• Secrets of Energy Efficiency Revealed in Our Webinar
• How Smart Local Governments Fight High Fuel Costs
• Wanted: Water Efficiency Leaders for EPA Award
  
• Responses to Al Gore’s Bold Plan—Including Yours?

The Secret to Energy Efficiency? Building Codes! Get the Scoop in Our Webinar

Buildings account for more than 40% of all energy consumption and greenhouse gases in the United States—but you can help change that! The key is greener building codes, and now is the time to learn about them with our 30% Solution webinar on July 29 at 1 p.m. (EST).

In the coming weeks, everyone from elected officials to sustainability coordinators to building codes administrators has a critical role to play on this issue. Building code officials from across the United States will meet in September to consider strengthening the energy-efficiency requirements for building codes by 30%. With their green light, your local government will be able to adopt those standards next year. Be part of the 30% Solution! Space is limited, so hurry and register today for this free webinar.

Special Guest: Harry Misuriello, Energy Efficient Codes Coalition

Related News:
>> California adopts green building code for all new construction
>> How your city council can save the world through building codes

Are your technology purchases made using the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT™)? If you’ve never heard of this, join ICLEI on September 11 at 1 p.m. (EST) for a webinar on how and why you can use EPEAT—an environmental performance standard for desktops, monitors, and notebook computers that can help local governments achieve greenhouse gas reduction goals. Register now!

Do you understand how a federal cap-and-trade system works to limit greenhouse gas emissions, and how local governments can benefit from it? Join ICLEI and Climate Communities on Wednesday, July 30 at 2 p.m. (EST) for our webinar, Climate Policy 101: An Introduction for Local Government Officials to Cap-and-Trade Systems.

The cost is $95, but the first 200 ICLEI and Climate Communities members get in free—so don't delay!

As high gas prices hammer communities nationwide, ICLEI members are weathering the blows better than many, thanks to climate-protection plans that are well underway. A quick look at local governments’ latest efforts to mitigate fuel costs for themselves and their community members:

• Boston-area governments are cutting fuel costs by eliminating inefficient vehicles, limiting fleet use, and raising parking fees to fund greener taxis.
• New York City accelerated the greening of its taxis at the rate of 300 new hybrid cars a month. The city also is exploring a public bike-sharing program.
• San Francisco led a list of U.S. cities that have created the most walkable neighborhoods.
• Westport, Connecticut and Naples, Florida, made CNNMoney’s list of best places to ride out a gas crunch by being havens for telecommuting.
• The Houston City Council voted to create five light-rail lines.
• Other local governments are moving to a four-day work week.

Want to share with other ICLEI members how you’re addressing fuel costs? Let us know and we'll post it in our Success Stories!

In case you missed it, Al Gore challenged the United States to produce 100% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2018. Check out a transcript of his speech and then read climate leaders’ responses on why we can and must meet this challenge. Have you responded to Gore on your website or with a press release, detailing what actions you're already taking to meet this goal? Share it with us at enewsletter-usa@iclei.org.

Have you been following the latest climate news on ICLEI’s website? The EPA reported how climate change may harm each region of the country, as it simultaneously announced that it will delay action on greenhouse gas emissions.

Don’t forget to bookmark ICLEI’s Climate & Sustainability News page, or subscribe to our RSS feed. You can also bookmark our ICLEI & Members in the News page, or subscribe to the RSS feed.