Belfast residents issued energy challenge

BELFAST – A city committee has issued an energy challenge as a way to promote conservation and fight global warming.

The Belfast Energy and Climate Committee hopes that issuing a monthly challenge will spur residents to understand the need to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution and play a part in mitigating global climate change.

This month’s challenge asks city residents to lower the temperature in their homes or apartments by 5 degrees all day Sunday, Feb. 24, and compensate by wearing more clothing, hats, gloves and thicker socks. Doing so will save money and energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and demonstrate that keeping the body warm does not mean keeping the entire house warm.

“The primary purpose of this is to spread awareness,” committee member Ed Robeau said Monday. “The more we think about it and the more we read about, the more we hope people will join in. It’s not just greenhouse gases, it’s energy in general. If we all reduce our energy consumption we are reducing greenhouse gases.”

Robeau said the energy challenge was one of a number of things the committee was working on to promote energy conservation. The committee was established a year ago by the City Council to determine areas where the city could save money on energy and help combat global warming. Councilor Roger Lee was the driving force behind the committee’s creation.

Working through ICLEI Global, the committee hopes at some point to develop a computer model indicating how much greenhouse gas the entire city produces over the course of a year. The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives has 700 local governments serving more than 300 million people worldwide as members. Portland and Augusta also have joined ICLEI, and Belfast is one of its smallest member communities.

“This energy challenge is just a little sideshow that we have,” Robeau said. “The big circus is ICLEI as they are working worldwide to make people aware of what’s happening and promoting sustainability.”

Robeau said climate committee member Jon Rochleau, an environmental engineer, saved the city thousands of dollars by conducting an energy audit of all city buildings. The document recommended improvements in heating, cooling and lighting systems, many of which have already been undertaken, he said.

Robeau said the committee hoped to be able to hire a summer intern to assist with compiling the information needed for the ICLEI comprehensive program on greenhouse gases. Although done on computer, the modeling program should provide a relatively accurate picture of the city’s emissions.

“We wish we could be a little more specific, but how do you do that? You can’t just go to everyone’s house and look at their electric bill,” Robeau said.

Residents who accept the energy challenge are being asked to “sign up” by sending a brief e-mail (with the subject “energy challenge”) to the committee at energychallenge@belfastclimate.org or by sending a card or letter to BECC, City Hall, Belfast 04915.

A report of the participation and results will be publicized after each monthly challenge. One lucky participant in this month’s challenge will win an assortment of compact fluorescent bulbs.

“We really want people to challenge their friends and neighbors on this,” Robeau said. “Our thing is, we don’t think it’s going to have much of an impact on lowering emissions, but it’s a monthly way to remind people how to reduce greenhouse gases.”

wgriffin@bangordailynews.net

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