| Did You Know | | Recognizing the need for action, on Sept. 26, 2006, the Mayor and Council signed on to the U.S. Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement—an overarching document committing local governments to take action and adopt policies that minimize their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. |
It's hard not to notice that energy (gasoline, electricity, natural gas, etc.) costs are rising. At the same time, scientists are describing how increases in the amount of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane and others) in the atmosphere appear to be contributing to global climate change.
Fortunately, what's good for the environment is also good for cost savings—becoming more energy-efficient, and considering alternative "renewable" energy sources can not only save money, but can help minimize the effects of climate change.
Energy (electricity, gasoline, natural gas, etc.) is fundamental to our daily lives, community and economy. The price of energy can fluctuate by the day, even by the minute; presenting growing opportunities and challenges for residents, businesses and local governments.
Getting the energy we need to the place we need it impacts the environment in different ways. The extraction, conversion and use of different energy sources generate various impacts on the environment, including emissions, wastes and land and water impacts. For
example, conventional electricity generation includes the combustions of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas and oil) that contribute to air and water pollution, and carbon emissions.
At the same time, aging and inefficient infrastructure and buildings present additional challenges for retrofits and improvement. While no form of energy generation and transmission is completely benign, there are environmentally preferable options that can reduce impacts.
Maintaining adequate, secure, reliable, affordable and sustainable energy sources and
transmission systems is essential for powering modern life. While energy policies are
generally made at the global, federal and state level, local governments can identify, plan for and take steps to address energy issues. For example, local governments play important roles in building code adoption and enforcement, transportation planning, land use planning, waste management, municipal facility and infrastructure construction and management, and water treatment.
With proper planning and management, our community can use energy in a smarter, more efficient way and invest in renewable resources to reduce environmental impacts, maximize reliability, reduce long-term costs and minimize emissions. The will enable us to respond efficiently to changing energy challenges, policies and costs, and will help enhance our economic competitiveness and long-term sustainability.
To find out more information on energy programs: In response to scientific consensus linking greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activities to global climate change, local governments across the country are conducting evaluations to identify opportunities to reduce these emissions generated by their community and government operations.
A Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, also referred to as a "carbon footprint," not only provides a snapshot of the City's energy consumption patterns, but is the foundation of a jurisdiction's actions to address climate change. The inventory accounts for the amounts and sources of GHG emissions, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) from different sectors and operations. It is key to establishing a baseline, tracking performance and assessing the effectiveness of reduction measures and improving efficiencies.
Rockville is working with the state, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and Montgomery County to support regional climate protection programs and has committed to both the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign sponsored by the International Consortium of Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)-Local Governments for Sustainability. Under these programs, Rockville will be working to inventory and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency, decrease air pollution, create jobs and reduce energy expenditures.
The following organizations provide useful information on climate protection: |
