Tips for Encouraging Your Membership to Take Action

Tips for Encouraging Your Membership to Take

Action

Palo Alto Non-Profits Go GreenApril 14, 2009

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The problem of climate change The power of individual action Effective approaches Acterra programs

2Acterra Action for a Sustainable Earth

Topics for Today

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The problem we face

Climate Change Basics• Greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane) trap

Sun’s heat within the atmosphere• Earth heats up and climate patterns change -- colder/hotter some places, more intense storms, etc.• Sources of greenhouse gases: burning fossil fuels,

deforestation, livestock waste (methane)• Negative feedback loops:

• Melting tundra emits even more methane• Albedo effect: heat energy reflects from white ice,

is absorbed by dark ocean waterActerra Action for a Sustainable Earth

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“We are in imminent peril. We have at most 10 years — not 10 years to decide upon action — but 10 years to alter fundamentally the trajectory of global greenhouse emissions and take significant actions to reduce them.

“If not, we will hit a critical tipping point after which it becomes impractical to make further changes. We are then locked into disastrous effects including major coastal flooding and droughts.”

-- Jim Hansen, NASA’s chief climate change scientist

A Planetary Emergency


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California Impacts of Climate Change

Climate change affects us because…

• We have limited water

• We depend on Sierra snow for water storage

• Our population is growing into wilderness areas

• California is a coastal state

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California Impacts

Climate change will cause• Droughts• Reduced Sierra snow pack• Wildfires• Sea level rise

Acterra Action for a Sustainable Earth

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The Path to Climate Stabilization

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1970 1990 2010 2030 2050

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2.6Electricity end-useefficiency

Building, businessefficiency

Passenger vehicleefficiency

Other transportefficiency

Renewables

Carbon emission capture & storage

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“Business as Usual”

Embracing Change

After Pascala & Socolow

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Can one person make a difference?

The power of individual action

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Policy Technology

Behavior Change

Change how people Consume and creates a

demand for new technologies

Change how People think about the environment

Change how People Vote and creates Support for Policy

Change

Change how People act towards the environment

A stable climate

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The U.S. generates 25% of the world’s carbon emissions 50% of U.S. emissions are directly caused by individuals

Our buying decisions indirectly affect the other 50%

You can reduce your carbon output by changing: Your car and airplane travel What you eat How much electricity and gas you use

Individuals Make a Difference


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A U.S. household produces 55,000 pounds of CO2 in a year

A German household: 27,000 pounds A Swedish household: 15,000 pounds We can do better

How do we compare?


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US Energy Consumption by Sector

Source: Energy Information Administration

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The Opportunity

Our actions make a difference

Our homes are a big source of wasted energy

People are learning: saving energy means saving money AND curbing climate change.

We can help people make changes.


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Leveraging individual actions to create a collective tipping point.How do we get more people started?

Effective solutions

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What Works, What Doesn’t

Information is not enough to create behavior change

Effective public health & conservation programs leverage individual actions to create a tipping point that changes behavior of many people.

Think about

-- Changes in smoking habits

-- The growth of recycling


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Making it “Cool” to Change

Specific, easy steps -- Suggest very specific things to do.

Measurable results -- Demonstrate specific savings in money,energy and CO2 reductions.

Written pledge -- Strengthens commitment to new behavior.

Visible prompts -- Reminders for new behaviors.

Incentives -- Public recognition may foster completion of goals.

Peer support -- Behavior change is more likely when peers make a shift together.

Bandwagon effect -- Change social norms through visible signs of participation. This encourages others to join in the effort.

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Give people specific tasks to do -- install energy efficiency devices

And specific habits to build -- identify new conservation habits

Proven Strategy #1: Specific Steps


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Measurable results Start with a baseline measurement of current energy use.

Make a record of savings -- by individuals and of your group as a whole.

Focus on high-impact changes for even better results.

Proven Strategy #2: Count it Up


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Written Pledge Strengthens commitment to new behavior

Palo Alto’s free bag for a signed pledge

How can you incorporate a signature into your program ?

Proven Strategy #3: Commitment


QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

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Use prompts as reminders for new behaviors “Shut off your engine -- Children breathing here”

Harness the power of the aggregate Show how it all adds up -- think of a barn-raising!

Proven Strategy #4: Make it visible


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Saving money is one incentive But the amounts may be small

Example: Carpool lanes and hybrid stickers

Public recognition may be another perk. Be careful not to shame those who don’t participate or follow through

Proven Strategy #5: Incentives


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Tap the power of social support groups Think of Weight Watchers, AA,Team-in-Training, Toastmasters

Why they work Support network for trying new things

Accountability to others Fun and community building

Proven Strategy #6: Peer Support


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Change social norms In times of uncertainty, people look around at others for what to do

Classic experiment in Times Square Visible signs of participation encourage others to act Recycling bins out on Tuesday morning Brown lawns during a drought Use your own mug Green gifts for your hostess

Proven Strategy #7: Social Norms


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Green@Home -- for volunteers & residentsACTerraGREEN -- for organized groups

Acterra’s CO2 reduction programs

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How Green@Home Works

Education AND action -- using proven social marketing strategies

Face-to-face info sharing is most effective method

Leverages volunteer power to offer free service

Volunteers Help residents install simple energy-saving devices

Work with residents to create a customized energy saving plan

Become advocates for behavior changes Builds community through neighbor-to-neighbor approach

Creates bandwagon effect with lawn signs

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HouseCall Upgrades

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Additional HouseCall Actions

Review utility bill Energy Audit: Measure energy usage throughout house and identify opportunities for savings

Suggest additional upgrades or conservation habits

Discuss resources and handouts with resident

Complete customized energy saving plan Ask resident for signed commitment to next steps

Current Locations: Menlo Park Palo AltoRedwood CitySunnyvaleCupertino

Green@Home: 2008-09


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What is ACTerraGREEN?A group program to help everyone save energy

For people who want to make changes,

but don’t know where to startA simple, effective campaignLasts 4 to 6 months

The ACTerraGREEN Campaign


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How Does ACTerraGREEN Work?

