Save money,

energy, andthe planet!

Welcome Greece!Let’s be a Cool Community!

The Challenge

Thanks to:

Apple Annie’s

Town Supervisor

John Auburger

Brought to you by Sierra Club

and Color Brighton Green

Your Host:

Keri Kaminsky, BSN, RNCo-Chair, Sierra Club Global

Warming and Energy CommitteeCo-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

CO2 and other gases in the atmosphere trap heat, keeping the Earth warm.

Where does CO2 come from?

Human activities emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere…

much faster than plants and oceans can absorb it.much faster than plants and oceans can absorb it.

We must act now.We must act now.

““We have at most ten years — not ten years to We have at most ten years — not ten years to decide upon action, but ten years to fundamentally decide upon action, but ten years to fundamentally alter the trajectory of global greenhouse alter the trajectory of global greenhouse emissions.”emissions.” — — James Hansen James Hansen

Director, NASA Goddard Institute for Space StudiesDirector, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies

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

U.N. EARTH SUMMIT

With 5% of the world’s populationWith 5% of the world’s population

Americans use 25% of the world’s resourcesAmericans use 25% of the world’s resources

If every person on earth had the same rate of consumptionIf every person on earth had the same rate of consumption

If every person on earth had the same rate of consumptionIf every person on earth had the same rate of consumption

If every person on earth had the same rate of consumptionIf every person on earth had the same rate of consumption

If every person on earth had the same rate of consumptionIf every person on earth had the same rate of consumption

If every person on earth had the same rate of consumptionIf every person on earth had the same rate of consumption

It would take six Earths to sustain us all.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 Therefore, conservation doesn’t mean

painful cuts…painful cuts…

It’s about using resources in a smarter, It’s about using resources in a smarter, more efficient way.more efficient way.

This is our call to action to

face the challenge of global climate change

Why are we gathered?

Half of America’s CO2 emissions come from our households.

Our purchases influence the

other half.

AS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THEAS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THEPROBLEM, AMERICANS CANPROBLEM, AMERICANS CAN

ALSO BE A SIGNIFICANTALSO BE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THEPART OF THE

SOLUTION.SOLUTION.

TRADITIONAL SOCIAL TRADITIONAL SOCIAL CHANGE STRATEGIES OFCHANGE STRATEGIES OF

LEGISLATION, LEGISLATION, TAXATION TAXATION

AND PROTESTAND PROTEST

WHILE ESSENTIAL WHILE ESSENTIAL

ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR RAPID AND FUNDAMENTAL RAPID AND FUNDAMENTAL

TRANSFORMATION.TRANSFORMATION.

Scaling up new Scaling up new technology: 10+ yrstechnology: 10+ yrs

Legislation: 5 to 10 yearsLegislation: 5 to 10 years

Scaling up renewable energy Scaling up renewable energy resources: 10+ yearsresources: 10+ years

Conservation:Conservation:AVAILABLE NOW!AVAILABLE NOW!

Is there a political consensus on Climate Change?

The following quotes come from both

presidential candidates, 

the 45th vice president (D)

and the 58th 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 All across the world, in every kind of environment and region known to man, environment and region known to man,

increasingly dangerous weather patterns and increasingly dangerous weather patterns and devastating storms are abruptly putting an end devastating storms are abruptly putting an end to the long-running debate over whether or not to the long-running debate over whether or not

climate change is real. Not only is it real, it's climate change is real. Not only is it real, it's here, and its effects are giving rise to a here, and its effects are giving rise to a

frighteningly new global phenomenon: the frighteningly new global phenomenon: the man-made natural disaster.”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 GERSHONDAVID GERSHON and the and the Empowerment InstituteEmpowerment Institute

have studied the barriers have studied the barriers ANDAND the success factors. the success factors.

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.

It WILL make a difference

“WHEN PEOPLE TAKE PERSONALACTION 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 CO2 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!!

AVERAGED 22% OR 6,700

POUNDS CO2 REDUCTION

Portland Pilot Program

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, 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 EnergyStar® 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!

EnergyStar® 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 EnergyStar® electronics when replacing

7. Chill-In Don’t over-cool, do ensure efficiency of air

conditioner buy EnergyStar®, 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

find ways to reduce miles driven, goal is 20%

carp

ool

bike

Combine

errands

Shop for a friend

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

1. Lower your carbon footprint

2. Help others lower their carbon footprint

3. Volunteer

4. Vote and Advocate

5. Visualize or pray for success

TAKE PERSONAL ACTION

“You must be the change you wish to see in the

world.”

Mohandas Ghandi

EMPOWERMENT INSTITUTEPO BOX 428

WOODSTOCK, NY 12498PHONE: (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

Some images and content courtesy of