In 2005, Westmont became one of the first villages in DuPage County to join the Cool Cities program, a nationwide network of municipalities committing to curb global warming by signing the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement. On Tuesday, Westmont and Illinois environmental leaders invite the public to learn more about “Cool Cities” and what more can be done. Sierra Club representative Lonnie Smith will speak at the meeting.

Q What is the Cool Cities program and how did it start?

A Cool Cities is Sierra Club’s organizing effort on behalf of the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement, which is a resource for mayors working on greenhouse gas mitigation. The agreement has three main provisions. 1. Strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets in their own communities, through actions ranging from anti-sprawl land-use policies to urban forest restoration projects to public information campaigns; 2. Urge their state and federal government to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the greenhouse gas emission reduction target — a 7 percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2012; and 3. Urge the U.S. Congress to pass the bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation, which would establish a national emission trading system.

Q Westmont is one of 44 municipalities in the state that have joined. What things have other area villages/cities done to start reaching the program goals?

A Elmhurst has installed LED traffic signal lights, is using biodiesel in public works trucks, uses hybrid vehicles in parking enforcement; powers its water treatment plant by recycled methane gas from waste, and is piloting a recycling program at the train station.
Northbrook purchases 4,500 megawatts of Illinois generated wind electricity for its water pumping and treatment, installed anti-idling governors on public works vehicles, purchased hybrid or better vehicles for city fleet and is replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights in city buildings.
Elgin is converting 25,000 traffic signals to light-emitting diodes, hiring a consultant for its 20-year Green Elgin plan, giving out 5,000 free CFL bulbs and the city purchased six hybrid vehicles.
Carol Stream joined Local Governments for Sustainability, which developed software for conducting greenhouse gas emission inventories, an essential step in determining how much green house gas is being produced by a community and from which sources. The software and technical assistance is available to cities that become members of ICLEI.
Naperville has committed to conducting a greenhouse gas emission inventory, and its municipal utility customers can buy renewable energy through their utility bill.

Q Cool Cities focuses on reducing inefficiency as an easy way to improve the environment. Is the problem of inefficiency worse in the sprawling suburbs?

A Efficiency is a characteristic of technology. There are energy efficient light bulbs, appliances and vehicles. An efficient appliance is one that does the same amount of work using less energy. A fuel-efficient car is one that gets more miles per gallon of gas. An energy efficient light bulb is one that produces the same amount of light using less electricity, and a LED certified building combines the best of available materials and technology to reduce its energy consumption. 
It’s not that suburbs are less energy efficient, it’s that they were designed around automobile transportation, which makes them less sustainable than mixed-use, high-density communities with well developed public transportation. Sustainability should guide future development to increase energy independence and security. There are many ways to incorporate energy efficiency into all communities through building codes and incentives.

Q What do you think the future holds for the “going green” movement?

A As with any new movement, it will take a while to sort out the genuine, lasting improvements from the fads. This is an opportunity for the growth of a new economic sector and we should be careful to avoid rushing into unproved solutions that may have strong voices. Ethanol captured the imagination of many entrepreneurs and advocates, but the growing body of data indicates that it may contribute more greenhouse gases than it prevents. Renewable energy does offer the potential for jobs and Illinois has good wind energy potential. One report estimates there is the potential for 56,579 new jobs in Illinois from the renewable energy industry, with the majority in wind and solar.