Your Green Team plans a launch event Monthly “challenges” & surveys engage participants Website & E-mail group offer detailed action steps, suggestions, and feedback Survey results & outreach activities keep participants connected


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The Invitation and Pledge

Launching an ACTerraGREEN Campaign requires:

A Green Team An invitation describing the campaign and encouraging everyone to sign up

A pledge event to showhow many people arecommitted to participate

Peninsula School families added rocks to this jar, showing how

many pledged to participate

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Website & E-mail Group

A customized website describes monthly challenges and other resources

A community e-mail groupto share results, ideas and news

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About Monthly Challenges

• One-time actions, such as swapping all your incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescents.

• Repeated actions that become habits over time, such as using personal water bottles instead of buying bottled water.

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Monthly Challenges

Winter heat Things you plug in Your consumer footprint Holidays Transportation Water

ACTerraGREEN provides written info each month on topics like:

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Monthly Surveys & Results

Surveys are

• Conducted on-line*

• Once a month

• Take just a minute

• Anonymous

• Totaled up to produce graph of community results (at right)

* Non-computer users may request paper copies

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ACTerraGREEN Outreach Activities

Ideas some communities have used: Hand out free CFLs Cookie baking demonstration: toaster vs. conventional oven

“Don’t Idle” driveway education Screen “An Inconvenient Truth” or “Hoot” Host a “Green Tea” to socialize and share ideas

Organize a carpool initiative Provide a Home Greening Kit: Kill-a-Watt meters, indoor/outdoor thermometers, caulking guns, etc.

Speakers to discuss specific environmental topics

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Benefits to Your Community Group

Brings people together around the common goal to fight climate change.Gives your staff an opportunity to engage in social change on a first-hand basis. Allows you to serve as a model for other communities interested in “going green.”

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Some Successes So Far

Peninsula School:• 75% of families participated (about 162 families) • Participants took over 1500 actions to reduce home energy use

Las Lomitas & La Entrada Schools:• 265 families• Over 2500 actions to reduce their home energy use• Actions in first four months saved 120.6 tons of CO2 – equivalent to planting 9,647 trees or taking 22.1 cars off the road.

Now providing campaigns at:• Six churches & synagogues in Silicon Valley• Genencor, Palo Alto• Skoll Foundation, Palo Alto

-- and more!

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Get Involved: ACTerraGREEN

To start an ACTerraGREEN campaign,

Contact Ellen Wilkinson at Acterra:

[email protected](650) 962-9876, ext. 353


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“Be the change” you

want to see” in the

world.”

-- Mahatma Gandhi ”

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Replace a 100W incandescent bulb with a 26W compact fluorescent bulb of the same brightness Save $68 over the life of the bulb Prevent release of 490 pounds of CO2 Equivalent to not burning 25 gallons of gas in your car

Action: Lightbulbs


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Change the heater temperature to 68° when people are home and 55°- 58° when house is empty.

For cooling, set it to 75°- 78° when people are home and OFF when people are away.

You’ll save 1,400 lbs of CO2 /year.

Action: Turn Down Your Thermostat


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Change the heater temperature to 120°

You’ll save 150 lbs of CO2 /year.

Action: Turn Down Water Heater


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Set up a clothesline -save 260 Lbs of CO2

per load.

You may save over3,120 lbs CO2 /year.

Action: “Solar” Clothes Dryer


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Livestock sector responsible for 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions, a higher share than transportation. Switch from a meat-eating to a plant-based diet, save 1.5 tons of CO2 a year — that’s 50% more than the 1 ton you would save by replacing your regular sedan with a Prius!

Skip meat one day a week, and prevent up to 428 lbs. of greenhouse gases annually.

Action: Eat Less Meat


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Burning a gallon of gasoline generates 20 lbs CO2

A tuned-up engine can improve fuel efficiency by 30%.

Properly inflated car tires can save 3-5% more gasoline, too. Make an appointment for a tune-up. Learn to check your tire pressure regularly.

You’ll save 1,500 lbs of CO2 /year !

Action: Tune Up Your Car


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You may save over 2,000 lbs CO2 /year.

Action: Drive Less


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20% of the energy used in California goes to pump, heat or treat water.

Install a low-flush toilet. Rebates may be available. Call Santa Clara Valley Water District for a FREE “water wise” check up.

-- www.valleywater.org/conservation-- SCVWD also offers rebates for water saving irrigation systems.

Action: Reduce Water Usage


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Household chemicals -- Pollute water & poison wildlife-- May be affecting human health

Concerned about your products? visit Environmental Working Group www.ewg.org for a list of products & practices-- Cosmetic safety database-- Guide to pesticides in produce

Action: Use Fewer Chemicals


Tips for Encouraging Your Membership to Take Action

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