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  formerly The Nature Center
  for Environmental Activities
 

 

  

Westport Climate Action Conversation

October 30, 2007
 

Climate Action Conversation

On Tuesday October 30, the Westport Green Energy Task Force and the Unitarian Church in Westport hosted a town meeting to discuss the impact of global warming in Connecticut and local solutions to this crisis.  The meeting was one of 70 involving local governments across the nation this month discussing global warming causes, impacts and solutions.

Among those speaking were First Selectman Gordon Joseloff; Carl Leaman and Kim Lake of from Westport’s Green Energy Task Force; scientist Marty Yellin and Staples student AJ Keefer; Lisa Shufro of the Westport League of Women Voters; Professor David Brown from Fairfield University; Lynn Plant of Fairfield Town Green; Bob Wall of the Fairfield Green Energy Task Force; and Julie Belaga of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters.

Attendees learned about the activities taken by Westport and Fairfield to reduce carbon emissions, and everyone was encouraged to take actions to reduce energy usage and to sign up for clean energy.

Sign Up for Clean Energy:  CT Clean Energy Options
"CTCleanEnergyOptions is a Department of Public Utilities Control (DPUC) approved program that allows any CL&P or UI customer the opportunity to support clean energy made from approved renewable resources such as wind, small hydro and landfill gas. Customers who enroll continue to receive electric delivery service from their utility and pay a small clean energy surcharge. And if your community has joined the Connecticut Clean Energy Communities program, you are also helping your city or town qualify for a free solar electric system for a public building. It's an easy way to make a difference for your community, for Connecticut, and for our world."

For every 100 Westport resident who sign up for clean energy, Westport will receive a free solar panel.  As of October 2007, 250 residents have signed up for clean energy.  In May of 2007, Westport installed a solar panel system on the roof of the town's fire headquarters.  The energy output of this system can be viewed at www.sunnyportal.com.

 

What’s at Risk for Westport?

Temperature- By late-century, average temperatures projected to rise 8-12ºF above historic levels in winter and 6-14ºF in summer.  Urban areas (including Bridgeport) could experience nearly 30 days over 100ºF per year, increasing the risk of heat stress, heart attack and death.

Precipitation and winter snow – Projected 20-30 percent increase in winter precipitation with less falling as snow and more as rain.

Drought – Rising summer temperatures will increase the frequency of short-term droughts, increasing stress on natural and managed ecosystems.

Sea-level rise and shoreline change – Melting land-based ice and expansion of ocean water due to higher temperatures could lead to global sea level rise of 7 inches to two feet by late-century.  Sea-level rise expected to permanently inundate low-lying coastal areas, accelerate erosion and threaten salt marshes and estuaries and the wildlife that rely on these habitats.

Storms and coastal flooding – Rising sea levels projected to increase the frequency and severity of damaging storm surges and coastal flooding.

Collapse of fisheries – Native lobster and clam populations expected to collapse by mid-century due to heat stress.

Air quality – Number of days with poor air quality due to ground-level ozone and other pollutants expected to double or quadruple; higher temperatures; increasing levels of carbon dioxide expected to accelerate pollen production.

Vector-borne disease – Warmer temperatures and cycles of dry periods and heavy rainstorms expected to increase incidence of diseases caused by mosquitoes (West Nile virus) and ticks (Lyme disease).

Loss of trees – Climate conditions expected to lead to disappearance of maple, beech and birch forests as well as wildlife dependent on them.

Crop loss – Under higher emissions scenario (i.e., business as usual), temperature changes not expected to support certain apples, pear, berries and grapes; expansion of agricultural pests and weeds would also impede crop production.

Dairy – Heat stress would reduce milk production by up to 15 percent during key summer months.

Loss of traditional winter recreation – Decreasing snowfall and lake ice expected to reduce or eliminate local skiing, skating and sledding opportunities.

Source: Union of Concerned Scientists (http://www.climatechoices.org/assets/documents/climatechoices/connecticut_necia.pdf)

Other Links:
CT Climate Change Official Site: http://ctclimatechange.com/
CT Climate Coalition: http://www.newenglandclimate.org/connecticut.htm
US EPA - http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/
US EPA – Climate Change for Kids: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/index.html

 

What Can I Do About Climate Change?

