The Maplewood Climate Initiative recognizes that decisions we make as individuals and households determine our community’s impact.  By reducing our own greenhouse gas contribution we can take a step in the right direction and show others what can be done and how to make positive changes.

The Maplewood Climate Initiative brought together an assessment of our contribution to climate change, set a reduction goal, and identified where Maplewood can play a particularly effective role in turning in the right direction.  A community meeting in June 2007 took on the aggressive challenge of reducing the Maplewood-wide greenhouse gas emissions 20% by 2015.

The Climate Initiative has identified three major areas where there are potential reductions on the scale needed to meet the 20% reduction goal:

Electricity and Heat: Improving the efficiency in the use of electricity and heat in our homes and other buildings. See how you compare to other Maplewood households and what you can do to make a difference.

Transportation: Making adjustments in our transportation decisions to lower the emissions that result, including buying more fuel efficient vehicles, using buses and trains when possible, and reducing vehicle and airline miles. See what you can do to make a difference.

Consumption and Disposal: Elevating the role of environmental impact in our consumption and disposal choices.  See what you can do to make a difference.