#MyTahoePledge

Climate Change
Our Climate is Changing: We Should
Too!

#MyTahoePledge
www.facebook.com/MyTahoePledge/
What is My Tahoe Pledge?
In the fight against climate change we can all make a difference. Seemingly small things can lead
to monumental change. Robert Kennedy once said, Few will have the greatness to bend history

itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total; of all those
acts will be written in the history of this generation.
How we react to climate change will define our history. In that vein, we are asking all of you to
make a pledge to do something right now to help win this fight. We ask you to make a climate
change pledge (My Tahoe Pledge) in one, or all, of these five categories: Transportation, Home,
Voice, Work and Money. This document provides examples of what each one of us can do.
Following each example action you will find a score, the higher the score the more impactful the
action.
We strongly encourage you to post a picture of your pledge card or better yet you holding your
pledge card using #MyTahoePledge or just post your pledge as a comment on our Facebook
page www.facebook.com/MyTahoePledge/.
We thank you for your support and please spread the word with as many people as you can. We
are all in this together.

..

My Tahoe Pledge

Transportation
Climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to a future generation, when
it comes to the care of our common home, we are living at a critical moment of our history
(Pope Francis)

Tune your car. Make an appointment with your local mechanic for a tune up. Stay on top of
your cars maintenance by getting regular tune-ups and replacing old spark plugs, oxygen
sensors, air filters, hoses and belts, and getting regular oil changes. A well-maintained and
properly tuned-up car uses less gas. Power Score 1

Track your fuel efficiency. Over the period of a couple weeks, make yourself aware of how
much fuel you are using to complete everyday tasks. Having a greater awareness of your
gasoline usage can lead to a 10% reduction in travel emissions by improving driving habits

such as idling and quick start/stops. Power Score 2

Create a no-idling zone at your school. Make an appointment to speak with your child's
school's principal (www.ltusd.org/contact) and PTA to discuss the climate and health benefits
of a no-idling zone. A no-idling zone reduces fuel consumption and toxic chemicals that our
children breathe. Power School 3

Travel by bike, carpool or use public transportation. The night before work get your
outfit ready and plan your route to bike to work. You could also arrange a meet-up time and
place with your car pool partner or take a look at the public transportation options in your
neighborhood. Every mile that you travel by bike instead of a car will reduce your carbon
footprint by 1 lb of CO2. Power Score 4

Buy an efficient car. Take a look the Tesla (https://www.teslamotors.com/) and reserve your
Model 3, Chevy Models Volt and Spark (http://www.chevydealer.com/), Nissan Leaf
(http://www.nissanusa.com/) or any other car manufacturer website with electric cars. Taking
gasoline out of driving may be the single most effective way to reduce your greenhouse gas
emissions. When purchasing a new car purchase an electric or hybrid car. Power Score 5

#MyTahoePledge
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Home
Human-induced climate change requires urgent action. Humanity is the major
influence on the global climate change observed over the past 50 years. Rapid
societal responses can significantly lessen negative outcomes. (American
Geophysical Union Adopted 2003, revised and reaffirmed 2007, 2012, 2013)

Lower the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees or the low setting.
Grab a flashlight and go into the garage to make the change. Hot water heaters work 24/7 to
maintain large tanks of water at 130-140 degrees. Lower the heat to lower your energy bill
and carbon footprint. If you want to go for the gold, replace your existing water heater with a
tank-less system. Power Score 1

Eliminate the extra fridge and/or freezer in your garage. Ask yourself how often does
that extra fridge sit empty? If the answer is often, get rid of it. You will be able to handle
those social gatherings at your place without the garage fridge/freezer. Liberty Utilities offers
a $35 rebate when you call to have your old refrigerator recycled. Power Score 2

Program your thermostat. Take a look at your existing thermostat to check the settings. If
you don't have a programmable thermostat, make a trip to the hardware store (maybe by
bike) and buy a new programmable thermostat. Set your programmable thermostat to 68 or

less when at home during the day, 60 or less at night or away from home. This small
change can make a big difference to your energy bill and carbon footprint. Power Score 2