Information from www.ctclimatechange.com.

There are lots of actions individuals can take to address climate change.  Try some that are listed below.  If you have other ideas to share, contact CT Climate Change or send them your success stories so they can share them with others. Download What Can I Do fact sheet to copy and hand out at events.

CUT ENERGY USE AND COSTS AT HOME

Compact fluorescent light bulbs and home weatherization products are permanently sales tax exempt in Connecticut. Click here for more info and a complete list of sales tax exempt home weatherization products.

  • Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs
  • Energy Star Natural Gas Furnaces
  • Programmable Thermostats
  • Boilers that are > 84% efficient 
  • Energy Star Propane Furnaces
  • Oil Furnaces that are > 84% efficient 
  • Energy Star Windows and Doors
  • Efficient Ground Source Heat Pumps 
  • Water Heaters
  • Caulking, Insulation, Window Film, Weather Strips, etc.

Until July 1, 2017, CT residents qualify for a $500 rebate by purchasing and installing replacement Energy Star natural gas furnaces or boilers and propane or oil furnaces and boilers that are > 84% efficient.

CL&P and UI customers are eligible for a free energy audit if you heat your home with electricity or natural gas. Energy audits are also available for a fee to homes that heat with other fuels Click here for info on energy audits for CL&P customers.

www.ctsavesenergy.org and 877-WISE-USE provide additional information on energy efficiency incentives, including federal tax credits for energy efficient home improvements and incentives for efficient new home construction. Click here for additional info.

SUPPORT CLEAN ENERGY
Customers of CT Light & Power and United Illuminating can choose to support clean energy from wind power, small-scale hydroelectric power, and landfill gas. Choose clean energy and you'll be taking a big step towards cleaner air and healthier communities.
You can also encourage your town, business, faith community, and others to support 20% clean energy by 2010.  Towns participating in CT Clean Energy Communities qualify for free solar panels.

CLEAN UP YOUR COMMUTE
About 40% of Connecticut's greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation. Try some cleaner options:

BUY LOCALLY GROWN FOOD
Buy food that is grown locally to support Connecticut's farmers and reduce food packaging and transportation emissions. You can buy locally grown food at many CT farms and farmers' markets. Find out what's in season and where to buy it and lots more about buying local foods at the BuyCTGrown website.
Schools can also buy local produce directly from farmers through the Farm-to-School program

RECYCLE
Recycling reuses resources, saves energy, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Contact your town public works department or DEP to find out how you can recycle more, compost and prevent waste. 

REDUCE SYNTHETIC FERTILIZER USE
A portion of nitrogen applied to soils is released as a greenhouse gas. Reducing the use of synthetic fertilizers also improves water quality and soil health. Adopt some tips from organic land care guidelines or use a certified organic landcare professional.

BUY AN ENERGY EFFICIENT VEHICLE
Hybrid cars rated at 40 miles/gallon or greater are exempt from CT sales tax until October 1, 2008.  From January 1, 2008 – July 1, 2010, any passenger car with an EPA rating of at least 40 mpg will be sales tax exempt in CT. There are also federal income tax credits of up to $3,400 for hybrid vehicles.
Before you buy your next car, do some research on “greener” cars. You'll save money on gas and contribute to cleaner air. 

INSTALL CLEAN ENERGY AT YOUR HOME
The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund provides incentives for the installation of solar and other clean energy sources on residences.  In addition solar thermal and hot water systems, and geothermal systems are sales and property tax exempt in CT.

SHARE YOUR SUCCESSES, BE RECOGNIZED
Tell CT Climate Action what you have done to address climate change, submit a nomination for a Climate Change Leadership Award.

ENCOURAGE YOUR TOWN, BUSINESS OR FAITH COMMUNITY TO TAKE ACTION
 CT Interreligious Eco-Justice Network
CT Clean Energy Communities
 CT Cities and Towns Act on Climate Change

CALCULATE YOUR "CARBON FOOTPRINT"
Your carbon footprint is way to measure your individual contribution to global warming.  It calculates the total amount of greenhouse gases you generate based on your lifestyle and choices (measured in units of carbon dioxide). Use the Safe Climate Carbon Calculator to determine your carbon footprint and get some tips on how to reduce it. 
 

