#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

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? 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 call 1-800- 782-2506. Liberty Energy might
install free weather stripping, pipe insulation and water heater blankets. Reduce your carbon footprint and lower
your energy 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

Reference Sheet
Federal Government
Position

Name

Email/Website

Phone Number

California Senator

Diane Feinstein

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

(202) 224-3841

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

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

Brian Sandoval

http://gov.nv.gov/

(775) 684-5670

Nevada State Senator

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

CSLT Councilmember

Tom Davis

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

State Government

Local/Regional Government

Agency Name

Website

Tahoe Regional Planning Agency

http://www.trpa.org/

Tahoe Metropolitan Planning Organization

http://tahoempo.org/

Lahontan

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

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/