Sustainability PlusFebruary 10, 2010

Start living more sustainably and create an eco-conscious lifestyle. Local specialists will discuss home and yard tips, food choices, and green purchasing.

Speakers include:Dr Rosemarie Russo – City of Fort CollinsGailmarie Kimmel – Be LocalRuth Inglis-Widrick – Home Grown FoodAmy Alcorn - Food CoopLara Williams – Eco HomesBruce Brown - Sole Vento

Thanks, Gracias, Tack su myckett……

Musicians: Sam GumestadKyle McVeyLaura AckersonOlivia Couch

City Staff: Deb HarrisAlexis Hmielak Michelle Finchum

Volunteers: Glen MortmierZachariah Seiden

Sustainability Plus

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread,places to play in and pray in, where naturemay heal and give strength to the body andsoul alike.

John Muir

Balance of All Three Elements

Motivation

Climate Change Supporters

Global Perspective

• Americans use 250,000 tons of steel; 450 billion gallons of water; throw out 200,000 tons of edible food, and use 6.8 billion gallons of water to flush their toilets every day.

• A U.S. child uses 6x the resources as a child in China, or 32x the resources of a child in Kenya.

• U.S. accounts for a quarter of global carbon dioxide emissions. Other countries with high emissions include China, Japan and Russia.

• Africa is responsible for 5% of emissions but are experiencing severe droughts.

Colorado Impacts

• Shorter and warmer winters, with thinner snow pack and earlier runoff;

• Precipitation has already decreased by up to 20% in many parts of the state (EPA, 2009)

• Widespread beetle infestation (3.6 millions acres in CO & WY)

• More wildfires, burning twice as many acres each year than before 1980.

• Increase in severe storms

• Temperatures could increase by 3 to 6°F (EPA, 2009)

Green Steps

– Commit

– Collaborate

– Communicate

– Conserve

– Create

Municipality Goals

• Greenhouse Gas Reduction

• Energy (Electricity & Natural Gas)

• Reducing Traditional Fuel Use

• Solid Waste Reduction

• Education and Outreach

• Parks and Natural Areas

• Funding

• Water Use

• Employee Safety and Health

• Purchasing

Greenhouse Gas Reductions

Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (carbon dioxide and methane) at least 2% per year starting in 2009, in order to achieve a reduction of 20% below 2005 levels by December 31, 2020; and ultimately to achieve carbon neutrality for the municipal organization.

The 2005-2008 reduction of 2,572 metric tons = emissions from 5,426 barrels of oil or electricity use of 303 homes or burning 12.2 railcar’s worth of coal.

Recycling Goals

In 2009, the City’s office recycling program recycled 212 tons which saved the equivalent of:

3,604 trees 1,484,000 gallons of water 80,560 gallons of oil848,000 Kilowatts of energy

The City also recycled 216 tons of metal worth $69,261.

American Recovery and Response Act

• Hot Shot Program• Educational Outreach• Solar Bins• Earth Vessel• Boiler Upgrades• Photovoltaic for the

Northside Aztlan Center• Server Virtualization• Bike Path Upgrades

• New “Green Program”projects

• Climate Wise Assistance• CAP Technical Assistance• Solar Thermal Matching

Grant for Residents

Carbon Footprint

• “Typical” American household

(4 persons living in 2,000 sq ft2 single-family home)

� Electricity: = 7 tons CO2e

� Natural gas: = 6 tons CO2e

� Water: = 0.10 tons CO2e

� Vehicle miles: = 10 tons CO2e

� Trash: = 0.5 tons CO2e

� Airline miles = 2 – 6 tons CO2e

24 tons CO2e / year

~ 47,000 Pounds CO2e/year

(1 ton = Six gorillas)

• http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html

• http://www.lowimpactliving.com/pages/impact-calculator/impact-calculator

Choices

Small Steps Make a Big Difference

Green Energy Program

• Electricity – 700 kWh per month – (family of four) • Buy 526 kWh for $10.60 per month• For $10 a month, 75% of your energy can come for a

renewable source. • The program portfolio includes local wind sources.• New wind energy will be coming from the Silver Sage

site in Southern Wyoming.

Recycle, please

• Compost• Green Cones• Leaf Exchange• Request Larger Cart and

Downsize Trash Service • Curb-size yard service

If 60 families installed a cone in a year - 1 tons of CO2e could be avoided.

Re-Use Companies

• Eco-Thrift - 302 North Meldrum

• Morning Fresh - 5821 West County Rd 54E

• Once Upon a Child - 4519 S College

• Play It Again Sports - 4019 S. Mason

• Repeat Boutique - 239 Linden

• Recycled Cycles - 4031 S Mason

• Resource - 1501 N College

• Habitat for Humanity - 4001 S Taft Hill Rd

Be A Sustainability Superhero

$98222,700ANNUAL SAVINGS

$12012810. Plant a native tree (1/3 electricity/4months).

$ 30189. Don’t idle (5 minutes/day).

$480688. Garden—1 meal (30 days x 3 months).

$ 102007. Set computer & monitor to sleep at night.

$ 122306. Wash clothes in cold water.

**7,7965. Participate in renewable wind program. Visit: fcgov.com/utilities. ** (Cost to enroll: $84)

$ 286504. Install 4 CFLs.

$ 407603. Ditch your dryer—50% reduction.

$ 9612,0002. Request the smallest trash container and larger recycling bin (100% capacity).

$1668501. Avoid driving 20 miles per week.

$ Saved

Per Year

Pounds of C02e

AvoidedAction — Take 10

“The future belongs to those who give the next generation reason to hope.” -Teihard de Chardin

Thank you for your part…Dr. Rosemarie Russo – rrusso@fcgov.com

416-2327

Community Leaders

Gailmarie Kimmel – Be Local

“Together We Thrive”

Ruth Inglis-Widrick – Home Grown Food“Don’t feel like you have to solve all the world’s problems – Pick out oneand concentrate on it.”

Amy Alcorn – Food COOP

Lara Williams – Eco-Homes

Bruce Burn - Sole Vento

Table Topics

Table 1 – Healthy Food: Food COOP, Home Grown Food, CSA’s, Garden on Spring Creek, Sylvan Dale Ranch

Table 2 – Educational Programs: FRCC, NCC, RMSLF, CU -Boulder Sustainability Management, CSU - Institute for the Built Env., CSU -School for Global Sustainability, Geothermal Academy

Table 3 – Home Remodeling and Financing: Excel and City Rebate programs, Green Building Program, Colorado National Bank, Sole Vento and Eco-brokers

Table 4 – Non-Profits: Be Local, CARD, Community for Sustainable Energy, FC Sustainability Group

Table 5 – Green Businesses: Redirect, Zero-Hero, Fort ZEDTable 6 – Transportation: Bike Library, Hybrids, Waste Vegetable Oil

Coop, Houska (maintenance) and Transfort

Energy Efficiency for Home Comfort:

Finding Solutions, Part 1February 17, 2010

Experts from two local home audit companies will present how Utilities’ low-cost Home Efficiency Audits will guide you towards reducing energy and water costs while improving the comfort of your home.