Happy Earth Day!

(Mardi’s Blog for April 22, 2008)
Did you know that Sweden is a recognized global leader in taking proactive initiatives that reduce dependency on oil and greenhouse gas emissions to avert global warming?
Maybe you’ve heard about Sweden’s city of Växjo, named “ The Greenest city in Europe?” The city was recently given two international awards for its ambitious Fossil Fuel Free Program. Växjo’s mayor, Bo Frank, asks this question that could be applied universally: “Do you take responsibility? Or are you waiting for someone else to act? Do you know how much carbon dioxide your car emits per kilometre?” I think we are all starting to take a serious look at what individually and collectively can be done. Our own Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa has pledged an ambitious initiative for Los Angeles, and Mayor Gavin Newsom has done the same for San Francisco. In 2006, California and Sweden signed a “Memorandum of Understanding” to share knowledge and know- how for a sustainable environment with the increased use of renewable fuels and energy.

Växjo hopes ultimately to be fossil free and targets 2010 as its goal to reduce fossil carbon dioxide emissions by at least 50%. How are they doing this and how can other cities use their example? Sarah Nilsson, head of Sustainable Development for the city of Växjo attended the SACC go E-Days Energy Cluster in San Diego a few days ago and told us some of the ways that Växjo is doing it: by using district heating based on bio fuels whenever possible, and with forest products, pellets or wood on a smaller scale basis; by building “passive” houses” with energy-efficiency building materials without traditional heating systems (She said that passive houses versus “normal” house use 50% less energy); by the use of and incentives to use eco-friendly cars and public transportation, with the building of a bicycle “highway,” by using biofuels processed from household waste (e.g. cooking oil) and from forest biomass residues, including ash, sawmill and pulp; by increasing a greener biological diverse city, with more green areas and ecologically produced foods; and by embarking on a joint ventures with industry to sell knowledge and products. The LA Times wrote about Växjo last year.