Climate Management
The City of Flagstaff is committed to substantially reducing Flagstaff's greenhouse gas emissions with actions that make sense for our community, environment and economy. It is an effort that depends on community wide action from individuals, businesses, schools, and governments; in short everbody. We cordially invite you - and everyone you know to join the effort.
Greenhouse Gas Inventory
In September 2006 City of Flagstaff Mayor Joe Donaldson signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, a voluntary pledge to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Under the Agreement, the City of Flagstaff has committed to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets and reduce locally generated GHG emissions seven percent from 1990 levels by 2012.
In August 2008 the City completed Flagstaff's Greenhouse Gas Inventory. The inventory analyzes sources of Flagstaff's GHG emissions and identifies mitigation strategies to reduce them.
Sustainability Program staff is currently reviewing public comment on the inventory and recommended mitigation strategies. A cost benefit analysis and legal review is underway. The results will be presented to the Flagstaff City Council in late spring.
What Can You Do?
Start by calculating your carbon footprint. Your carbon footprint is a representation of the effect you have on the climate in terms of the total amount of GHGs you produce (measured in units of carbon dioxide). Many of your actions generate carbon emissions, which contribute to accelerating global warming and climate change. By measuring your carbon footprint you can get a better sense of what your individual impact is and which parts of your lifestyle deserve the greatest attention. Armed with such information you can more readily take effective action to reduce your carbon footprint, thereby minimizing your personal impact on the climate.
Next, consider incorporating these general tips into your daily life to save energy and reduce your GHG emissions:
Heating your space
Keep your furnace well maintained
Keep your furnace well maintained and change or clean furnace filters every couple of months. Dirty air filters block airflow and can damage the heat exchanger
Look for the ENERGY STAR® label
Look for the ENERGY STAR® label on windows and sliding glass doors. These energy-efficient products reduce energy costs and create less condensation. Visit ENERGY STAR.
Lower your thermostat
Lowering the thermostat at night and when you are away during the day provides optimal savings.
Install an energy efficient furnace
It can save you up to 25% of your home heating costs each year, reduce your greenhouse gas emissions and, depending on the efficiency of your old furnace, pay you back for its higher initial cost in about seven years.
Install energy efficient windows
The amount of energy that escapes through American windows every winter is the equivalent of all the oil that flows through the Alaska pipeline each year. If your current windows are single-glazed, storm windows will add an extra layer of protection. Windows can account for up to 25% of total house heat loss.
Upgrade your insulation
Upgrade insulation in walls, the basement and attic. Insulating your basement walls and attic can reduce your energy bill by as much as 30%.
Use caulking and weather-stripping to seal air leaks
Get a professional to help you reduce your home heating needs by up to 20% by getting rid of drafts and leaks around windows, doors, baseboards and attic hatches. At the same time, seal electrical outlets and switches on outside walls with foam gaskets; on inside walls, use childproof plugs or combination cover plates.
Install a ceiling fan
Change the direction of the fan to push warm air down in the winter. This especially benefits houses with electric baseboards or high cathedral ceilings. If you need a fan with lights, choose one with compact fluorescent lights to further reduce electricity use and heat buildup in summer.
Remove window air conditioners for the winter
If fixed in place, seal them with caulking or tape and cover them with an airtight, insulated jacket to avoid heat loss.
Replace exterior doors
Replace exterior doors in poor repair with insulated core doors or add storm doors.
Shut off the pilot light
Shut off the pilot light of your natural gas fireplace or wall heater during summer months. If you don’t know how to relight the pilot light, ask your heating contractor to show you during your next servicing.
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Cooling your space
Turn off all sources of heat
Turn off all sources of heat, such as lights, appliances and electrical equipment, when not in use. In summer, if you can, do your baking, washing, drying and ironing early in the morning or in the evening.
Use fans
Use fans as your first line of defense against summer heat—they are far less costly to operate than air conditioning. Some fans use up to 98 percent less than conventional air conditioning equipment.
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In the Kitchen
Increase the efficiency of your refrigerator and freezer
Keep them away from heat sources (direct sunlight, furnace vents and radiators) and appliances (oven, stove and dishwasher) that can make them work harder to stay cool. At the same time, check the temperature settings. Keep your refrigerator temperature between 35 – 38°F and the freezer compartment at 0°F for maximum efficiency and safety.
Maintain your refrigerator and freezer for better energy use
Clean the refrigerator heating coils regularly. When you clean them, check the condition of the coils and components at the back of the unit. Keep the rubber door seals clean and tight. They should hold a piece of paper snugly. If the paper slips out easily, replace the seal.
Select the dishwasher’s no-heat or air-drying cycle
Turn off the electric element that heats the interior of the unit and causes the water to evaporate. It is easy to do and will save on your electricity bill. Scrape off your dishes instead of rinsing them and run the dishwasher only when it is full.
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In the Laundry Room
Avoid over-drying clothes
Clothes should dry in 40 to 60 minutes. Better yet, hang clothes outdoors to dry when the weather permits. If you are buying a new dryer, look for one with a moisture sensor. It will turn off automatically when clothes are dry.
