Thursday, 04 June 2009 09:17

“If the success or failure of this planet, and of human beings, depended on how I am and what I do, how would I be? What would I do?”     — Buckminster Fuller

Did you know that an average home in Aspen emits 6 lb of carbon dioxide per hour from its consumption of electricity and heating fuel? Or that a typical car emits about 60 lb CO2 per hour? Compare that to a large private jet: 5 tons CO2 per hour. Or that it is better to fly to Denver than to drive your own car (130 lb CO2 and 210 lb CO2, respectively)? A 10-minute shower takes about 7 lb CO2. (Statistics from my publication Carbon in Our Daily Lives.)
Let’s say you live in an average 3,500 square foot home in Old Snowmass that uses 32,000 kWh of electricity and 4,000 gallons of propane per year. This means annual emissions of 53 tons of carbon dioxide (30 lb CO2 per square foot per year, roughly half from electricity generation and half from propane combustion), which is four times the national average of 13 tons CO2 per household. Every home is different. A sample of a dozen Old Snowmass homes I have looked into includes three vacation homes whose electricity usage (60,400 kWh/yr) far exceeds the local average — even though unoccupied most of the time, at least by the owners, whose energy bills for electricity alone average $5,600.
We have the resources, skills, and, I hope, the commitment to reduce our home’s carbon footprint to help preserve the well-being of our home planet. On a local note, the Aspen Global Change Institute’s Climate Change and Aspen (www.agci.org) starkly outlines the dramatic environmental and economic changes facing our beautiful valley if global emissions continue on a business-as-usual path: changing forests, beetle infestations, later onset of winter as well as earlier spring, precipitation and stream-flow changes, warmer nights, improved conditions for weeds, and so on. “To those whom more is given, much is expected.” These are word for us, blessed beyond compare, so let’s get to work.
There are a number of practical ways to reduce our home’s emissions of greenhouse gases and thus help answer the call for cutting our carbon footprint, as well as saving money on our utility bills. A number of measures are free — such as lowering the temperature on hot water heaters and turning off unneeded lights and equipment — while others require an investment in more efficient appliances or heating systems. Draft-proofing our home is often among the most effective and least-cost measures. In most of our neighborhoods, and even in relatively new homes, cost-effective measures can reduce total energy use and emissions by a third or more.
We are fortunate to have some trail-blazing examples in the valley. Amory Lovins’ home (aka Rocky Mountain Institute’s HQ building) has recently been upgraded to a zero-carbon building, and it has served as a teaching tool for low-carbon living since the institute was founded in 1983. Other locals are actively installing solar or micro-hydro systems, cutting energy use without compromising performance or comfort, and getting into the nuts and bolts of climate stewardship not only at home but on the road, in the air, and in their corporate lives. The U.S. can simultaneously cut emissions, improve national security, and transition to sustainable economic growth. We can walk the talk at home.
A good place to start is to request a free home energy audit from Holy Cross Energy. A more sophisticated energy audit that covers both electricity and heating fuels is available from local professionals (see “Energy Management & Conservation Consultants” in the Yellow Pages). Second homeowners in particular can seek advice on home energy management systems as well as discuss energy saving ideas with property managers. One baseline you might find useful is this: if the annual energy bill exceeds $1.00 per square foot, then you will likely profit handsomely from energy saving measures; this threshold is lower for larger homes. Even new homes can be managed better for carbon and dollar savings. Second homes typically have enormous potential for simple energy savings.
Since we cannot manage what we do not measure, I recommend tracking monthly energy bills, or have your property manager do so for you. I am happy to help anyone set up an energy and carbon emissions tracking sheet.
Here is a simple challenge for climate stewards in our neighborhood: estimate your home’s emissions, and commit to reducing your carbon footprint by a ton per year. Anyone for a ten-ton challenge?
Many of the statistics and measures discussed above are from publications freely available on my website, www.climatemitigation.com/publications.html

Rick Heede lives in Gateway in Old Snowmass and is an energy and climate consultant; 
he can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 970-927-9511.

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