With bigger houses and longer commutes, suburban communities must consider their impact on climate change.

Granger: “And that’s because the more affluent you are, the more resources you have, the more likely your lifestyle is highly connected to greenhouse gas emissions.”

That’s Christine Granger of “Cool Davis” – a community effort to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change in Davis, a suburb of Sacramento, California. To engage residents in the effort, Cool Davis hosts an annual festival with information about everything from solar panels to waste and water conservation. There’s even the opportunity to test-drive electric vehicles.

Granger: “We’re working on that personal responsibility thing pretty heavily because it is those choices that are driving a large portion of our emissions.”

Next, the organization intends to help residents turn awareness into action by providing them with step-by-step plans to increase the energy efficiency of their homes and improve their transportation habits.

And with events like “Meatless Monday,” Cool Davis tries to inform people about the climate consequences of the food and products they buy.

If the community works together, these changes in everyday behavior will help Davis become carbon neutral by the year 2050.

Reporting credit: ChavoBart Digital Media.

More Resources
Cool Davis
City of Davis Climate Action Plan