Did you know that homes and other buildings are the largest consumers of energy in the U.S. and a major contributor to global warming? Our Cool Cities Campaign recently joined with local governments, businesses, and energy efficiency advocates to support the most important opportunity in decades to adopt green building codes for new homes: The 30% Solution.
In September, building code officials from around the country will meet in Minneapolis to vote on a bold proposal to strengthen building code energy efficiency standards in new homes by 30%.
If approved and then adopted by communities nationwide, the 30% Solution would have a significant impact. By 2030, the 30% Solution would:
- Save an estimated $88 billion in energy costs.
- Reduce CO2 by 464 million metric tons.
- Create new clean-energy construction and service jobs in the building trades and energy efficiency product industries.
We need your help getting city officials to support the 30% Solution at this September meeting.
Not sure how to talk with your local officials about Cool Cities and the 30% Solution? Then join Cool Cities for a conference call on Thursday, Aug. 14th, where Graham Richard, the former mayor of Fort Wayne, IN, will share his expertise on building great relationships with your local leaders.
Details: Conference Call - Thursday, August 14th
4:30 pm PT/ 5:30 pm MT/ 6:30 pm CT/ 7:30 pm ET
(Please note the appropriate time for your time zone.)
Please RSVP by Thursday afternoon, August 14, to Camellia Watkins of the Cool Cities Campaign, camellia.watkins@sierraclub.org, in order to receive call in details for the training
To learn more about the 30% Solution, read the Action Alert (PDF) or visit the 30% Solution for Cool Cities webpage.
Increased Extreme Rainfall Due to Global Warming
From the NY Times: "Scientists studying variations in tropical heat and rainfall since the mid-1980s have found a strong link between warm periods and a rise in the frequency of the most extreme downpours." Read more about how extreme rainfall events will continue to increase because of global warming.