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THE HOT HOUSE

February 28, 2008

This blogger has long complained that California's efforts to reduce greenhouse gases have been way too heavy on bureaucratic procedure and light on innovative ways to engage the public.

Two new Web sites suggest that the state is broadening its approach.

This week, the California Air Resources Board and other groups launched a "Cool California" site that allows individuals to measure their carbon footprint, based on real conditions here in the Golden State.

As government web sites go, this one is pretty hip.

You plug in where you live, your gas mileage and how much you drive, the household energy usage and your purchasing practices, and out pops an estimate of the greenhouse gases you generate.

I inputted the numbers and found I generate about 30 tons of CO2 yearly -- 70 percent of the average Californian but nearly four times the world average.

I have a few gripes about the site. It needs to create a separate category for people who live in the Central Valley, where summer heat causes spikes in energy usage. But overall it is worthwhile. Kudos to CARB, UC Berkeley, the California Energy Commission and Next Ten for developing it.

The other new carbon footprint site was developed by the Berkeley Institute of the Environment and the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory. It goes beyond individuals, and allows small businesses, municipalities and other organizations to estimate their emissions.

"The goals are to get people to understand that every thing they do, every
dollar they spend, has an impact on the climate, and to provide critical
information about which consumption choices lead to the greatest impact,"
said Christopher M. Jones, a Berkeley researcher who helped develop the two sites.

Posted by Stuart Leavenworth at 4:06 PM | Comments

February 15, 2008

Sacramento is home to California's groundbreaking law to cap greenhouse gases, and its internationally watched efforts to devise a market trading system for emissions.

But how does the city itself rank in the pantheon of "green" cities?

To help me answer that question, Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo was kind enough to send me the city's 2008 implementation plan for "Creating a Sustainable City."

The 23-page plan lists what the city is doing and planning to reduce greenhouse gases, reduce waste and improve overall environmental practices.

The report isn't yet up on the city's Web site but the Hot House created a link for it here.

I'd be interested to hear what Hot House readers and experts think of the plan in comparison to what other cities are doing. The Wall Street Journal reported on sustainable cities this week. There's more info on other cities site and from this previous Hot House item.

To send me your thoughts, click on the link that says "comments" under this item. Or shoot me an email.

Sacramento Bee Photo/Hector Amezcua

Posted by Stuart Leavenworth at 5:32 PM | Comments

May 15, 2007

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa wants to commit his city to reducing greenhouse gases 35 percent by 2030.

The likely gubernatorial candidate calls his climate action plan, released today, the most ambitious of any major U.S. city. It calls for cleaner power, cleaner ports, new building standards and more parks, transit and walkable neighborhoods in a city synonymous with sprawl, smog and traffic jams.

No mention of "congestion pricing" -- in which motorists are charged extra for driving during periods of increased traffic. London has reduced emissions and traffic with congestion pricing, and mayors in Seattle and New York are exploring the idea. Antonio?

Posted by Stuart Leavenworth at 4:36 PM | Comments

WHAT IS THE HOT HOUSE?

California has passed the nation's first statewide laws to control carbon dioxide and other emissions linked to global warming. Now comes the tough part: Translating statutes into action. Corporate CEOs, European ministers and others are all watching what happens here in Sacramento. This blog will track the implementation of California’s laws and the power players that are trying to influence the outcome.

WHAT ARE THE LAWS?

AB 32
Signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006. Requires the state to reduce its global warming emissions to 1990 levels (a 25 percent reduction) by 2020, with a further 80 percent reduction by 2050.

SB 1368
Also enacted in 2006. Requires utilities to purchase long-term power contracts from sources that are as "clean" – in terms of carbon emissions – as the most efficient natural gas-fired power plants. Effectively bans new contracts with out-of-state coal power plants.

AB 1493
Signed into law by Gov. Gray Davis in 2002. Requires motor vehicles sold in California by 2009 to achieve the maximum feasible reduction of greenhouse gases. The major automobile manufacturers are now challenging it in court.