 

 

Simple Personal Solutions to Climate Change

The Car You Drive
When you buy your next car, look for the one with the best fuel economy in its class. Each gallon of gas you use is responsible for 25 pounds of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere.

Unplug a freezer
Unplug the extra refrigerator or freezer you rarely use except when you need it for holidays and parties. This can reduce the typical family's carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 10 percent.

Think Before you Drive
If you own more than one vehicle, use the less fuel-efficient one only when you can fill it with passengers. Driving a full minivan may be kinder to the environment than two midsize cars. Whenever possible, join a carpool or take mass transit.

Let Policymakers Know You are Concerned about Global Warming
Our elected officials and business leaders need to hear from concerned citizens.

Turn Off Office Equipment
Do not leave office equipment in sleep mode overnight because it will continue to draw power. Turn off all equipment every night — especially monitors and printers. Monitors usually consume twice the electricity as CPUs.

Kill Energy Vampires
Energy vampires are electrical devices that use energy even when turned off in order to support features such as timers, clocks, memory and remote features.  Some of these appliances use almost as much electricity when switched off as when they are on.

VCRs
DVD Players
TVs
Printers
Microwaves
Computers
Coffee Makers
Phone Chargers

Use a Kill a Watt to Measure The Energy Usage of Your Electrical Devices

Buy ENERGY STAR Appliances
ENERGY STAR qualified appliances and equipment are up to 40% more efficient.

Programmable Thermostat
Install an ENERGY STAR programmable thermostat away from natural cool and hot spots to save energy at night and when not needed.

Reduce Air Conditioning
A 5° higher setting on your air conditioning thermostat will save about 10% on cooling costs.  Reduce air conditioning costs by using fans, keeping windows and doors shut and closing shades during the day

Look for Drafts
Test for air leaks by holding a lit incense stick next to windows, doors, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches and other locations where there is a possible air path to the outside. If the smoke stream travels horizontally, you have located an air leak that may need caulking, sealing or weather stripping.

Smart Washing

  • When possible, wash clothes in cold water. About 90% of the energy use in a clothes washer goes to water heating.
  • Run your dishwasher and clothes washer only when fully loaded.
  • Make sure your dryer's outside vent is clear and clean the lint filter after every load

 

 

Books of Interest

The End of Nature,  Bill McKibben

Big Coal, Jeff Goodell

The Discovery of Global Warming, Spencer R. Weart

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, Jared Diamond

The Politically Incorrect Guide to Global Warming,  Chris Horner 
 
Red Sky at Morning, James Gustave Speth

Earth in the Balance, Al Gore

Boiling Point, Ross Gelbspan

Sand County Almanac, Aldo Leopold

The State of the World, The World Watch Institute 

When Smoke Ran Like Water: Tales of Environmental Deception and the Battle Against Pollution, Devra Davis

The North Pole Was Here, Andrew Revkin

Nature, God and Humanity: Envisioning an Ethics of Nature, Richard Fern
 
Coal: A Human History, Barbara Freese
  
An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore
 
The Confessions of Saint Augustine

Plan B Version 2.0, Lester Brown

Field Notes from a Catastrophe, Elizabeth Kolbert

The Weather Makers, Tom Flannery

The Winds of Change, Eugene Linden

Omnivore's Dilemma, Michael Pollen

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Barbara Kingsolver

Carbon Diet: A 30 Day Program to Lose 5,000 Pounds, David Gershon
[this is a workbook for small groups. DEP has copies available for loan – contact Lynn Stoddard]

Fight Global Warming Now, Bill McKibbin

Green To Gold, Daniel C. Esty and Andrew S. Winston, published by the Yale University Press

 

Local Links

CT League of Conservation Voters
Westport League of Women Voters
CT Clean Energy Options
Fairfield Town Green
CT Climate Change
CT Climate Coalition
 CT Clean Energy Fund
Town of Westport