I attended an MLS event for the City of San Luis Obispo mayoral candidates on Tuesday. As expected the prepared questions focused on point of sale issues regarding greening the existing housing stock. Barasch at least mentioned that there were already point of sale requirements, but none of the candidates, Marx, Barasch and Hedrick, even suggested that point of sale for retrofits, upgrades or even energy ratings was on the near horizon. Fortunately, none of the questions touched on how the City of San Luis Obispo plans to meet AB32 requirements. The plan (see their Climate Action Plan) seems to be "business as usual whenever possible", but just before 2020 a magic energy wise wand (yet to be invented) appears to transform the buildings and behavior of the population to achieve compliance. That's all off in the future. It's all about the current election--whether it's national or local. The idea of working backwards from 2020 to determine what needs to be done in 2012 to meet the AB32 standards, leaving room for economic cycles, unexpected events (good and bad), etc. doesn't receive much attention. The focus is how little can be done. What if AB 32 standards could be exceeded by a substantial margin to the benefit of the community, the individuals in it and the Earth? That's a question that won't be asked. Will the Happiest City in America remain so in 2020? We'll find out pretty soon. 2020 is just around the corner in government years (AB32 passed in 2006).
I promise next post will get back to the POSITIVELY GREEN mode! Elections get in the way of positively anything.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Light up ahead?
Business got crazy, been a while. Slight progress evident, along with a sobering realization that, at least in real estate, business as usual remains the prevailing strategy. Three new developments were pitched at the last MLS meeting---none of the speakers mentioned energy efficiency during their presentations. The buildings DO meet current high energy efficiency standards and may even exceed them, but that aspect is evidently not deemed worthy of mention.
The progress part of the last few weeks was the passing (3-2 vote) by the SLO County Board of Supervisors of the Green Building Ordinance that, among other things, requires remodel projects with a value of over $10,000 to comply with the constructions standards of the ordinance AND produce a HERS II rating for the residential structure at completion.
SLO has many older house with no insulation single pane windows, etc etc. It's often assumed those are small cottages---BUT there are some LARGE older homes in SLO. Those are heritage energy hogs. In addition to some historic character (if not actual designation), they also hold the promise of greatly improved energy efficiency. Incentives are needed to encourage energy efficiency upgrades. Some of these large, older houses are used by Poly students at relatively high density. These houses represent the proverbial "low hanging fruit" of energy conservation. Are they targeted in any local efforts to comply with AB 32 requirements---nope. I wonder if anyone in the government sector really believes, or cares, whether the AB 32 requirements are met or not. Maybe it's just a job? As I've said before, I don't expect the needed changes to occur. 2020 isn't far off and AB 32 was passed in 2006.
Just this AM as I was waking up I had one of those moments of clarity--the struggle with climate change HAS NO FINISH LINE!! That sounds simple and obvious, but with the election rhetoric and partisan politics taking control of the media, that simple fact gets lost in the messages. In an auto race, it's OK to push the car beyond its limit to get to the finish line. People sometimes undertake great risks pursuing a bucket list--with the finish line posed by their own mortality in mind.
Climate Change isn't like that. THERE IS NO FINISH LINE, only continuation of a contest involving the future of the Earth as a quality habitat for living things. Most of our institutions operate in a tightly constrained world of the next election, next quarterly corporate report, next bonus, etc. There's a disconnect between laws of nature (not all even understood) and human laws, mostly crafted by those in power for their own benefit---short term benefit.
The positive perspective is that humans have the capability of deeper understanding than that evidenced by their institutions. Individuals still have considerable freedom to act in the best interests of the Earth.
Many environmental groups seek to put pressure on the institutions, lobbying government, protesting corporate actions, etc. Those efforts have great merit and achieve a degree of success, but seem to ignore the ominous timeline taking shape as climate data accumulates.
More and more scientists believe the next 4-5 years are critical in shaping the future path of Climate Change. Unless significant reduction of CO2 emissions is achieved in 4-5 years, the process of change may shift into an unpredictable realm described by tipping points, catastrophe cusps and other non-linear models.
The fastest, most predictable way to reduce CO2 emissions in a short period of time, without depending on new technology, governmental/corporate enlightenment and other fantasy scenarios is behavioral change by a large segment of the population. Behavior can change TODAY using current technology and a very modest learning curve. It need not involve major shifts in lifestyle or a decrease the quality of life. It's flexible--a buffet of choices presents itself daily. Slightly different choices can achieve a reduction in CO2 emissions. If enough people make those different choices, CO2 emission could be reduced 5% or 10%, or even more.
