As the price of oil rises the opportunities toward affordable alternatives to fossil fuels rises as well. One of the biggest deterrents enabling us to reduce emissions of green house gases has been artificially low oil prices. If we were to add to the true cost of oil by including the price of “defense” and foreign intervention, global warming, and pollution to the environment the price would be off the charts. There are huge additional losses that we can’t quantify such as loss of life, happiness, and demise of a spirit to protect our planet.

Sonoma County has made a commitment to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases 25% by 2015. For some this may be an empty gesture to make people happy; I believe we can and must meet these goals. Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels is an opportunity to protect our environment, save money and create jobs in Sonoma County. Let’s keep the money here by reducing our dependence on foreign oil and all the additional hidden costs.

First and foremost we need to conserve. We need to go door to door encouraging people to save money by insulating and weather-stripping their homes. We need to educate people on all the myriad ways they can save money and save the planet through simple lifestyle changes. Safer bicycle paths, carpooling, better planned car trips to school and shopping, reduced air travel, less consumptive lifestyles, natural, florescent and LED lighting, space heating over central heating, wear a sweater and more.

Through tax incentives and volunteerism we need to develop alternatives to fossil fuels through home based photovoltaic electricity, solar hot water, passive solar home design, and biomass heating with wood pellets and EPA approved woodstoves. Perhaps we can create some sort of local wood pelletizing cooperative that can even utilize dead oaks from SOD (Sudden Oak Death). Cornell University is presently experimenting with great success pelletizing grasses and leaves (http://www.grassbioenergy.org) . Properly managed bio-mass heating does not add to green house gases. Our public and commercial buildings should fully utilize all these options as well.

Further we should encourage the continuing development of methane from organic sources. Presently the County landfill generates enough electricity through burning methane to power the entire town of Windsor. We should also encourage the production of methane from dairy and agriculture as well as household organic material incorporated into a zero waste strategy. Methane is 21 times the greenhouse gas that carbon dioxide is. More effort needs to made in this direction. Along these lines we should also encourage the development of ethanol and cellulosic fuels.

We need to work toward making broadband internet available to every household in Sonoma County just as ubiquitous as phone service is presently. We need to work toward improving cell phone reception for all providers throughout Sonoma County as well. Part of developing a “new economy” is to encourage and embrace communication technology that helps more and more people work out of their homes within the virtual economy fostering home based cottage industries. The more of us working out of our homes reduces the emissions from commuting cars and additional workspaces.

Another way to decrease our greenhouse gases is a little bit controversial but I think it could prove very effective. If you note below we have purchased “carbon offset’s” to offset our household and automobile’s carbon output. Al Gore does the same to offset the green house gases from his private jet and his $2400 home electric bill. We have purchased through the recommendation of the Environmental Defense Fund carbon offsets from the http://www.carbonfund.org/ “Reduce what you can, Offset what you can’t.”

Our choice is an outfit that collects manure from Dairies in the San Joaquin Valley and re-use’s the methane to produce electricity to desalinate brackish water. We need a whole panoply of local carbon offset programs in Sonoma County.

Lastly we should sub-contract services from a number of well respected environmental groups to oversee the volunteer efforts toward our 25% by 2015 goals. This is a huge effort and undertaking. To have County staff coordinating this goal is too expensive. The best paid worker is a volunteer. We need to decrease our dependence on government and increase our use of volunteers and non-profits. We cannot afford to do otherwise. Let’s leverage our tax dollars to greatest affect by joining existing efforts toward our goals.

Tom's household creates 50.6 metric tons of carbon a year. This was offset through Carbonfund.org.

Housing - 6.1 tons (12.1%) Cars - 5.4 tons (10.7%) Flight - 39.1 tons (77.2%)
Flying being the largest chunk of GHG emissions.

Average 2-person American Household: 33.8 tons of CO₂

What You Can Do

Burning fossil fuels to power our homes and run our cars creates global warming pollution. Big and small changes can add up and make a real difference in the fight against global warming. Print out a booklet of tips [PDF] or handouts to share!

At Home: Use Less Energy

Home energy accounts for 21 percent of America's global warming pollution. If we make smart choices, we can cut more pollution than the entire emissions of over 100 countries!

Change a bulb: Better energy-saving lights

Greener power: Re-thinking home energy

Full list of tips: How to cut pollution at home

On the Road: Be Efficient

When it comes to global warming, how and what we drive are two of our most powerful choices. Transportation is the biggest source of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions, more than factories or homes.  

Save fuel: Use less gas with your current car

Choose green: Buy a clean, efficient car

Neutralize the Rest

Even if you are already driving efficiently and using less electricity, there's more you can do. Buying offsets, or credits, neutralizes what we can't cut.

How to buy carbon offsets »

Arctic sea ice loss from 1979 to 2003 equaled an area greater than the combined size of TX & CA

Biomass Digester/Inland Empire Utility Agency – California, US

This project takes cow manure from fourteen local farms, breaks it down, and converts it into methane. The methane is used to generate electricity, which is then used to power a desalination plant to provide clean water for thousands of people in the area. The project takes a full cycle approach to dealing with several issues, including clean electricity and manure problems and offers numerous benefits to the local communities.