How Can Cities and Counties Cool Texas?

Climate scientists anticipate global warming to seriously affect cities and urban areas. Regional temperature increases will create more smog. Changes in precipitation will adversely affect urban water supplies. An increase in extreme weather events will cause damage to urban infrastructure; and sea level rise will eventually inundate infrastructure and settlements in many coastal cities.

Local governments can influence many of the activities that produce greenhouse gas emissions. Areas where local governments can make significant GHG reductions are;

Portland, Oregon has developed its own global warming action plan that aims to reduce area greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent from 1988 levels by 2010. These reduction actions complement other economic and environmental goals, thus enhancing the city's livability.

10 Ways to Cool Texas--Cities and Counties

  1. Conduct a city or countywide greenhouse gas emissions inventory.
  2. Establish an emissions target.
  3. Develop a local action plan.
  4. Buy high efficiency products like ENERGY STAR Copiers, fax machines, computers, scanners, exit signs, heating and cooling products, windows, and other equipment for municipal use.
  5. Switch from fossil fuel-generated electricity to renewable-based power for municipal buildings.
  6. Convert fleet vehicles to run on alternative fuels.
  7. Implement curbside recycling.
  8. Buy products from recycled material.
  9. Capture methane from landfills.
  10. Plant trees to cool buildings and take other steps, like installing white roofs and parking surfaces to cool the urban heat island effect.

last updated December 2006
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