Rinse in cold water and wash in warm
Electric washers and dryers can consume as much as 25 percent of the electricity used at home, including hot water for the wash. Clothes rinsed in cold water come out as clean as those rinsed in warm water. Washing in warm rather than hot water uses 50 percent less energy, and your clothes will come out just as well rinsed and, depending on the fabric, less wrinkled.
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Home Office
Ensure your computer system is set up to use its energy-saver option
Machines are often shipped with this feature disabled. If you buy an ENERGY STAR®-qualified computer, the power-saving feature is automatically set.
Buy a monitor that is the right size for your needs
Generally, the larger the monitor, the more energy it consumes, with the exception of an LCD monitor.
Turn off lights and equipment when a work area isn’t being used
Even better, if you don’t need them, don’t turn the lights on in the first place. Natural light saves energy and is easier on your eyes.
Use as little paper as possible
Printing, photocopying and faxing use energy. Use e-mail more often – it is quicker, less expensive and healthier for the environment—if the emails aren’t printed out. Also use recycled paper whenever possible.
If you are buying a laser printer, look for energy-saver features
Units that automatically switch to standby when not in use reduce electricity consumption by more than 65%.
Look on the box for ENERGY STAR®-qualified equipment
ENERGY STAR ® equipment will keep your home energy use, emissions and costs down.
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Lighting
Install outdoor automatic timers
You won’t have to remember to turn your outdoor lights on in the evening and off during the day. Installing a timer can cut your outdoor lighting energy use by up to half. Or use motion detectors that switch on automatically when people move close to them and switch off after a few minutes.
Use more-efficient light bulbs
Replace five of the most used standard bulbs in your home with ENERGY STAR®-qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs and save on your electric bill. More on CFLs.
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Outside maintenance
Capture rainwater for your garden
The water you use for your garden doesn’t have to come from a tap. A cistern or a rain barrel will capture and store rainwater for irrigation. Make sure your barrel is covered with a tight-fitting lid or screen to keep disease-carrying mosquitoes from breeding there. Click here for more information on purchasing rain barrels.
Avoid using chemical pesticides or fertilizers
Avoid using pesticides or fertilizers on your lawn and garden. Chemical fertilizers are a source of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas. Try using organic products – they are better for our environment and healthier for your lawn and your family.
Water early
Water your garden or lawn early in the morning to reduce losses due to evaporation. More than half of the water applied to lawns and gardens can be lost due to evaporation or run-off because of over-watering. More on watering
Limit your use of gas-powered lawn mowers
Using a typical gas-powered mower uses gas and produces greenhouse gas emissions. Use a push or electric mower, better yet replace turf with low water xeriscaping.
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Waste and Recycling
Recycle all recyclable materials
Find out what materials can be recycled and challenge your household to make sure those materials don’t get thrown in the garbage.
Compost your organic kitchen waste
You can compost fruits, vegetables, tea bags and coffee grounds, as well as yard waste. Compost makes valuable fertilizer and reduces the amount of waste in landfills. Vermiculture is another option.
Pay attention to goods and packaging
Evaluate your purchases and consider how they contribute to your household waste. Buy more durable goods and re-usable products. And ask for products with less packaging.
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Water Heating and Use
Avoid running the tap
Avoid running the tap while shaving, brushing your teeth or doing dishes. Partially fill the sink with water and stop about 80% of that clean water from going down the drain – along with your money.
Go for a high-efficiency water heater
High-efficiency water heaters heat water only when you need it, rather than storing hot water in a tank. You’ll notice the savings on your electricity bill.
Install a low-flow showerhead and toilets
Make sure you have a low-flow showerhead, faucet and toilet installed—they can save you hundreds of dollars a year in electricity and water costs. City residents can view rebate information.
Insulate water pipes
Insulate water pipes to reduce heat loss. Insulate the first six feet of the hot- and cold-water pipes from the water heater. A significant amount of heat travels through these pipes and can be lost, particularly through unheated areas such as basements and crawl spaces. For safety, don’t place any pipe insulation within 6 inches of the exhaust vent at the top of standard natural gas/propane or oil-fired water heaters, and never insulate plastic pipes. If you have an electric water heater, check the owner's manual to see if insulatung your tank is an option for further energy savings.
Take a quick shower
Take a quick shower instead of a bath. A five-minute shower, for instance, uses up to 50% less hot water than a bath.
Turn off your water heater when you go on vacation
It wastes energy and money to keep water hot when it isn’t needed—and it doesn’t take long to heat up when you return.
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Driving
Reduce your time behind the wheel
Think before you drive. Walk, bike, take the bus, carpool and combine errands.
Be fuel efficient
If you must drive, keep your car tuned up and running efficiently. Keep tires properly inflated and replace air, oil, and fule filters according to schedule. Make your next car a super efficient one (41+ mpg).
Don't idle
If you are stopping your vehicle for more than ten seconds – except in traffic – turn off your engine. Idling for more than ten seconds uses more gas and creates more greenhouse gases than simply restarting your engine.
Drive sensibly
Aggressive driving – speeding, rapid acceleration and braking – decreases mileage per gallon.
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