Transcript Solutions in the mix

Solutions in the Mix:
Developed for the
Ocean Change Education – Aquarium Network
A project supported by the Institute of Museum and
Library Services
Americans…
• Believe global
warming is real
• Understand
negative
consequences
• Do not understand man-made causes
and solutions
• Need more information and efficacy for
preventive and adaptive policy solutions
• Are turned off by partisan tone of debate
(based on information from the FrameWorks Institute)
Solutions at three levels:
• Policy
• Community
• Personal
3 Fingers Climate Change Agents
Policy-level Solutions
Examples:
•fuel economy standards
•national building codes
•appliance efficiency codes
•national fees for pollution
•Cap and trade
•“Smart” grid
Community/State-level Solutions
Facilitate
dialogue and
education
Sample Topics:
•zoning rules for
residential and business
properties
•public transit
infrastructure
•local/regional building
codes
•renewable energy
portfolio standards
•net metering laws
Individual/Household-level Solutions
Gardener and Stern’s list:
“No or low-cost”
Transportation:
• Carpool with one other person
• Get frequent tune-ups
• Alter driving to avoid sudden acceleration and stops
• Combine errands to half of current “errand-miles”
• Maintain correct tire pressure
In the home:
• Lighting: replace 85% of incandescents with CFLs or LEDs
• Space conditioning: turn heat down from 72 to 68 during the day
and to 65 at night; A/C: turn up from 73 to 78
• Clothes washing: use only cold or warm and only cold rinse
Gerald T. Gardner and Paul C. Stern, 2009, The Short List: The Most Effective Actions U.S. Households Can Take
to Curb Climate Change. Viewed Jun 6, 2011 at
http://www.environmentmagazine.org/Archives/Back%20Issues/September-October%202008/gardner-sternfull.html
Individual/Household-level Solutions
Gardener and Stern’s list:
“long-term or higher cost”
Transportation:
• buy low-rolling resistance tires
• buy a more fuel efficient
automobile
In the home:
• space and water heating: install a
more efficient heater
• space conditioning: caulk/weather
strip home
• refrigeration/freezing: install a more efficient unit
• space conditioning: install/upgrade attic insulation and ventilation
Gerald T. Gardner and Paul C. Stern, 2009, The Short List: The Most Effective Actions U.S. Households Can Take
to Curb Climate Change. Viewed Jun 6, 2011 at
http://www.environmentmagazine.org/Archives/Back%20Issues/September-October%202008/gardner-sternfull.html
A good solution…
•
•
•
•
addresses the problem at hand
is scaled for success
is possible to implement
doesn’t create a new, greater problem
Next Steps
Learn
Practice
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Assess
(repeat)
Resources:
• The Consumers' Guide to Effective Environmental Choices
by Michael Brower and Warren Leon
• The Short List: The Most Effective Actions U.S. Households
Can Take to Curb Climate Change by Gerald T. Gardner
and Paul C. Stern
• Kevin Knoblock’s testimony to House Committee:
http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090422/te
stimony_knobloch.pdf
• Your household energy bills