies that improve forest management and protect standing forests is good, too. You can calculate your footprint as well.

Hopefully the EPA will soon be able to do its job and regulate emissions. While the agency’s powers are limited, however, we can and should help!!

What are you doing to fight climate change?

Energy efficiency: We must get more from less

This BASF-produced video offers a pretty broad overview of future energy consumption and challenges. It focuses heavily on energy efficiency, which is "the single most important source of energy."

This reflects a long-established policy of the state of California and is a mantra repeated by many who support alternative energy.

Challenge prompts automotive fleets to reduce CO2 emissions

The results are in, and they look pretty good for a carbon dioxide-reducing challenge sponsored by Wheels Inc.

The Des Plaines, Ill.-based automotive fleet leasing company today said that its inaugural EcoWheels Green Driver Challenge, which enlisted 2,970 corporate fleet vehicle drivers, prevented tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.

The ten-week program got pledges from drivers "whose actions are equivalent to saving 4,640,520 pounds in carbon dioxide emissions, or the equivalent of 341,787 trees having been planted," officials said in a statement.

The exact amount is near impossible to measure. However, the EcoWheels Challenge Web site provides some clarity. It provided those who signed up a checklist of activities with estimates for each energy-saving measure. The list included checking tires to ensure proper inflation, reducing idling time, planning routes in advance of any trip, accelerating more gradually and leaving excess cargo.

"It is clear that our drivers are excited about the opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and operate their vehicles more efficiently while still carrying out the duties of their respective jobs," said Dan Frank, president of Wheels Services. "The drivers took action that made a significant contribution to the preservation of our environment while at the same time reducing their fuel consumption and expenses."

Forty-one different corporate fleets participated, including SimplexGrinnell, a Boca Raton, Florida-based fire suppression and emergency communications company.

"The EcoWheels program demonstrated the significant impact our employees can have by making simple changes in driving habits and embracing the importance of conservation and environmental protection," said Jim Spicer, president of SimplexGrinnell.

The results encouraged Gail Watson, fleet manager, Nationwide Insurance, who said, "We actively search for opportunities to improve our operating efficiency and to reduce waste, and participating in this challenge shows that you don't need to be in manufacturing in order to make sustainability a priority."

Wheels officials said they will continue to share information with customers so fleet drivers "can make smart, environmentally sound driving decisions year-round." The framework of the challenge is relatively simple, and its recommendations can be adopted by drivers in any size fleet.

The San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization is a nonprofit dedicated to improving our region's quality of life by increasing its production and use of clean and alternative energy. The SJVCEO works with cities and counties and public and private organizations to demonstrate the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy throughout the eight-county region of the San Joaquin Valley.