We all know global warming is a huge problem that seems pretty overwhelming. But while the scientists and politicians argue about the long term solutions and haggle over politics, we don’t have to wait - we can start taking the first big steps to stopping global warming now.
Although it doesn’t make the headlines on CNN, we have tools to take the first big steps today. Scientists have come up with ways to store energy in fuel cells or as heat so that we can still have power when there isn’t wind and at night. Architects are combining the latest in energy efficient design and renewable energy to build homes that make as much energy as they use and simple additions to a Prius can make them plug-in hybrids that get 100 miles to the gallon.
One of the easiest and quickest ways to solve global warming is through improving energy efficiency. This has the added benefit of lowering our energy bills. Here on Colorado’s campuses, we’ve already taken action – CU Boulder has retrofitted 75 buildings with the latest energy efficiency technology and CU Denver just built one of the most energy efficient science buildings in the country.
We're focusing our attention on ratcheting up the energy-efficient work that we are doing. One goal is to improve the energy efficiency of rental properties around the state, which many of us live in and can be some of the oldest, draftiest and least efficient buildings around. We can cut our energy bills in half and make a big dent in stopping global warming.
One way we'll do this is by making sure landlords clearly post the energy efficiency of their apartments and houses so we can shop around for the best ones. This will get landlords of the worst houses on the Hill to invest in energy efficient upgrades. SO we will be creating an easy to use and implement energy efficiency rating system and then going out door-to-door and grading properties. We’ll also be encouraging cities and the state to look into policies that encourage this.
We are also going to do big events on campus to educate students about things they can do to save energy as well as go door-to-door handing out energy efficiency light bulbs and performing simple weatherizations that can reduce energy by a third.
And we are not stopping at energy efficiency. We also want to see more renewable energy being used so we can shut down the oldest and dirtiest coal power plants as well as promoting the newest and cleanest car technology so we can get from point A to point B with the least climate impact as possible.
Congress and our state legislators will also be considering tough new standards for stopping global warming so we will show that students across the state support stopping global warming.
