Title
Resolution to Endorse Ann Arbor's Participation in Earth Hour
Memorandum
Council recently approved Ann Arbor Climate Action Plan and the Sustainability Framework goal to "Reduce energy consumption and eliminate net greenhouse gas emissions in our community."
Implementation of such plans and frameworks requires the City change support policy changes (such as proposed plug-in electric vehicle infrastructure review), our practices (such as the recently-approved LED light installation at the Wheeler Center). It also requires supporting a culture change that supports energy conservation by individuals, businesses, and governments.
Participation in Earth Hour is one way the City can promote the culture change needed to advance our sustainability and climate impact goals.
In addition to the call to dim or extinguish non-essential lighting in City Hall, which is already standard practice, staff is exploring the possibility of dimming street lights on Main Street for Earth Hour, as was done in 2009.
Body
Whereas, The Ann Arbor community is deeply concerned about the impacts of climate disruption and believes that energy efficiency and natural resource conservation are important elements to combating climate change;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor is nationally-recognized as a leader in combating climate change by improving energy efficiency, reducing fossil energy use, and promoting renewable energy;
Whereas, A significant and growing number of Ann Arbor residents engage in energy conservation activities such as turning off non-essential lights, recycling, choosing sustainable transportation, and weatherizing their homes and businesses;
Whereas, Ann Arbor City Council recently adopted a sustainability framework that includes the goal to "Reduce energy consumption and eliminate net greenhouse gas emissions in our community";
Whereas, Earth Hour is both an international and local symbolic event organized by World Wildlife Fund to raise awareness about climate change issues, to encourage businesses, individuals and government to take actions to reduce their carbon emissions and their impact on the environment in their daily lives and operations;
Whereas, Earth Hour asks all citizens, businesses, government agencies, and commercial and non-commercial establishments to turn off all non-essential lighting for one hour beginning at 8:30 pm on March 23, 2013 and to encourage citizens and businesses to commit to actions they can take in the coming year to reduce their carbon footprints and conserve energy;
Whereas, If every household installs one CFL, annual energy savings will reach approximately 18 gigawatt-hours per year, or 1.3% of total residential energy demand;
Whereas, Earth Hour will be used as a tool to inform local residents and businesses about existing information and tools already available within the community to assist them in increasing energy efficiency and decreasing emissions and use of natural resources;
Whereas, Extinguishing or dimming non-essential lights in City Hall and streetlights along Main Street for one hour and urging businesses and citizens to do the same will send a clear message that the people of Ann Arbor in the State of Michigan in the United States of America are concerned about climate change, stand with the rest of the world in seeking solutions and are demanding that elected leaders act immediately to take measures that will help fight global climate; and
Whereas, The Environmental Commission passed a resolution on February 28, 2013 recommending that the Ann Arbor City Council declare March 23, 2013 to be "WWF's Earth Hour" day in the City of Ann Arbor;
RESOLVED, That Ann Arbor City Council endorses efforts by World Wildlife Fund through Earth Hour to raise awareness around global climate change and energy efficiency;
RESOLVED, That Ann Arbor City Council encourages city employees to turn off or dim all non-essential lighting in city government buildings and public landmarks for the hour between 8:30 and 9:30 PM on March 23, 2013 to conserve energy and raise awareness about global climate change as part of the city-wide energy conservation event: Earth Hour Ann Arbor; and
RESOLVED, That Ann Arbor City Council asks all citizens, businesses, government agencies, and commercial and non-commercial establishments to turn off all non-essential lighting for one hour beginning at 8:30 pm on March 23, 2013 and to commit to actions they can take in the coming year to reduce their carbon footprints and conserve energy; and
RESOLVED, That Ann Arbor City Council directs the Administrator to share this resolution with the University of Michigan to encourage their participation; and
RESOLVED, That Ann Arbor City Council declares March 23, 2013 to be "Earth Hour Day" in the City of Ann Arbor.
Sponsored by: Councilmembers Warpehoski and Briere