PMC @ the 6th Annual California Climate Change Symposium
A highlight of the CA Climate Change Symposium this morning was a session entitled “Energy Technologies for the 21st Century.” The four presenters made one point clear: California cannot meet the GHG reduction goals of AB 32 without the use and research of new energy technologies. The presenters gave a thorough overview of the expected benefits of things like algae fuels, biofuels, solar and wind power, nuclear power, and carbon sequestration. They went on to future implementation of facility-scale technologies like the 1 kWh/day refrigerator, improved solar hot water heaters, and cheaper LED lighting for residential and commercial use.
Perhaps the most applicable portion of the session to local governments was Dr. Hashem Akbari’s presentation on “cool roofs” and “cool pavements.” Dr. Akbari presented his well-known research, which found that cool roofs alone could offset 24 billion tons of carbon dioxide over the next 20 years. This equates to removing 300 million cars off the road. Some larger commercial and industrial applications are already required to have cool-roofs, although the requirement is not well enforced on roof replacements. The 2008 California Title 24 update, effective January 1, 2010, will require cool roofs for additional roof types in select climate zones in California. While this is a large achievement, much of the power lies in the hands of local governments to incorporate green building practices like cool roofs into their local building codes. Dr. Akbari cited the local code in Chicago, IL and the State of Florida as examples.
Mike Ting of Itron and Snuller Price of Energy and Environmental Economics presented their State agency-funded research projects on energy efficiency and long-term GHG reduction opportunities. Sally Benson of Stanford University closed out the session with an optimistic view of future technologies in her presentation entitled “Emerging and Paradigm Changing Energy Technologies.” Presentations and live webcasts are available on the CEC website at http://www.climatechange.ca.gov/events/2009_symposium/index.html.
Coming up this afternoon is a session on greenhouse gas inventory methods. Presenters from the Environmental Defense Fund, UC Davis, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will speak on the topics of livestock emissions, nitrous oxide measurements, and agricultural emissions. If you have a question for the presenters, please comment on the blog or email PMC at jrich@pmcworld.com.
