Elton Sherwin's presentation at Trinity Episcopal Church on the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. Elton is the author of "Addicted to Energy." For more information see www.EltonSherwin.com

1. Why Being Green Is Not Enough
40th Anniversary of Elton B. Sherwin
Earth Day April 25, 2010

2. Six Things Tend to Dominate
The Carbon Footprint of
Affluent Americans
What are they?

3. Agenda
Global perspective
California perspective
What you can do
Quiz answers
What cities can do

4. “…fill the earth and subdue it.
…work it and take care of it.”
Genesis 1:28b, 2:15b

5. We are overachievers at
“filling” and “subduing.”
The problem is with
“take care of it.”

6. There Have Been a Few Surprises
No One Anticipated 40 Years Ago
Image: Roger Braithwaite, University of Manchester (UK)

7. Most of the
World’s Glaciers
are Shrinking
Muir & Riggs
Glaciers
Alaska

8. In 2007, Much of the North Pole Disappeared
Missing Ice
North Pole
NASA

9. What is the
Greenhouse Effect?
Graphic from www.solcomhouse.com

10. CO2
Tasteless
Odorless
Non toxic
Invisible
(lets visible light through)
Traps Infrared Heat

11. Simple Greenhouse Effect
CO2
Graphic modified from www.stopglobalwarming.com.au

12. Some CO2 is Good
CO2
Graphic modified from www.stopglobalwarming.com.au

13. Double CO2 from 1800’s
CO2
Ken Caldeira
ºC Carnegie Institution
-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 at Stanford Univ.

14. How Do We Really Know
CO2 is the Problem?
What About Sunspots
Or the Earth’s Orbit?

15. NASA, Retro Stöckli

16. CO2
Temp.

17. are
Current CO2 Levels CO2
0,000 Years
Unprecede nted in the Last 40
Temp.

18. Civilization
CO2
c
7000 years of stable temperatures

19. "For the first time in human
history, science has shown that
we are altering the destiny of our
planet…
It’s quite alarming.”
Steven Chu,
U.S. Secretary of Energy
and Nobel Laureate
From his remarks to scientists and staff
at the Stanford Linear Accelerator in Palo Alto.
June 26, 2009

20. California

21. July Temperatures
California’s
agricultural
regions will be
hard hit
2009 California Climate Adaptation Strategy
www.climatechange.ca.gov/adaptation

22. Midcentury
Increase of 5 Degrees Fahrenheit
2009 California Climate Adaptation Strategy
www.climatechange.ca.gov/adaptation

23. Could See Increases of 10 to 14
Degree Fahrenheit in Central Valley*
2009 California Climate Adaptation Strategy
*“Emissions pathways, climate change, and impacts on California”
Christopher B. Field and 17 coauthors, June 23, 2004, PNAS

24. Smaller snowpack
More water shortages
Less water for agriculture
“Emissions pathways, climate change, and impacts on California”
Christopher B. Field and 17 coauthors, June 23, 2004, PNAS

25. 16 Inches Vallejo
of Sea Rise
San Rafael
Oakland
San
Francisco
San Jose
SOURCE: Inundation data from Knowles, 2008. Additional salt pond elevation data by Siegel and Bachand, 2002.
Aerial imagery is NAIP 2005 data. http://www.bcdc.ca.gov/planning/climate_change/climate_change.shtml

26. 16 Inches
of Sea Rise
Foster City
es
or
Sh
d
oo
dw
Re
East Menlo
East Palo Alto
SOURCE: Inundation data from Knowles, 2008. Additional salt pond elevation data by Siegel and Bachand, 2002.
Aerial imagery is NAIP 2005 data. BCDC.gov

27. South Bay
16 Inches
of Sea Rise
Cisco,
Sun,
and Google
all at risk
10
1
Moffett Field
237
SOURCE: Inundation data from Knowles, 2008. Additional salt pond elevation data by Siegel and Bachand, 2002.
Aerial imagery is NAIP 2005 data. BCDC.gov

28. North Bay
16 Inches
of Sea Rise
Vallejo
SOURCE: Inundation data from Knowles, 2008. Additional salt pond elevation data by Siegel and Bachand, 2002.
Aerial imagery is NAIP 2005 data. BCDC.gov

29. North Bay
16 Inches
of Sea Rise
San Rafael
Richmond
Larkspur
Corte Madera
SOURCE: Inundation data from Knowles, 2008. Additional salt pond elevation data by Siegel and Bachand, 2002.
Aerial imagery is NAIP 2005 data. BCDC.gov

