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Research on a Community Climate Challenge for Fort Collins. Tyler Ruggles. Outline. Purpose Fort Collins’ environmental mentality Fort Collins’ climate related programs Selected Cities Programs and implementation techniques Suggestions for Fort Collins Discussion and Suggestions.
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Research on a Community Climate Challenge for Fort Collins Tyler Ruggles
Outline • Purpose • Fort Collins’ environmental mentality • Fort Collins’ climate related programs • Selected Cities • Programs and implementation techniques • Suggestions for Fort Collins • Discussion and Suggestions
Community Climate Challenge (CCC) • Residential campaign to educate and encourage voluntary greenhouse gas reductions in Fort Collins (FC) • Program will: • Educate • Motivate • Link residents with tools to act
A Sample of FC’s Programs • Energy Rules! - educational • Residential Environmental Program Series - educational workshops • ZILCH - zero-interest loans for home improvements • Lighting with a Twist - discounted CFLs • Solar Rebate - $2 / kWh for new installations • Residential Green Energy Agreement - additional 1 cent / kWh for renewable energy • Track to Win - monitor personal actions
City Selection Process • Aspen and Denver - local significance • Portland, Seattle, Berkeley, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Boulder, Austin, Minneapolis, Ann Arbor, Cambridge - “Lessons From The Pioneers” • Burlington, VT - mentioned by Climate Task Force in CCC write-up
Research Process • Background research - websites, climate action plans and other supporting documents • Interview - inquired into the processes behind the different programs • Results - concrete numbers are scarce because of poor tracking
City Programs and Their Implementation • Correlation between city size and quantity of programs • Program directors consider environmental activism one large pilot program • Umbrella program is a common and logical organizational method
Depth of Individual Programs • Simple Program: “Take 5” of Denver • Pledge to do 5 predetermined actions • Complex Program: “Low Carbon Diet” • Support group • Discuss home energy renovations • Pledge to take an action before the next meeting • Utilizing both types of programs will span a broader spectrum of interest
Challenge Aspect • Minnesota Energy Challenge • Join a “team” where your total reductions are calculated • Has encouraged friendly competition • People go the extra mile • Increased administration difficulties • 10% Challenge of Burlington, VT • Personal challenge • No extra administration required
Ranking of Congregations in the Minnesota Energy Challenge http://www.mnenergychallenge.org/challenge/standings/
Lead By Example • All interviewed cities’ municipal operations are reducing energy use and emissions • Mayors are spearheading with their own actions • Personal success interviews • Minnesota Energy Challenge has cumulative total of all pledged reductions • Maps of pledge takers
Climate Change and Student Activities • Elementary school • Berkeley is targeting after school programs • Seattle has used design contests • Aspen students have tabled around the city • High school • California Youth Energy Services provide free energy audits • College and university • Student internships
Targeting The Message • Progressive cities - focus on climate change • Conservative cities - focus on energy reductions and saving money • Target toward residents
Marketing • Face time and tabling - smaller cities • High school students mandatory volunteer hours • Mass media - larger cities • FC Utilities has great success in Coloradoan • Earned media - mayors and city champions • Partner organizations • Email newsletters
Web Presence • Strong web presence generates interest • Organize online archive of tools and information • Web marketing internship with CSU • Creative use of Google maps
Boulder’s Map of Pledge Takers Broadway Pearl St.
Carbon Footprint Calculators • City specific calculator • Local utilities info • Desired depth • Ties into your programs • Excess or unnecessary work • Non-city specific calculator • Ease of implementation • Lack of control • Difficult to incorporate into municipal programs
Suggestions for Fort Collins • Have one large umbrella program in FC • Sub programs • One simple and one complex program • Make program challenge based • Engage students • Take advantage of “free” marketing • Develop a sophisticated, user friendly website • Use an outside calculator
Discussion and Prompt Questions • What kind of message do you think Fort Collins residents would be more receptive to? • saving money, climate protection, both? Other? • What are the most promising opportunities for a CCC in Fort Collins? • What are some potential obstacles that will need to be addressed in developing a CCC in Fort Collins?