STUART LEAVENWORTH

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CATEGORIES

AB 32
Hot House R.I.P
Schwarzenegger panel proposes "carbon trust" to push early reductions
Budget Nun takes aim at Schwarzenegger's AB 32 funding
Perata letter to Mary Nichols
Big day for California in implementing its global warming law
Air board launches its Noah's Ark: The scoping plan
White House uses California as a shield in defending its climate policies
New CARB chief: "It's good not to surprise your boss."
Early action measures approved
Babin's new spin on Schwarzenegger's green image
Schwarzenegger and McClintock heat up the air at GOP convention
Nichols tries to turn this ship around
Thanks to GOP, Jerry Brown paints himself as climate crusader
Did Republicans get snookered?
Enviro concessions are the grease that gets budget passed
CARB gets closer to a baseline for CO2 emissions
Can we get real now?
One of Mary Nichols' first acts
Early action? Or delaying maneuver?
Note to governor: Engage Californians, not just Western governors
Senate plans "report card" on state agencies and emissions
Step up and report your emissions
Be very scared: Big Brother is coming after your car AC
Automobiles
Smash up over electric cars
Romney once supported Cal's clean car law, but now...?
Happy New Year -- and lawsuits
The Grinch didn't listen to his legal team
Senate passes energy bill after Feinstein "colloquy" stirs buzz
Strike three for the automakers
Delicious letter to the editor
Arnold @ LA Auto show: Applying pressure? Or greenwashing?
How will EPA justify rejecting the waiver?
SoCal fires delay global warming lawsuit
Are there alternatives to California's 2002 clean cars law?
Automakers lose in Vermont
Schwarzenegger to Bush: See you in court
Bush employee caught orchestrating backlash to CA laws?
I saw this one coming
Will state’s greenhouse laws kill more motorists?
No longer your father's Hummer hawker
Miles-per-gallon Monday
Biofuels
Biofuels take a bashing
Governor may face a biofuels backlash
California Air Resources Board
What's Catherine Witherspoon up to?
Sawyer to Schwarzenegger: I hardly knew ye
Carb-gate won't die easily
Governor picks new CARB chair; independence an issue
CARB-gate continues to smolder
Scary movie continues: Witherspoon out, Assembly to probe ousters
Sawyer axed -- Witherspoon next?
Diplomacy
Schwarzenegger at Yale: "Things will immediately pick up speed after inauguration day."
Bellying up to the bar in Bali
Schwarzenegger, the salesman, goes national
California journalist wins Nobel Peace Prize
What's with the Bentley, gov?
Schwarzenegger -- the Statesmanator?
Wangari Maathai in Sac on Friday
Arnold to Michigan: "Get Off Your Butt"
Schwarzenegger calls US an "environmental problem"
No longer your father's Oldsmobile?
California registers more influence
Hey mate, want to engage in some wedge politics?
Energy
Schwarzenegger leans green on energy appointment
Truckee goes for the green
Dirty coal no more?
State senate passes bill to get more juice from renewables
More juice for nukes?
global warming studies
Ask not for whom the global warming bell tolls
Grab bag
California: Go Green! Go Feud!
Concrete thoughts and damming musings on climate change
Year ender: What this blog is, and isn't, and how to comment
Transformative events, and some that didn't transpire
Back in the saddle
Preemptive memorial for Folsom Dam flood victims
Heat wave deaths, a surprise announcement, and Al Gore's carbon footprint
Tom goes to the dark side; Hot House to cool down
I'm here to pump you up
Back from the wilds
Hoodoo you love? Vacations...
Tuesday grab bag
Greenhouse grab bag
Land Use
Jerry Brown: Hurtful? Or helpful?
San Bernardino settlement sets standard for local C02 programs
A comment that may come back to haunt him?
Budget deal: No bond lawsuits using CEQA
McClintock: Budget should not be held hostage to CEQA dispute
Oh, say can you CEQA?
Ironies abound in meltdown over state budget
Climate change: Fresh meat for legal beagles
Local efforts
Two new sites to check your carbon footprint: Shaq-size? Or smaller?
Is Sacramento serious about sustainability? New report offers a few clues
Where Angels no longer fear to tread
Market trading
New program aims to crack down on bogus "carrots"
Cap-and-trade revenues: What to do with all the money?
The Bee endorses cap-and- trade -- as long as allowances are auctioned
Cap-and-trade being knee capped?
Cap and trade attacked, defended
Environmental Justice groups declare war on carbon trading
Podunk East Coast paper launches "Environmental Capital"
Hayes: "Junk the term carbon offsets"
Market advisory report out
Market Advisory Report tomorrow
Business coalition hopes to plant seeds for cap-and-trade program
Market advisory committee releases recommendations
California registers more influence
Response 2
Why won't the naysayers reveal themselves?
Reaction to items on Jerry Brown, CEQA
Why doesn't Jerry pick on state agencies?
Not-so-Hot House
Hot comments welcome
Hot stuff: Readers respond
Bio of Stuart Leavenworth
Schwarzenegger
Arnold: "I am downsizing"
Got bait? Schwarzenegger touts future of nuclear power
Mary Nichols: New technologies will allow us to do anything!
Thanks to Drudge, “Air Schwarzenegger” stirs up the masses
Schwarzenegger's carbon footprint grows larger
Will Schwarzenegger endorse McCain?
Schwarzenegger -- the smackdown continues
State legislation
D+ for state "report card" on CO2 cuts
Governor to sign flood bills; Will they be enough?
As Schwarzenegger greens his image, the bills come due
Studies
Map your carbon, from Sacramento to Brentwood to....
Hard not to be bearish about the Arctic ice meltdown
Beside reading
Our swollen future
Insurers a driving force in responding to climate change?
Golden opportunity or fool's gold for the grid?
More juice for nukes?
Global Insecurity
Washington
Bush endorses goal, not mandate, to reduce CO2
Bush mulls face saver on climate policy
Schwarzenegger issues sunny endorsement of McCain
Bush alone now in opposing California waiver
Exclusive: Schwarzenegger bummed that candidates aren't addressing climate change
Where do the presidential candidates stand on CA waiver?
Desmogging the climate denial industry
The ultimate "decider" on climate policy
Pelosi rejects lump of coal
Sneak attack on California's laws -- from coal country!
Bush endorses greenhouse targets, kinda; mum on Kyoto II

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