Environmental Responsibility

There is interest and inspiration to be better stewards of the environment everywhere, from Memorial Hospital’s energy planning to Kris Schachel and the Southern Illinois Center for a Sustainable Future. My most direct inspiration in this area comes from my daughters. Reilly and Brennan are often reminding me of how we can recycle or compost more than we already do in our household. Many young people are passionate about the environment, and I welcome their participation and leadership.

My most immediate goal is to address city government as a consumer of energy. Since all of us together pay the power bill for the city, we have both an economic incentive and an environmental incentive to reduce our energy use. The city can be a leader in energy conservation. The city can also be a leader in some very simple ways to address environmental issues. Planting more trees is one of those basic steps, encouraged by Nobel prize winning advocate Wangari Maathai. And the city’s recycling program, while good, can be improved.

Action:

1. Conduct an energy audit of city facilities. Ensure we are taking advantage of simple steps like using florescent bulbs and adequate insulation.
2. Budget to invest in solar panels on top of the city-owned Eurma Hayes Center. This investment can cut our energy use in half for that building, and in doing so, pay for itself. Assess whether other city facilities, such as the waste water treatment plants, can also benefit from solar power.
3. Use the expertise of the city’s forester to help neighborhood groups choose and plant trees throughout Carbondale.

Please click on any topic above for more information and specific actions I plan to take. You may also download A Working Plan for Carbondale in PDF format.