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Winterizing your carbon footprint
Lay Leoun of Santa Rosa drops off his glass bottles at the Redwood Empire Disposal recycling center in Santa Rosa.
PD FILE, 2008Published: Friday, October 23, 2009 at 3:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 12:08 p.m.
Winter’s approach poses an environmental challenge for North Coast residents who will flick on lights sooner and crank up thermostats, using more energy and generating more greenhouse gases.
Tracking your progress is as simple as logging onto the PG&E Web site which features a free “carbon footprint” calculator.
With a copy of your bill, an estimate of the number of miles driven each year and your car’s fuel economy, you can find out if you have a larger or smaller footprint than the average Californian.
Now, the typical state resident produces about 23,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year, much lower than the national average of about 32,600 but considerably higher than the world average of 8,750, said PG&E spokeswoman Jana Morris.
“The goal is to get it as low as you can,” Morris said. “The way you do it is by using less electricity, reducing the amount of fossil fuels you are burning. You’re ultimately bettering the environment.”
The focus on reducing the size of your footprint on the environment is playing out across the North Coast — from major initiatives that promote carpooling and buses to small education programs in nursery schools where kids learn about reducing waste.
It comes as advocates launch the international “350” campaign, which was marked across Sonoma County on Saturday, to reduce the earth’s CO2 level from the current 390 parts per million to 350 parts per million.
People are realizing the need for immediate action to avoid a global calamity caused by our dependence on fossil fuels, said Maitreyi Siruguri of Santa Rosa’s Climate Protection Campaign.
In addition to using less electricity, Siruguri wants to see people get out of their cars, recycle and practice sustainable farming methods.
“The changes we could be making have to happen in next two to five years,” said Siruguri, who coordinates the group’s “Cool Schools” program for youngsters. “Beyond that, our control over the situation is reduced.”
But what can an individual do?
PG&E has a number of common-sense tips in addition to the usual admonishments such as lowering water heater temperatures that will become especially important this season.
Some ideas might even save you money.
For instance, furnaces should be set at 68 degrees in the day and 55 degrees at night. Close the damper on your fireplace when it’s not in use. Weather-strip doors, windows and plumbing holes.
And on clear days, open thick drapes or blinds to allow sunlight to warm your home.
“When winter comes, we seem to close all the drapes and bundle up on the couch,” Morris said. “But it’s free and easy to warm your house naturally.”
Those able to make larger investments can replace heater filters, install low-flow shower heads or even replace major appliances with high-efficiency units. PG&E offers rebates for water heaters, dishwashers and washing machines. They will recycle for free refrigerators more than 10 years old that are still working.
All of the efforts will make progress toward reducing global warming, Morris said.
“We definitely view climate change as a real problem,” she said.
Cutting gas and electricity use this winter isn’t the only way to combat the problem.
Two other major contributors to carbon dioxide — vehicle emissions and household refuse — can be reduced, too.
Dave Brennan, regional climate protection program coordinator for the Sonoma County Transportation Authority, said about 60 percent of all emissions come from cars.
People need to plan ahead to make fewer car trips every day, he said. Ideally, they will live close to jobs to reduce commute time. Using public transportation like buses and ferries helps.
“If people really want to get serious about reducing their carbon footprint, using public transit is an ideal model,” Brennan said. “People should check schedules to see if the bus fits their transportation needs. It saves money too.”
For those willing to shell out big bucks, a number of new electric vehicles will be coming out next year. The Nissan Leaf, test marketed in Sonoma County, will boast a 100-mile range with zero emissions and General Motors’ Volt will have an unlimited range with some emissions.
Brennan, who runs a countywide program to reduce greenhouse gases, said reducing car exhaust coupled with traditional energy-saving tips is a smart move.
“People need to look at their lifestyles and say what am I doing to expend energy and what am I willing to change?” Brennan said.
So much of the carbon footprint is determined by what people throw away and what is recycled.
Burying reusable metal and plastic in a landfill leads to the production of more material which is then shipped around the world at a cost in carbon emissions.
Careful recycling helps avoid that. And as Christmas approaches, people should avoid gifts in packaging that can’t be recycled, said Susan Klassen, interim executive director of the Sonoma County Waste Management Agency.
For instance, foil-coated wrapping paper and tissue cannot be recycled. Use newsprint, comics or plain paper to wrap presents instead, Klassen said.
Read recycling instructions to know what is acceptable in blue waste bins and what isn’t.
“People need to understand what can go in the recycling bin and make ecologically sound purchasing decisions,” Klassen said.
You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 526-7297 or paul.payne@ pressdemocrat.com.
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