Have you ever wondered what cities are doing to reduce greenhouse gases?  On this week’s Energy Bite, Kelly Klima, a research scientist at Carnegie Mellon University, has some answers.

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• Pittsburgh Climate Initiative
• Climate Protection by Pittsburgh’s Office of Sustainability
• U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement by the Mayors Climate Protection Center

Transcript

Host: Have you ever wondered what cities are doing to reduce greenhouse gases? On this week’s Energy Bite, Kelly Klima, a research scientist at Carnegie Mellon University, has some answers.

Kelly: Many cities, like Pittsburgh, are working to reduce their greenhouse gases. In 2007, the city signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, pledging to implement local global warming solutions that will save taxpayer dollars and reduce energy use. In 2010, they analyzed where the city was emitting greenhouse gases in both 2003 and then again in 2008. In 2008, total emissions were 76.79 million tons of CO2 equivalent, of which municipal operations were about 3%. The city is now conducting a ten-year benchmark.

HOST: What is Pittsburgh doing to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions?

KELLY: Projects already underway include replacing street lights with LEDs and improving building energy efficiency. Taking these actions will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Carnegie Mellon and other universities are providing expertise to help implement some of these projects. In addition the Carnegie Museum of Natural History has created kits that help people understand the tradeoffs between some of these options.

HOST: Do you think the City of Pittsburgh should reduce its greenhouse gas emissions? Take our poll, see the results, and ask your energy questions at Energy Bite dot org.