Replace your light bulbs. Take a walk around your house and note the old light bulbs that
you are still using. If you find any old light bulbs replace them with LED bulbs. Each bulb can
save $40 or more over its lifetime. Dispose of hazardous waste like old light bulbs Tuesday
Saturday from 9:00 12:00 and 1:00 4:00 at South Tahoe Refuse. Power Score 2

Xeriscape your yard and sweep dont spray. Look at the front yard and ask yourself if
you use that lawn or is it something you just maintain. The South Tahoe Public Utility District
(STPUD) has a turf buyback program (530-554-6474 http://www.stpud.us/water_conservation.html). You can get $1.50 for every square foot of
lawn you remove. It takes energy to pump, transport and treat the water that arrives at your
house. Power Score 4

Look for the Energy Star label. When you are looking in the store or online for a new
product if it doesnt have the Energy Star label, dont consider it. There are also rebates
available to replace your old appliances. South Tahoe Public Utility District offers a $200
rebate on high-energy efficiency clothes washer, and rebates on new toilets. South West Gas
offers a $200 rebate on high-efficiency water and/or furnaces, and $15 for special
thermostatic showerheads. Liberty Utilities offers a $35 rebate when you call to have your old
refrigerator recycled. Power Score 4

Schedule a home energy audit. To sign up for a free energy audit with Liberty Energy call
1-800- 782-2506. During the home energy audit Liberty Energy might install free weather
stripping, pipe insulation and water heater blankets at your home. Limit your carbon
footprint and lower your power bill at the same time. Power Score 4

Install Energy-Star rated windows. Take a look at when your home was built. If it is an
older home chances are your windows are not energy efficient. Contact a local business and
get a quote to replace some or all of your windows with Energy-Star rated windows. Forty
percent of the heat in a home escapes through the window. Energy efficient windows will
help maintain a comfortable room temperature and lower your energy bills. Power Score 5

Install solar. Contact a local solar installer to discuss solar options for your home. Help
reduce your carbon footprint while helping a local business. Power Score 5

Voice

If you think youre too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a fly
in the room. (Dali Lama)

Pay attention to local, regional, state and federal elections. Vote for candidates that
support climate change mitigation initiatives that both limit our carbon footprints while

growing the economy and creating jobs. Have you contacted each of our City Council
members to see what they are doing to mitigate climate change and create green jobs (see
the reference section for contact information)? Ask that they incorporate renewable energy
and climate change mitigation into City projects and planning. This will limit our carbon
footprint, spur economic growth, while creating green jobs. Power Score 5
Take a few minutes to contact your local media: You can start with the Tahoe Tribune
editorial board (www.tahoedailytribune.com/ContactUs/) and Lake Tahoe Television
(www.laketahoetelevision.net/contactus/). Make sure to tell them that you want immediate
action on climate change. Remind them that reducing greenhouse gas emissions will also
build healthier communities, spur economic innovation and create new jobs. Power Score 5

Tell family and friends. Let them know that energy efficiency if good for their homes,
businesses, health, pocketbooks and the environment because it lowers greenhouse gas emissions
and air pollution. Tell five people and together we can help our lifestyles help us all. Power Score
5

Influence the process. You can start by contacting TRPA Executive Director, Joanne
Marchetta (775 588 4547 - jmarchetta@trpa.org- jmarchetta@trpa.org) and the City of South
Lake Tahoe, City Managers office (530 542 6043 - nkerry@cityofslt.us) and ask what their
climate change mitigation strategy is and how they are helping to create green jobs? Speak up
at local government meetings (City Council, TRPA Governing Board, El Dorado County
Commission, etc.), complete surveys and polls, attend meetings, and write letters, make your
voice heard and tell them you support renewable energy procurement and business friendly
energy efficiency incentives. Power Score 5

