The Climate Project

I'm just back from a mind-blowing experience - training with Al Gore and his Climate Project staff for 2 1/2 days in and around Nashville, Tennessee. I was part of the first 50 people picked out of the 1000 of the cavalry sent out to spread the word and take us to that critical tipping point, much like that of the Civil Rights grassroots movement years ago. I am full of new hope, having trained with such a diverse group of citizens - mayors, singers, a Miss America contestant, preachers, mom's, school teachers, presidents of major companies, leaders of unions and environmental groups - you name it. We were all there, united to save ourselves from ourselves, and hopefully prevent or minimize the climate change we have underway.
This morning I was inspired to create a list of action items for everyone to help us begin to stop carbon dioxide at a doubling. please feel free to copy the list and email it to your friends.

Make a Difference. By Alison Gannett, Office for Resource Efficiency President, and The Climate Project Trainee.

Change 6 lightbulbs you use most to compact fluorescents. If you have done that, change your whole house. Each bulb will save 1300 lbs of carbon, and save you $46 on your electric bill. 6 packs of Commercial Electric bulbs at Home Depot -$10. Look for Blue Energy Star label, warm white light and flicker free labels on bulbs. Also make sure that any new appliances or electronics have the blue energy star label.
Get a blower door test in your home and/or small business. This checks for the air leaks in your building which can account for half of your heating and/or cooling bill. Many utility companies do this for free – so contact your electric company or local energy audit company. Walk your house with the professional, taking notes on areas that leak. Buy a case of caulk to match your house trim to block air leakage from the inside and some cans of spray foam for large leaks
Get an Energy Audit. Again ask your local electric company first if they do them for free. Good audits will give you a cost payback analysis for any improvements you are considering. Most times the things you are considering first do not have good paybacks – such as new windows and insulating window curtains. Work towards reducing your energy usage in the home by 50% in the next few years by implementing items one by one that have a 1-5 year payback. The long teram goal by the American Institute of Architecture and The National Conference of Mayors is all This will also save 25 billion tons of carbon.
Drive Smarter. Cut your yearly Mileage in half in 5 year, or by 1,000 miles a year, by carpooling, walking, biking or not driving. Shoot for 5,000 miles a year. If each of us did this, we will save 25 billion tons of carbon in our atmosphere. If you have to drive quite a bit, consider purchasing a hybrid, ethanol, biofuel or high mileage car (goal is 6Ompg to save another 25 billion tons of carbon).
Buy windpower. Most electricity is 88-90% coal fired, one of the major sources of Carbon Dioxide/greenhouse gas pollution. By purchasing 100% of your electric bill with wind, usually for a small monthly fee on your electric bill, you can feel good about the electricity you do use. If windpower generation increases by 40 times to displace coal, we can offset another 25 billion tons of carbon.
Calculate your carbon footprint on websites such as . You will be able to see your actual imprint on the carbon problem from your home, business, cars, and plane travel. You know will have the tools from the above actions to reduce your usage, and what you can not reduce, you can offset on the carbon calculation sites through purchasing windpower, increasing alternative energy education and policy change, or the carbon sequestration/capture through planting trees.
If you would like to add or modify this document, please send feedback to Alison through her website:

Winter is here?

Well the weather just continues to be strange! We have now gotten two snowstorms this september, with another one on the way today. I'm paranoid because my ski sale to benefit ORE and Global Cooling is this Saturdaty, and there is a 30% chance of snow! ah well, that is life in the mountains.

The Town of Crested Butte is getting closer this week to pass my and ORE's recommendations for prescriptive green building products (formaldehyde free subfloo and finishes that do not cause cancer in the state of California), blower door tests for new construction and remodels, efficient wood stoves, outdoor heating REMP requirements (must use alternative energy or pay in lieu), LEED certification for large town buildings, and a 50% CFL lightbulb requirement.

Despite this gain and a final Colorado Supreme Ruling against the Union Park Water Diversion Project, our town is changing all too rapidly for my liking. There is a new greed undercurrent pervasive here. And so many out of town and country construction workers imported (around 1000).....

Well, it happens to everyone eventually, and, well, i moved here 17 years ago, so i am part of the problem as well.....

Climate Project w/Al Gore

Big News!
I have been selected to train with Al Gore for his Climate Project, Sept 24-26th, in Nashville, TN. I and 50 others from around the country will be trained to give the presentation that was shown in Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” movie.
I plan to incorporate the presentation into my multi media global adventure show during “Alison Gannett’s Global Cooing Tour” this winter. I will be touring ski areas across the country, riding with ski area and retail store managers, owners and consumers, teaching them how they can save our snow and our planet from Global Warming, while also improving the bottom line. To join in as a sponsor of the tour, please contact Alison at .

Have a great day, and don’t forget to change a light bulb to a compact fluorescent today! Just one bulb will save 1300 pounds of carbon dioxide and save you $30-$230 bucks over the life of the bulb. Make sure you buy an Energy Star rated bulb, with warm light around 3000 degrees Kelvin, and flicker free with an electronic ballast. Packs of 6 available at Home Depot for $10.

colorado trail again

New Colorado trail bike touring adventure for me this holiday weekend. Started in Fairplay, rode the highway to Kenosha Pass (not fun and too much traffic). Started the singlerack of the Col. Trail there - some of the best singletrack I have ridden ever! The trail is smooth and curvy - reminds me of Doctors Park in CB, large grained sand and aspens. The climb to Georgia Pass is enjoyable and all rideable. I really loved popping out above treeline to the view of Guyot Mountain. The descent into Tiger Creek/Swan Road area goes on for an hour 3,500 vertical feet down or so - a complete giggle fest! The Colorado trail then continues past the road to wind up and down these small hills and ridges on the way to Gold Hill near Breckenridge. That section lasts a bit longer than you would expect it to - took us about 3 hrs with breaks, but the trail could hardly be more perfect. Reminded me of riding in Flagstaff, Arizona. We then road the bike path into Breckenridge, finishing in 9 hrs or so. We immediately crammed some pizza down our throats before continueing to the Hostel. Our room, shared by a 17-yr-old low-IQ Kansas boy and a 60 year old woman in town for the Arts festival, was about the size of a large closet. None of us got a good nights sleep, even with earplugs. After a good breakfast, we hopped on the bikes again, riding the rec path to Copper Mountain and getting on the Colorado trail again there. The climb to Searle Pass took 2 hours, but was completely blistful. From there, it only got more spectacular to Kokomo Pass, as we were traversing at 12,000 feet for 45 minutes in alpine heaven. A 2,600 foot descent awaited us from Kokomo to Camp Hale, site of the 10th Mountain Division Ski training area for World War 2. The CO trail then winds its way up to Tennessee Pass in two sections - the first being very much like the Rainbow Trail section of the Monarch crest. The last section is surprisingly mellow - a welcome relief from a long day. We then took the road into Leadville and stopped at the yummy Mexican food trailer across from pizza hut. We sat on stools in the parking lot and enjoyed some Adovada and Barbacoa burritos - by far the best food in Leadville that I have ever discovered. We walked through town and grapped a pint of mint chip at the Cum and Go, and sat in the Hideaway B+B in big comfy chairs. The last leg took Dana and I up and over 13,000 foot Mosquito Pass - the highest driveable pass in Colorado. We luckily didn't see too many jeepers or ATV-ers on the 3 hr uphill. The top was gorgously scenic with views of snow on Treasure Vault Mountain, but cold and windy, so we crammed in some more burrito and brownie, and hit the epic rugged bumpy downhill to Alma and Fairplay.