Surviving Climate Change: Producing Less and Enjoying it More

Panel 1: Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy
Saturday, June 28, 8:30 — 10:00 am

Tim Montague is a science writer and community organizer promoting justice and sustainable prosperity for all people. He is a founding member of Climate Justice Chicago, a multi-issue coalition promoting a carbon-free, nuclear-free economy.

How can we transition our economy to one that is much more energy efficient and based on carbon-free and nuclear free sources of power? From buildings to lighting and appliances to how we design our urban places we can make our built environment 90% more energy efficient. Energy conserved is energy that doesn’t have to be produced. Super-insulated homes and offices are so efficient they don’t need a furnace to stay warm in the winter or an air-conditioner to stay cool in the summer. That is our first mandate — consume less energy. Europeans have a carbon footprint that is one-half of Americans because they have denser cities, smaller homes/cars, better transit, and higher carbon taxes. And now they are the world’s leaders in wind and solar power. Solar, wind, geothermal and small-scale hydro can meet all of our electricity needs with a trivial carbon footprint compared to coal, oil, and nuclear power. Making this transition is of course going to create millions of living-wage jobs that will help ensure a livable planet for future generations.

Tim Montgomery is a LEED AP green architect specializing in the design and rehab of sustainable commercial and residential buildings. He has won numerous design awards, lectures frequently on green topics and is principal architect of TMA Architects LLC in St. Louis.

Buildings in the United States consume roughly 50% of the energy consumed, yet most people focus only on car emissions. A greener, more sustainable means, is to create new standards, codes, methodologies — to assure a much reduced “carbon footprint.” We have the means, knowledge, methods of construction to attain “zero emissions” by 2030. Several national green advocacy groups are striving already to this end. It will take a focused effort on all fronts, but it is achievable. There are many insights that can give us truly a sustainable future.

Rob Sadowsky is the Executive Director of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation. He conducts training and strategic planning workshops for emerging organizations and serves on the Executive Committee of the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children.

Jeff Howard is on the faculty of the University of Texas at Arlington. His research focuses on dilemmas surrounding the role of experts in environmental decision making, including the role of urban planners in responding to global climate change.