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  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  Residential campaign to educate and encourage voluntary greenhouse gas reductions in Fort Collins (FC)  Program will:  Educate  Motivate  Link residents with tools to act

Statement Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree I feel an obligation to improve air quality in FC 55%38% I know what small changes I could make to help air quality 37%42% I feel that small changes I make can affect the air quality in FC 45%41% Global warming is a serious problem 54%22% 2007 FC Air Quality Survey

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  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  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  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  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  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  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

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  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  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  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  newsletters  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  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  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 Pearl St. Broadway

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  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  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?  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?