Technology and Policy

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Cool Cities Workshop Sierra Club Maryland
Chapter

• Technology and Policy
• Greenhouse Gas Inventories
• Ann Elsen
• Elsen Energy Associates
• ElsenEnergy.com
• May 31, 2008

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If you cant measure it, you cant manage it.

• Inventory identifies sources and causes of
  emissions shows you what you need to mitigate
• Inventory baseline snapshot in time for a base
  year, for comparison, the baseline will never
  change
• Protocols - for identifying and quantifying
  emissions sources
• Tools - for making calculations unit
  conversions
• Watch out! Dont let the data drive the process.

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Purpose of Inventory
Communicate sources of greenhouse gas
emissions Establish baseline for future
comparison Identify energy and resource waste and
its cost Enable financial decisions Initiate
meaningful change By itself, even the best
inventory provides zero emissions reductions
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Why Conduct an Inventory?

• The right reasons
• Measure emissions in order to manage them
• Accountability basis for performance measures
  and tracking progress
• Arial view what are biggest/best opportunities?
• Management what is within scope of control?
• Prioritization what to tackle first, identify
  immediate reduction vs. long-term investments

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Why Conduct an Inventory?

• The wrong reasons
• Fear maintain control through an extended
  process
• We have no money lets just study it until we
  can figure out how to fund it
• We have some money lets throw at a
  consultant to appease the environmental community
• Tool for delay

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Some Types of Approaches

• Avoidance identify a cost and delay inventory
  until funding is available
• Expensive pay someone to do it
• In-house by government staff
• Student project or thesis - inexpensive
• Participative community representation and
  buy-in more appropriate at Action Plan stage
• Guerilla campaign organizers conduct
  community-wide inventory on their own (best to
  omit government facilities at this stage
  mitigate fear factor)

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Step by Step ProcessResources on the Cool Cities
Web site
GHG Inventory Training Presentation For
Tonight! Link to New Presentation for GHG
Inventory Training More gt  Cool Counties Success
in MD Read about Montgomery County's new laws!
More gt    CoolState Washington Take a look at
this fantastic website from the folks working to
cool WA More gt    NEW Early Implementation
Solutions! First steps your city should take...
More gt    ICLEI Clean Air and Climate Protection
Software Demo Video View the short video
More gt   
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Emissions Sources

• Key Areas to Address in Inventory
• Energy consumption and fuel source
• Municipal solid waste management Resources
  WasteWise Communities, Pay As You Throw (PAYT),
  WARM Calculator
• Transportation and land use planning

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Data Example
Non-residential Energy Consumption, Montgomery
County based on fuel energy tax revenues
FY04 FY03 FY02 units
Fuel Oil
1 308,049 239,346 175,719 gallons
2 and 3 8,408,135 12,426,256 3,615,106 gallons
4 0 2,215 2,796 gallons
5 0 0 0 gallons
6 0 0 0 gallons
L.P. Gas 6,583,243 7,417,662 6,001,451 pounds
Coal none none none tons
Steam none none none therms
Electricity 5,174,566,271 5,287,050,524 4,998,342,099 kwh
Natural Gas 110,727,319 125,967,516 72,520,986 therms
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Sources of Emissions - Arial View
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Energy ConsumptionCounty Agencies
Example(measured 2001)
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Reporting Findings

• Communicate process to move forward in person
  whenever possible
• Identify next steps and specific people
  responsible
• Written document keep it brief use appendices
• Make a one-page summary as stand-alone handout

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Action brings good fortune.
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