If and when technology and government achieve success, CO2 reductions can accelerate, but for the next 4-5 years, the people of the Earth need to take a lead role in mitigating Climate Change, because they have the ABILITY to make the needed behavioral changes NOW, and they COULD have the MOTIVATION to make those changes, and they COULD perceive the TRIGGER necessary to make those changes.
Incorporating those changes into an existing lifestyle CAN be a process of discovery, exploration and fun. The journey to becoming energy wise can be as enriching as the goal--helping Earth remain a quality home for living things. It's your home--your only home.
Next---more about ABILITY, MOTIVATION AND TRIGGER.
The progress part of the last few weeks was the passing (3-2 vote) by the SLO County Board of Supervisors of the Green Building Ordinance that, among other things, requires remodel projects with a value of over $10,000 to comply with the constructions standards of the ordinance AND produce a HERS II rating for the residential structure at completion.
SLO has many older house with no insulation single pane windows, etc etc. It's often assumed those are small cottages---BUT there are some LARGE older homes in SLO. Those are heritage energy hogs. In addition to some historic character (if not actual designation), they also hold the promise of greatly improved energy efficiency. Incentives are needed to encourage energy efficiency upgrades. Some of these large, older houses are used by Poly students at relatively high density. These houses represent the proverbial "low hanging fruit" of energy conservation. Are they targeted in any local efforts to comply with AB 32 requirements---nope. I wonder if anyone in the government sector really believes, or cares, whether the AB 32 requirements are met or not. Maybe it's just a job? As I've said before, I don't expect the needed changes to occur. 2020 isn't far off and AB 32 was passed in 2006.
Just this AM as I was waking up I had one of those moments of clarity--the struggle with climate change HAS NO FINISH LINE!! That sounds simple and obvious, but with the election rhetoric and partisan politics taking control of the media, that simple fact gets lost in the messages. In an auto race, it's OK to push the car beyond its limit to get to the finish line. People sometimes undertake great risks pursuing a bucket list--with the finish line posed by their own mortality in mind.
Climate Change isn't like that. THERE IS NO FINISH LINE, only continuation of a contest involving the future of the Earth as a quality habitat for living things. Most of our institutions operate in a tightly constrained world of the next election, next quarterly corporate report, next bonus, etc. There's a disconnect between laws of nature (not all even understood) and human laws, mostly crafted by those in power for their own benefit---short term benefit.
The positive perspective is that humans have the capability of deeper understanding than that evidenced by their institutions. Individuals still have considerable freedom to act in the best interests of the Earth.
Many environmental groups seek to put pressure on the institutions, lobbying government, protesting corporate actions, etc. Those efforts have great merit and achieve a degree of success, but seem to ignore the ominous timeline taking shape as climate data accumulates.
More and more scientists believe the next 4-5 years are critical in shaping the future path of Climate Change. Unless significant reduction of CO2 emissions is achieved in 4-5 years, the process of change may shift into an unpredictable realm described by tipping points, catastrophe cusps and other non-linear models.
The fastest, most predictable way to reduce CO2 emissions in a short period of time, without depending on new technology, governmental/corporate enlightenment and other fantasy scenarios is behavioral change by a large segment of the population. Behavior can change TODAY using current technology and a very modest learning curve. It need not involve major shifts in lifestyle or a decrease the quality of life. It's flexible--a buffet of choices presents itself daily. Slightly different choices can achieve a reduction in CO2 emissions. If enough people make those different choices, CO2 emission could be reduced 5% or 10%, or even more.
If and when technology and government achieve success, CO2 reductions can accelerate, but for the next 4-5 years, the people of the Earth need to take a lead role in mitigating Climate Change, because they have the ABILITY to make the needed behavioral changes NOW, and they COULD have the MOTIVATION to make those changes, and they COULD perceive the TRIGGER necessary to make those changes.
Incorporating those changes into an existing lifestyle CAN be a process of discovery, exploration and fun. The journey to becoming energy wise can be as enriching as the goal--helping Earth remain a quality home for living things. It's your home--your only home.
Next---more about ABILITY, MOTIVATION AND TRIGGER.
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