Project Introduction

On Jan 15 of this year, the Traverse City Commissioners unanimously joined hundreds of cities across the nation - including Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids and Marquette - in giving support to the US Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement. This agreement calls for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions below 1990 levels by 2012.

Both the City of TC and Grand Traverse County have decided to take measure of our current GHG emissions by working with an organization called ICLEI: Local Governments For Sustainability, on their Cities for Climate Protection campaign. This international campaign works with local governments worldwide to achieve quantifiable reductions in GHG emissions. The ICLEI methodology provides a simple, standardized way to measure, monitor, and report performance. SEEDS was hired to gather data and citizen input; we are truly in this project together.

Why is reducing emissions important work? Leaving aside global climate change and its causes and implications, there are many reasons to focus on reducing our emissions at the local level:

1. Cost savings through improving lighting, heating, & transportation efficiencies,
2. A cleaner environment with improved air quality & reduced non-point-source pollutants,
   
3. Enhanced quality of life with more transportation choices & a safer environment.
   

The hope is that after knowing what we are collectively emitting right now, we can set obtainable future targets and then obtain those targets. In the words of the July 24 Record Eagle, "The important thing is that the city and county will look for ways to be more efficient, and being more efficient is a good way to not only save money but reduce greenhouse emissions. That's a very good thing."

We agree and are excited to embark on this project with the City, the County and with all the residents and visitors to our region.

Who Is This Blogger?

Thanks for taking some time to read this blog! I hope you check back often and continue to find it interesting. Let me know by commenting or emailing me personally and contribute to the dialog.

Some context: My name is Sarna. I grew up on the Westside of Lansing and I've lived in Traverse City for almost 7 years. I left Michigan during school and came home again for the trees and water. My studies focused on the relationship between people and their places. Why are some public spaces empty and others lively? Why do some spaces make us feel safe and others not? How can infrastructure encourage users to make wiser choices?

This research ties directly with my work at SEEDS, a nonprofit organization based here in Traverse City. At SEEDS we choose to work on projects that give us opportunities to transform 'wastes' into resources - whether those wastes are from ineffective planning or a toilet.

I love working for SEEDS because I am able to work in and with my local community to create positive solutions. Some of my favorite projects include

• Great Lakes Bioneers, an intellectual and joyous gathering place for those meeting at the crossroads of ecology and social justice. Look into our upcoming conference October 19-21, 2007 at NMC!
  
• Something Fresh, the CD & Cookbooklet that pairs Michigan musicians with recipes using farm market produce. Hear Daisy May, Seth Bernard, Glenn Wolff, Claudia Schmidt and more here.
  
• Oryana Natural Food Cooperative's green-building expansion. Doubling the size of the store, the expansion team worked within a strict budget to make an efficient and beautiful building.

Of course, my current favorite project is working with the City and the County on developing data about our greenhouse gas emissions. Read on!