Brookline 2010: A Community Climate Challenge

1. Brookline 2010: A Community Climate Challenge How we can meet the Climate Crisis working together

2. The Challenge • How to Get There • The Project • The Goals • The Benefits Why Are We Here?

3. The Challenge Carbon Dioxide Variations

4. The Challenge: Americans’ CO2 Responsibility If the bad news is that individual Americans are a major part of the problem, the good news is that we can be a major part of the solution.

5. The Challenge “If there’s no action before 2012, that’s too late. What we do in the next two to three years will determine our future.This is the defining moment.” –Rajendra K. Pachauri, Accepting the 2007 Nobel Price on behalf of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 12/10/2007

6. The Challenge Brookline emits about 540,000 Tons of CO2 per year Brookline Carbon Footprint by Sector

7. The Challenge The energy culprits in Brookline’s residences

8. INDIVIDUAL ACTION Success ultimately up to us We can act more quickly than governmental agencies How to Get There What should we do? • Wait for technology to become more efficient and affordable ? • Wait for government to achieve its goals in 2020 or 2050? • Blame it on China and India?

9. The Initiative • Brookline 2010: A Community Climate Challenge • A grassroots conservation strategy for rapid, broad and deep action • Participants: • Brookline’s Board of Selectmen Climate Action Committee • CCAB • MCAN - leading a group of Massachusetts communities in the Cool MASS (Eco-Team) effort • 9 other MA communities including Newton and Winchester

10. The Initiative: Brookline 2010 • First Step • All organizations in Brookline are asked to do at least one thing in 2010 to reduce carbon emissions and green their events • Next Step • Leadership organizations have the opportunity to spur climate reduction by participating in our EcoTeam effort

11. The Initiative Eco-Team Process • Pull together Eco-Teams of 6 to 8 households from your organization’s members • Hold 3-4 team meetings following an easy, thoughtful, and tested workbook • Make simple home improvements & lifestyle changes to reduce household carbon footprints while saving money

12. Eco-Teams Help Members Take Action in their Homes Behavior changes (shorter showers, lower thermostat) Efficiency measures (more CFLs) High impact investments (air-seal, add insulation) Renewable energy sources (NSTAR Green) The Initiative

13. Eco-Teams Help Members Take Action with Transportation Drive less Walk Bike Take the T Don’t idle New car time? Improve mileage The Initiative

14. The Initiative • Team members: • Calculate their household’s carbon footprint • Record actions they have taken or intend to take • If each member takes action to reduce their carbon by 5,000 pounds, that’s 35,000 pounds for a 7-member team – it can add up quickly

15. The Goals If we reach our goal for 2010, we will cut 1.4M pounds (700 tons) of carbon! • Goals: • Reach 85% of the 23,000-25,000 households in Brookline and achieve an average GHG reduction of 25% • Three year program beginning January 2010 • First year: • Reach 1,000 households – that’s 150 Eco-Teams with an average of 7 members each • We estimate needing 30 partners to achieve this goal • Conduct Eco-Teams in at least of one condo complex and one apartment complex with >50 units The goals are attainable working with partner organizations

16. The Goals Generating Eco-Teams CCAB Brookline Eco-Team Initiative BrooklineComumtyFoud. Neighbor-hoodAssns Town Meeting Members Art Center Music Groups School Green Teams Potential forScalability

17. The Benefits Benefits of the Project: • Produce immediate results without large expenditures • Households save money on an ongoing basis • Showcase Brookline and your organization as carbon reduction leaders in MA and the US • Build community by bringing neighbors together into Eco-Team • Positive changes that leave a healthier planet for future generations Participating in an EcoTeam makes you richer, healthier, happier and more attractive!!

18. The Benefits Benefits to Partners: • Bring new members into your organization • Engage existing members in a new program • Engage a different demographic within your membership • Support your mission • Raise your profile in the community • Build relationships with other partner organizations

19. What’s Next? • Plan a strategy to create Eco-Teams within your organization • Discuss the project with your organization • Incorporate climate change in your mission • Become an active partner • Sign up for 2010 • Conduct Eco-Teams For 2010, we need 30 partner organizations each conducting 5 Eco-Teams

20. How CCAB Can Support You • Provide introductory presentations and speakers: To describe the project goals and strategy • Provide Eco-Team training and coaching: To help potential members start a team To support team leaders • Provide Web Sites: To calculate your initial carbon footprint To record EcoTeam data and progress To provide ongoing resources To provide a link to other green organizations and events • Promote your Organization: In our literature, at our events & on our web site www.climatechangeactionbrookline.org

21. Thank You “We sometimes emphasize the danger in a crisis without focusing on the opportunities that are there. We should feel a great sense of urgency because it is the most dangerous crisis we have ever faced, by far. But it also provides us with opportunities to do a lot of things we ought to be doing for other reasons anyway. And to solve this crisis we can develop a shared sense of moral purpose.” Al Gore “All of us can do something to make the world better and each of us should try.” Ted Kennedy