Sept. 11, 2007 - Boulder challenges community to pledge and track carbon emission reductions

Contact(s):
Beth Powell, Office of Environmental Affairs, (303) 441-1846
Jodie Carroll, Media Relations, (303) 441-3155
www.bouldercolorado.gov

The City of Boulder's Office of Environmental Affairs' ClimateSmart team has officially launched a community initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the City of Boulder and beyond.  Developed in response to City Council's 2002 Kyoto Resolution and funded by the Climate Action Plan tax, the ClimateSmart initiative and its Web site, http://www.beclimatesmart.com/ , were launched Saturday, Sept. 8, at the Boulder Farmer's Market.  The initiative, with support from Boulder County, is a five-year program offering energy efficiency services and a community-based social marketing campaign including an interactive Web site and creative community outreach methods.

The Web site, developed in partnership with local communications firm Vermilion, challenges the community to get involved by using interactive tools that allow residents to calculate their carbon footprint, sign on online pledge to reduce it over time, get their name or business name on the growing online pledge list, and see a green pin that marks their location on an online Google map.

The ClimateSmart team intends to see the online list of committed residents and businesses grow significantly each month. 

"The ClimateSmart initiative is a five-year program, but we all need to take action now to realize long-term impacts," said Beth Powell, marketing and communications coordinator for the city's Office of Environmental Affairs.  "We can be successful if residents and businesses get on board and make a public (online) commitment to take action. We've created YouTube-style video clips with local personalities talking about what they're doing to reduce their emissions and hope they will engage and inspire others to get on board.  The online pledge form asks people to commit to reduce their carbon footprint.  Calling our office for a free business energy assessment or a subsidized home energy audit is a great first step."

The carbon calculator, customized for Boulder County and developed in partnership with Toronto-based Zerofootprint, gives individuals an annual emissions "footprint" rating after they answer online questions about their transportation, home energy and water use habits.  Residents can use the calculator to track their reductions over time and compare their footprint to those in different Boulder neighborhoods, as well as other cities and countries.

About ClimateSmart
ClimateSmart programs promote energy efficiency, alternative transportation options, and renewable energy to households and businesses, and are designed to benefit residents and businesses throughout Boulder County. The initiative is derived from the City of Boulder's Climate Action Plan which seeks to reduce overall carbon emissions within city limits 22 percent below current levels by 2012. Funding for the campaign comes from the Climate Action Plan tax, with support from Boulder County.

To sign up for an audit, call (303) 441-3878 (residential) or (303) 441-4191 (commercial).  For information about the Web site and the overall initiative, visit www.beclimatesmart.com/ or call (303) 441-1846.

--CITY--