Sunnyvale Cool Green Letter, July 29, 2009
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Sunnyvale Cool Green Letter, July 29, 2009

Posted by barbf on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 23:15

 
Sunnyvale Cool Green Letter
July 29, 2009
 
Welcome to the third edition of the Sunnyvale Cool Green Letter.  We highlight local actions that help protect the our land, the air we breathe, and our deteriorating atmosphere.  We hope to inspire your action and involvement because "there are no passengers on Planet Earth; we are all crew."
 

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Sunnyvale Cool Meeting.  Thursday, July 30, 7-8:30 PM, Toyota Sunnyvale (El Camino between Mary and Hollenbeck/Pastoria), Second floor classroom.  All welcome (and needed.) Reviewing accomplishments and opportunities, picturing a green Sunnyvale, planning next steps and introducing Sierra Club Climate Action Team training to change behaviors and shrink our carbon footprint.
  • Acterra Green @ Home training Thursday, August 20, Tuesday, August 25, AND Thursday, September 3 (All three required.). Learn to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in your home and your neighbors'.  http://www.acterra.org/programs/greenathome/getinvolved.html#housecall
  • Community meeting, facilitated by staff, regarding language for the General Plan concerning the Stevens Creek Trail, Monday, August 31, 7 PM, DeAnza Park Bldg. (Thanks Councilmember Moylan)
  • Late Show Gardens, Friday-Sunday, September 18,-20, Sonoma.  Sustainable Garden Show addressing climate change, drought, sustainable practices, renewable resources.  One day pass: $10-15. http://www.thelateshowgardens.org/  (Thanks, Jane)
  • State of the City Event, Saturday, September 26, 11-2

NEWS
Revision of the Land Use and Transportation Element  (LUTE)of the General Plan.  The City is soon to revise the Land Use and Transportation Element of the General Plan.  As you know, transportation and land use choices have a huge impact on vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and, therefore, on greenhouse gas emissions. Effective revisions to this element, which has not been revised since 1997, are very important to those interested in shrinking our community's carbon footprint.
 
As part of the LUTE revision,  the City plans to conduct a community greenhouse gas or carbon audit/inventory. This inventory will serve as a baseline for the amount of global warming pollution that our businesses, homes and transportation emit.  Data will be collected from PG&E, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, etc, and plugged into existing software, used by cities all over the world, to estimate Sunnyvale's emissions. 
 
This data will be used to establish a greenhouse gas reduction targets or goals.  We hope that our City, which aspires to regional leadership in sustainability, sets  more ambitious goals for community greenhouse gas emissions than the state-mandated minimum. Finally, the City will develop a plan to meet the goals and then take another .
 
There will be outreach opportunities, probably in the fall, for residents to weigh-in on these issues. 
 
ChoiceCollect data available. The City reports that recycling is up, garbage is down and money is saved with new ChoiceCollect garbage service.  http://sunnyvale.ca.gov/News+Releases/2009+News+Releases/07+01+09.htm
 
ARM CHAIR ACTIVIST
 
The first climate bill ever to clear either house is currently under consideration by the Senate.  The Waxman-Markey bill also known as the American Climate, Energy Security Act (ACES), is very much in need of your support as it is under well-financed attack from those who oppose action to minimize climate change. (The Coal industry spent $35 million to lobby against this bill during the first quarter of 2009.)  Don't you want your representatives to hear from you as well?