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REALTOR®: Acterra Asks REALTORS® to Help Combat Global Warming

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

There is a lot of worry around the world about global warming, and a Palo Alto group is doing something about it by giving people hands-on information and tips on what they can do to enhance the natural environment.

Michael Closson, executive director of Acterra (Action for a Sustainable Earth), spoke to members of the Silicon Valley of REALTOR®WS® at last week's Palo Alto District tour meeting and invited REALTORS® to take part in Acterra's efforts to combat global warming. Acterra was formed in 2,000 by the merger of two of the region's most respected environmental organizations: the Peninsula Conservation Center Foundation (founded in 1970) and Bay Area Action (formed in 1990).

"If we don't do it, our economy will seriously suffer. We need clean water. We need clean air," Closson stressed.

Closson talked about the changes taking place in the environment due to pollution and man's disrespect for the environment. Temperatures are up, there is deforestation, gas pipeline leaks, tundra melting and the Albedo effect. There is a clear correlation between CO2 emissions and the temperature changes over the last 160,000 years, Closson said.

How is California impacted by global warming? Our snow pacts have been melting, which has led to reservoirs rising, no water and eventually droughts, which many parts of the state are currently experiencing. The land is dry and with drought, the chances of wildfires have increased. With rising sea levels, Claussen said, the San Francisco Bay is rising and soon, levees will be needed to protect the low lying land in the city.

"The role of the individual is a critical one," Closson said. "People can make a significant difference and can be challenged to reduce their personal carbon emission. We need to wake up to the threat of global warning. We need to get enough people to make the change."

Acterra has many programs targeted towards this end. The Green@Home program answers the question, "What can I do about global warming?" The program shows people ways to save energy and reduce the burning of fossil fuels while helping their neighbors and building community.

Individuals may become Green@Home volunteers and learn some basic hands-on skills and help their neighbors save energy and protect the climate. Two-person teams make house calls to residents, install energy saving devices and do a home energy audit. The program is being launched in Redwood City, Menlo Park, Palo Alto and Sunnyvale in the fall and volunteers are needed in these areas.

Closson said residents may request a free house call from Acterra's trained volunteers, who can offer energy-saving upgrades and create a customized conservation plan for each household.

Closson said Green@Home starts in homes, with each household making small changes that add up to a significant impact. He invited SILVAR members to join Acterra in building a grassroots movement to curb climate change.

Cool It! gives people the tools to reduce environmental impact and become "carbon neutral." The program provides a calculator for measuring carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and everyday tips for reducing CO2 emissions.

Low Carbon Lifestyle is a program that can be done individually or in small groups. This program is based on the book, The Low Carbon Diet, and is focused on how you can reduce your carbon footprint and be part of the solution to reduce global warming. The program addresses four main areas: changing habits to reduce your impact, making your home more efficient, empowering others to take action, and making a CO2 reduction plan.

Some of changes in lifestyle include using CFLs (compact fluorescent lights), adjusting water temperature, changing their showerhead, installing faucet aerators, adjusting refrigerator temperature, using a clothesline, monitoring tire pressure, to installing outlet gaskets and reviewing utility bills.

Closson's hope is to enlist a whole cadre of volunteers within the next few months, and he asked REALTORS® to help him by becoming volunteers themselves and promoting these programs to their clients.

"It's an added service you can do for your clients," Closson said.


The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.

The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.

For further information, please contact Rose Meily at SILVAR Public Affairs, email , or phone (408) 200-0109.

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