Health department calculates Lincoln's 'carbon footprint'
The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department is asking residents to help reduce the city’s “carbon footprint” to help curb global warming.
A carbon footprint is a measurement of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activities, such as driving a car, burning coal and other fuels for electricity and other sources.
Since November, the health department has been collecting data on greenhouse gas emissions, using 1990 as a baseline and comparing it with 2005, the most recent year for which information was available. Here’s what they found:
* In 2005, Lincoln’s CO2 emissions totalled 4,583,000 tons, compared to 3,130,000 tons in 1990. That’s about a 46 percent increase over 15 years.
* In 1990, a Lincoln resident’s CO2 emissions measured 17 tons. It grew to 18.3 tons by 2005. But Lincoln is still below the U.S. average for CO2 emissions, which according to the Federal Energy Administration is 20 tons per person per year.
Air Quality Program Supervisor Rick Thorson said the findings are not that surprising because the city’s population has grown and more people are driving, especially from suburbs and rural areas. However, he said, Lincoln needs to address its greenhouse gas emissions just like other cities across the nation and world are doing.
“It’s time to take action to cut our CO2 emissions. Everyone has a role to play — individuals, businesses and government,” Thorson said. “City agencies and many local businesses have reduced their energy and gas consumption. Now it is time for individual citizens to take action to reduce their personal CO2 pollution.”
Thorson and Renae Rief, a senior environmental health educator with the department, encouraged people to examine their lifestyles and find ways to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Suggestions include: driving less; walking, biking or using public transportation; raising the thermostat a few degrees on your air conditioner; buying less; and recycling. Getting an energy audit on your home or business also can help.
“We’d like to see Lincoln become a leader in this area,” Thorson said.
The health department undertook the carbon footprint study as part of Mayor Chris Beutler’s new emphasis on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in city government, an initiative that began with former Mayor Coleen Seng’s administration.
In calculating the city’s greenhouse gas emissions, the health department looked at residential, commercial, industrial, transportation and waste sectors of the community. Data was collected from the Lincoln Electric System, Black Hills Energy (formerly Aquila), state and federal energy offices, Lincoln’s Planning and Public Works & Utilities departments, Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles and Nebraska Ethanol Board.
Among the four areas, the transportation sector showed the largest increase in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 to 2005, Thorson said. That’s because more vehicles are on the road and people are driving farther.
Some people are already biking and walking more to save money on gas.
And if you are in the market for a new car, consider this: Replacing a vehicle that gets 20 miles per gallon with one that gets 30 mpg will save you money at the pump and decrease your CO2 emissions by about 4,000 pounds — or two tons — per year.
Said Thorson: “I’d encourage each family and individual in Lincoln to make it a goal to reduce their CO2 emissions. Reducing CO2 pollution can only be accomplished by making lifestyle changes which lower personal energy consumption.”
Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at 473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.
A carbon footprint is a measurement of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activities, such as driving a car, burning coal and other fuels for electricity and other sources.
Since November, the health department has been collecting data on greenhouse gas emissions, using 1990 as a baseline and comparing it with 2005, the most recent year for which information was available. Here’s what they found:
* In 2005, Lincoln’s CO2 emissions totalled 4,583,000 tons, compared to 3,130,000 tons in 1990. That’s about a 46 percent increase over 15 years.
* In 1990, a Lincoln resident’s CO2 emissions measured 17 tons. It grew to 18.3 tons by 2005. But Lincoln is still below the U.S. average for CO2 emissions, which according to the Federal Energy Administration is 20 tons per person per year.
Air Quality Program Supervisor Rick Thorson said the findings are not that surprising because the city’s population has grown and more people are driving, especially from suburbs and rural areas. However, he said, Lincoln needs to address its greenhouse gas emissions just like other cities across the nation and world are doing.
“It’s time to take action to cut our CO2 emissions. Everyone has a role to play — individuals, businesses and government,” Thorson said. “City agencies and many local businesses have reduced their energy and gas consumption. Now it is time for individual citizens to take action to reduce their personal CO2 pollution.”
Thorson and Renae Rief, a senior environmental health educator with the department, encouraged people to examine their lifestyles and find ways to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Suggestions include: driving less; walking, biking or using public transportation; raising the thermostat a few degrees on your air conditioner; buying less; and recycling. Getting an energy audit on your home or business also can help.
“We’d like to see Lincoln become a leader in this area,” Thorson said.
The health department undertook the carbon footprint study as part of Mayor Chris Beutler’s new emphasis on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in city government, an initiative that began with former Mayor Coleen Seng’s administration.
In calculating the city’s greenhouse gas emissions, the health department looked at residential, commercial, industrial, transportation and waste sectors of the community. Data was collected from the Lincoln Electric System, Black Hills Energy (formerly Aquila), state and federal energy offices, Lincoln’s Planning and Public Works & Utilities departments, Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles and Nebraska Ethanol Board.
Among the four areas, the transportation sector showed the largest increase in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 to 2005, Thorson said. That’s because more vehicles are on the road and people are driving farther.
Some people are already biking and walking more to save money on gas.
And if you are in the market for a new car, consider this: Replacing a vehicle that gets 20 miles per gallon with one that gets 30 mpg will save you money at the pump and decrease your CO2 emissions by about 4,000 pounds — or two tons — per year.
Said Thorson: “I’d encourage each family and individual in Lincoln to make it a goal to reduce their CO2 emissions. Reducing CO2 pollution can only be accomplished by making lifestyle changes which lower personal energy consumption.”
Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at 473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.
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