Contact your congressional representative and tell them you want a revenue
neutral price on carbon. If a price is placed on carbon, the money can be returned directly
to all U.S. citizens. Have that money go back to you in the form of a dividend. You can be the
driver of your renewable future. Check out the Citizens Climate Lobby for more details
(https://www.citizensclimatelobby.org/).
Our current Congressional Representative Tom McClintock is on record as stating, I firmly
believe that the United State should not hamstring its economy in an attempt to combat
global warming. The science is still being developed on global warming and a number of
scientists acknowledge that the earth has actually been cooling for the last decade. As we
know, 2015 was the hottest year on record. When you contact Congressman McClintock let
him know that mitigating climate change is both good for the economy and the environment
and that the free market can drive this transition and not regulation. Power Score 5

Volunteer. There is an existing chapter of the Citizens Climate Lobby here In South Lake
Tahoe. Email Tahoe Citizens Climate Lobby at southtahoeccl@gmail.com or on Facebook
(https://www.facebook.com/cclfeeandrebatetahoe) and ask what you can do to help. CCL is a
nonpartisan group that advocates for a market driven approach to mitigate climate change.
Power Score 5

Work
We are running the most dangerous experiment in history right now,
which is to see how much carbon dioxide the atmosphere can handle
before there is an environmental catastrophe (Elon Musk)
Turn

on your computer monitor sleep setting. Before walking out of the door for the day
(hooray) take one last look at your computer and make sure the sleep setting is on. This
small change lowers energy use and extends the life of electronics. Power Score 1

Go paperless. Prior to printing ask yourself, do I really want to have to file this piece of
paper? If you are like me, the answer is no so much better to save it electronically. A
reduction in the use of paper is a reduction in power use. Saving paper also reduces
deforestation. Plants capture (sequester) carbon and keep it out of the atmosphere. Power
Score 2

Install

occupancy sensors. This Monday morning walk around your office and take a look to
see if you have occupancy sensors. If you don't, get your office building to install occupancy
sensors and turn off lights (already using LED light bulbs? If not, make the change) in unused
rooms. Contact your building attendant directly to make the change. Turning off lights in
unused rooms limits your carbon footprint and reduces your power bill. Power Score 2

Bring

your lunch to work. When cleaning up last night's dinner put some leftovers in a
lunchbox and bring it to work. It saves money and will limit your daily driving. Power Score
3

Reduce business travel by using teleconferencing and/or telecommute to work.

Prior to setting up any meeting or driving into the office ask yourself if you can complete
your work from where you are? If the answer is yes, conduct your meeting with any of the
teleconferencing products available today. Time is money so save the money driving, while
lowering your carbon footprint at the same time. Power Score 4

Purchase Energy Star-qualified products for the office. Office products that have
earned the Energy Star feature special energy-efficient designs enabling them to use less
energy while performing regular tasks. Look for energy-qualified office equipment, such as
computers, copiers, and printers, in addition to more than 60 product categories, including
lighting, heating and cooling equipment, and commercial appliances. Power Score 5

Money
Climate change is a terrible problem, and it absolutely needs to be solved. It
deserves to be a huge priority. (Bill Gates)

Eat half the meat less beef. When doing your shopping for the week consider putting
half the meat you normally buy back. It will save you money whilst limiting your carbon
footprint. Power Score 1. If you want to go further dont eat meat, become a vegetarian or
vegan. This is the most important thing you can do. Growing meat is very energy and water
intensive. Power Score 5.

Eat all you buy. Before you throw food out take a second on Google to see what amazing
dish can be made. Brown bananas make wonderful banana nut bread. Thrown away food is
the single largest solid-waste component in Americas landfills. In addition, when food breaks
down it produces methane, a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. American
food waste is estimated to equal the greenhouse gas output of 33 million cars. Power Score
2

Shop Local, Shop Lake-Friendly (http://tahoebmp.org/LakeFriendly.aspx). Many of

our friends and neighbors own local business. Help the local economy while limiting your
driving. Power Score 3

Vacation by land. We are in close driving distance to some of the most amazing natural
and entertainment destinations on earth. Consider loading up the car and skipping the air
travel. Air travel has the highest CO2 output of any travel available. One transatlantic flight
can increase your footprint as much as whole year of driving. Power Score 4

Tell the companies you shop with that you demand action on climate change.
Contact the companies you shop with and ask them what their climate change mitigation
plan is. Tell them you demand immediate action on climate change or you will be spending
your dollars elsewhere. Power Score 4

