Cool Cities Campaign:
Solving Global Warming One City at a Time

Cool Cities, D.C. is working to educate institutions, businesses, and members of the public on the many ways in which they can reduce D.C.'s greenhouse gas emissions. Cool Cities wants to enable our nation's capital to become a paradigm of energy efficiency and environmental advancement. By working at the grassroots level, we have the opportunity to work with individuals to help them to improve their energy efficiency and reduce their impact on the environment. We have a wide variety of project and programs working throughout D.C., with the help of dedicated volunteers and people like you we can use these programs to make a real change. For more information on how you can help please contact Akima Cornell or Jessica Deskiewicz, the Cool Cities Coordinators, at CoolCitiesDC@gmail.com we look forward to working with you!

How Cool Cities Began: The threat of climate change is real, as is the human impact on fluctuating temperatures. Countries throughout the world are taking this imminent problem seriously and have begun taking steps to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Foreign countries cemented their commitment to mitigating climate change, with the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol; an international agreement, wherein the 164 participating countries pledge to reduce a percentage of their carbon and greenhouse gases below 1990s levels by the year 2012. The United States was one of the major countries which chose to not ratify the Kyoto Protocol, which has hindered the development of any federal action to reduce climate change. Frustrated with the lack of federal action Mayor Nickles of Seattle, WA along with mayors across the United States drafted the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. In signing the agreement, mayors pledged to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of their city to 7% below 1990 levels by the year 2012, the rate which would have been the U.S. commitment in the Kyoto Protocol. In order to support these commitments and encourage more cities to sign on to the Climate Protection Agreement; the Sierra Club instigated its Cool Cities Campaign, a national campaign committed to helping cities across the United States reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Cool Cities' primary is with encouraging more cities to sign on to the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Once cities have made a formal commitment to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, Cool Cities enables cities to meet their commitments by developing and implementing programs to improve energy efficiency, encourage the use of clean vehicles, and increase the use of renewable resources. In addition to reducing their cities greenhouse gas emissions mayors have a chance to improve public health, reduce dependence on oil, in addition to saving tax payers dollars.

Clean Energy Programs in DC:

Global Warming Emissions Inventory: The emissions inventory will be conducted with the help of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). Determining D.C.'s emissions inventory will be the first step in determining which areas of D.C. can be improved. To find out more about how you can help please contact Jessica Deskiewicz at CoolCitiesDC@gmail.com.

"Lighten Up!" Project: Energy Activists are currently working with the Washington Area Metro Transit Authority to redesign its Metrorail stations to make them more energy efficient. Metro will be changing out all of its inefficient incandescent light bulbs to more energy efficient compact florescent and light-emitting diode light bulbs. A small metro station has 288 light bulbs in the floor of it's platforms (144 bulbs per side). By switching to CFLs or LEDs the Metro Transit Authority can save thousands of dollars on electricity and take a giant step towards making D.C. a Cool City. For more information contact Akima Cornell at CoolCitiesDC@gmail.com.

Compact Florescent Light Bulbs: Activists are regularly distributing these energy efficient light bulbs at places like Eastern Market, the DC Energy Expo, Adams Morgan Day, and other community events. The bulbs offer an opportunity to have conversations with people about energy efficiency, and we find it's easy to bridge from talking about immediate things you can do in your own home to ways you can work with your neighbors, the community, and the Sierra Club to build our collective power to stop global warming. Plus, each of the light bulbs we get into DC households eliminates the need to burn about 500 pounds of coal over the life of the bulb! If you are interested in helping us with the light bulb distribution (a great opportunity to meet new people and learn more about energy efficiency!), contact Russell Edwards at 678-787-1191 (cell) or vintagelumber@gmail.com

Climate Protection Councilors: Sierra Club volunteers are adopting schools, community centers, places of worship, and even businesses in their communities to work as partners toward energy efficiency. These sites learn how they can save money and protect the climate through increased energy efficiency, and the sites become points of educational outreach to spread the word throughout the community. We can help you become a "Climate Protection Counselor" in your community - contact Bob Morris capitalbob@earthlink.net or Joanna Winchester joanna.winchester@sierraclub.org, 202-543-0552.

Energy Efficiency in the New City Center: The DC Chapter of the Sierra Club is working with the Hines group (responsible for the re-development of the site of the old convention center downtown) to incorporate energy efficiency into the design of the new development planned for the site. Together, we have set a goal of carbon neutrality for the new development (it will save as much energy as it expends), and we are in the process of crafting next steps to do collaborative educational outreach to the community about this exciting aspect of what will surely be an iconic piece of DC's urban landscape. To get involved in this project, please contact Bob Morris capitalbob@earthlink.net or Ed Bogdan ed.bogdan@gmail.com.