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Research on a Community Climate Challenge for Fort Collins

Explore Fort Collins' environmental initiatives, study selected city programs, and propose a Community Climate Challenge (CCC) to promote voluntary greenhouse gas reductions. Analyze Fort Collins' environmental mentality, climate-related programs, and suggestions for improvement. Investigate existing programs, implementation techniques, and ways to engage residents effectively.

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Research on a Community Climate Challenge for Fort Collins

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  1. Research on a Community Climate Challenge for Fort Collins Tyler Ruggles

  2. Outline • Purpose • Fort Collins’ environmental mentality • Fort Collins’ climate related programs • Selected Cities • Programs and implementation techniques • Suggestions for Fort Collins • Discussion and Suggestions

  3. 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

  4. 2007 FC Air Quality Survey

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. Ranking of Congregations in the Minnesota Energy Challenge http://www.mnenergychallenge.org/challenge/standings/

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. Targeting The Message • Progressive cities - focus on climate change • Conservative cities - focus on energy reductions and saving money • Target toward residents

  15. 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 • Email newsletters

  16. Web Presence • Strong web presence generates interest • Organize online archive of tools and information • Web marketing internship with CSU • Creative use of Google maps

  17. Boulder’s Map of Pledge Takers Broadway Pearl St.

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. 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?

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