30. It Is Not Just the West Coast

31. Many cities at risk
• Miami
• Key West
• Tampa
• New York
• Venice
• Amsterdam

32. In 150 years, students may study
New Orleans like Carthage:
A city that no longer exists

33. World’s Poor
Hard Hit
Move 17
million
people this
century?

34. Some Consequences Are
Unpredictable
Tipping points
Irreversible thresholds

35. Ice Sheets Collapse
Consequences
are Huge
20 Feet of
Ocean Rise
NSF Website and the National Center for
Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
Image: Roger Braithwaite, University of Manchester (UK)

36. Acidification and Warming
of the Ocean
Risk of some piece of the ecosystem collapsing
NOAA

37. “The climate is nearing tipping
points. Changes are beginning
to appear and there is a
potential for explosive
changes, effects that would be
irreversible”
James Hansen,
Director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for
Space Studies
The Observer, February 15, 2009,

38. “A common misperception is that this is
a crisis that is down the road.
“Climate change is real. It's happening
now.”
Senator John McCain
August 24, 2009
LA Times
Kristen Wyatt Associated Press
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-us-global-
warming-national-parks,0,6162897.story

39. What You Can Do

40. Answers to Quiz

41. Six Items Tend to Dominate The
Carbon Footprint of Affluent
Americans
1. Air travel
2. The “stuff” you buy
3. Gasoline and diesel you use
4. Natural gas, propane, heating oil, and
wood you burn
5. Electricity you use
6. Beef and dairy you eat

42. Reducing Your Carbon Footprint
1. Travel less by plane.
2. Drive less.
3. Buy less stuff (save more / buy less)
4. Burn fewer hydrocarbons to make hot
water and heat. (shorter showers)
5. Use less electricity. (turn off lights)
6. Eat less beef, cheese, and cream.
Stop burning wood, paper, and leaves.

43. Real-time Monitoring
Black & Decker
Power Monitor
You can install
Costs $88
6% to 20% reduction
Read all the reviews on
Amazon to make sure it is
compatible with your meter

44. Day After
Installation
At 10:10 AM.
“It says I am using
$1000 a month.”
“And nothing is on.
I turned off all the lights.
Nothing is on”

45. Except the Pool Pump
We were spending $1,000 a year moving
water around

46. Installed a
New Pool
Pump
Spent $2,500
Saves about
$100/mo.
www.pentairpool.com

47. Handout
Download from www.EltonSherwin.com

48. Handout
Download from www.EltonSherwin.com

49. Home, School, or Business Audit

50. Sherwin family replaced 55 bulbs
Saved over $100 a month: 3 mo. breakeven

51. It Takes Time
Six trips to
Home Depot

52. Replace light bulbs
Download from www.EltonSherwin.com

53. Have an Impact

54. Focus on One or Two Areas
Your home
A school
Contest
Church
City
Club
Relatives
Neighborhood
On the web
Or…

55. Use Your Skills
Research
Teach or train others
Install CFLs
Blog (Facebook)
Call talk radio shows
Attend meetings
Start a new organization
Start a committee in an existing organization or
business
Write letters and op-ed pieces

56. Service Project
Efficient
Cookstoves
www.stovesonline.co.u
k/darfur-stove.html

57. Top 10 Recommendations for
Cities
1. Eliminate all methane (food scraps)
2. Eliminate all soot (diesel & fireplaces)
3. Publish & post energy grades of buildings
Need one city or county to take a leadership role. www.Amazon.com
www.EltonSherwin.com
This presentation
What are Your Home’s Top Energy Wasters?
What are Your Company’s Top Energy
Wasters?

58. We Are Leaving Our Children a
Different State
Foster City
es
or
Sh
d
oo
dw
Re
East Menlo 16 Inches
of Sea Rise
East Palo Alto
SOURCE: Inundation data from Knowles, 2008. Additional salt pond elevation data by Siegel and Bachand, 2002.
Aerial imagery is NAIP 2005 data. BCDC.gov

59. Temperature
Rise
“The time for action
is now.”
Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger

60. Questions

61. Appendix

62. Under the Surface, it is Troubling
In 2009, less than
15% of the North
Pole was “old ice.”
North Pole, NASA

64. Number of Days Over 100ºF
Higher Emissions Scenario, 2080-2099
Recent Past, 1961-1979
Lower Emissions Scenario, 2080-2099
White House Report on Climate Change

65. EPA and
National
Research
Council
Estimates of
Ocean Rise
1 meter
16 inches

66. A word about Mercury
Berkeley Electric Cooperative