Advocate that all levels of government and regulatory agencies invest money in
rooftop solar (were looking at you City of South Lake Tahoe and School District),
or invest in community solar projects that are in the works. Sell power back to the
grid. In the reference section please see the contact information for your South Lake Tahoe
City Council people and other local agencies and contacts. Power Score 5

My Tahoe Pledge

#MyTahoePledge
www.facebook.com/MyTahoePledge/

Reference Sheet
Federal Government
Position

Name

Phone Number

Diane Feinstein

Email/Website
http://www.feinstein.senate.gov/publ
ic/

California Senator
California Senator

Barbara Boxer

https://www.boxer.senate.gov/

(202) 224-3553

California Congressperson

Tom McClintock

https://mcclintock.house.gov/

(202) 225-2511

Nevada Senator

Dean Heller

http://www.heller.senate.gov/public/

(202) 228-6753

Nevada Senator

Harry Reid

http://www.reid.senate.gov/

(202) 224-3542

Nevada Congressperson

Mark Amodei

https://amodei.house.gov/

(202) 225-6155

Position

Name

Email/Website

Phone Number

California Governor

Jerry Brown

https://www.gov.ca.gov/home.php

(916) 445-2841

(202) 224-3841

State Government

California State Senator

Ted Gaines

senator.gaines@senate.ca.gov

(916) 651-4001

California Assemblyperson

Frank Bigelow

http://www.frankbigelow.com/

(916) 319-2005

Nevada Governor

http://gov.nv.gov/

(775) 684-5670

Nevada State Senator

Brian Sandoval
James A.
Settelmeyer

James.Settelmeyer@sen.state.nv.us

(775) 450-6114

Nevada State Assembly

Jim Wheeler

Jim.Wheeler@asm.state.nv.us

(775) 546-3471

Position

Name

Email/Website

Phone Number

CSLT Councilmember

Wendy David

wdavid@cityofslt.us

(530) 208-7871

CSLT Councilmember

Austin Sass

asass@cityofslt.us

(530) 307-8867

CSLT Councilmember

Hal Cole

hcole@cityofslt.us

(530) 318-1111

CSLT Councilmember

JoAnn Conner

jconner@cityofslt.us

(530) 318-6090

Local/Regional
Government

CSLT Councilmember

tdavis@cityofslt.us

(530) 545-1168

El Dorado County Commissioner

Ron Mikulaco

bosone@edcgov.us

(530) 573-7955 Ext 5650

El Dorado County Commissioner

Shiva Frentzen

bostwo@edcgov.us

(530) 573-7955 Ext 5651

El Dorado County Commissioner

Brian K. Veerkamp

bosthree@edcgov.us

(530) 573-7955 Ext 5652

El Dorado County Commissioner

Michael Ranalli

bosfour@edcgov.us

(530) 573-7955 Ext 6513

El Dorado County Commissioner

Sue Novasel

bosfive@edcgov.us

(530) 573-7955 Ext 6577

Douglas County Commissioner

Greg Lynn

glynn@co.douglas.nv.us

(775) 790-2955

Douglas County Commissioner

Steve Thaler

sthaler@co.douglas.nv.us

(775) 721-1108

Douglas County Commissioner

Dougl N. Johnson

dougnjohnson@charter.net

(775) 790-3195

Douglas County Commissioner

Nancy McDermid

nmcdermid@co.douglas.nv.us

(775) 267-7968

Douglas County Commissioner

Barry Penzel

wpenzel@co.douglas.nv.us

(775) 781-6075

Agency Name

Tom Davis

Website

Tahoe Regional Planning Agency

Tahoe Metropolitan Planning
Organization

http://www.trpa.org/

Lahontan

http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/lahontan/

http://tahoempo.org/

Plans -

Lake Tahoe
Sustainable Communities

Program: http://laketahoesustainablecommunitiesprogram.org/
Sustainability Action Plan: http://laketahoesustainablecommunitiesprogram.org/sustainability-action-plan/)

Web Sites -

Real Climate: http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2007/05/start-here/

Cal-adapt: http://cal-adapt.org/