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Success Stories in Solving Global Warming

Positive, money-saving actions to reduce global warming pollution are being implemented across our society by major energy companies, states, churches, and individuals. Here are some examples.

Companies

• Energy Companies with Climate-Friendly Policies

Energy companies with climate-friendly policies are significantly more competitive than their peers. Such oil and gas companies outperformed their peers by 7 percent over a 3-year period. Electric utilities with climate-friendly policies outperformed their peers by 50% over a 5-year period.¹

• BP

BP is the largest oil and gas producer in the United States and one of the largest marketers of motor fuels. In 2001, BP achieved its initial goal, set in 1998, of reducing its global warming pollution to 10 percent below 1990 levels, nine years ahead of schedule. As of 2002, BP committed to maintaining its net emissions at these reduced levels through 2012, which the firm believes equates to a 40 percent reduction in emissions compared to business as usual.²

BP has invested over half a billion dollars in renewable energy³ and is now the world's second largest producer of solar panels,⁴ with a generated revenue of $300 million in 2003.⁵

• Shell

In 1998 Shell set a target to reduce their global warming pollution 10% from 1990 levels by 2002, which they achieved. They plan on keeping their emissions to 5% below 1990 levels by 2010, even while growing their business.⁶

Shell has also spent roughly $1 billion on renewable energy technologies.⁷

• Alcoa

Alcoa, the world's largest producer of aluminum (an incredibly energy-intensive product to produce) has identified projects potentially capable of delivering $66 million in energy savings. Nearly $6 million of these savings were realized by June 2004.⁸ Alcoa has pledged to reduce its global warming pollution "to 25% below the 1990 baseline on a worldwide basis by 2010, with the potential for significant additional reductions through major technology improvements."⁹

States

• Eighteen states have requirements that a certain percentage of electricity be produced by renewable sources.¹⁰

• Twenty-two states have public funds to support energy efficiency projects.¹¹

• Electric utilities in 34 states offer customers the option to purchase electricity produced by renewable sources.¹²

• Nine states in the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic regions are developing a cap-and-trade program for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

• The Governors of California, Oregon, and Washington have established the "West Coast Governors' Initiative, and have agreed to a variety of measures to reduce global warming pollution including the collective purchase of hybrid vehicles, energy efficient building codes, energy efficiency standards for appliances, and increased state-wide purchase of renewable electricity.¹³

• In September 2004 California adopted regulations requiring a 30% reduction in global warming pollution from SUVs, minivans, and light trucks by 2016. Although the regulation is currently being challenged in court, other states are allowed by law to adopt California's vehicle standards, and eight states have done so including New York. If upheld, it could affect 30% of the auto market.¹⁴

Churches, Schools, and Shelters

• Solana Beach Presbyterian Church

In 2000 the Solana Beach Presbyterian Church implemented a plan to reduce pollution and be better stewards of both financial and natural resources. The 66,146 square foot church installed: (1) efficient lights, (2) occupation sensors to turn off lights in unoccupied rooms, (3) highly efficient LED exit signs, and (4) highly efficient air conditioning and heating units.

The results:

• Annual Savings: $6,620

• Annual Energy Savings: 95,000 kWh

• Payback Period for Installations: 11 months

• Pollution Prevented: 120,000 lbs. of global warming pollution per year. ¹⁵

• Hebron Baptist Church

To care for creation as well as the bottom line, Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula, Georgia, implemented a program to replace inefficient lighting. After receiving almost a thousand new energy-efficient lamps, their monthly loan payment for the new lighting was approximately $1,300, but their utility bill savings were over $2,700 per month.

The results:

• Annual Savings: $32,000

• Annual Energy Savings: 450,000 kWh

• Pollution Prevented: 1 million pounds of global warming pollution per year. ¹⁶

• Doorstep Homeless Shelter

The 60,000 square foot Doorstep Homeless Shelter in the Detroit area (Highland Park, MI) provides food, shelter, and medical treatment for the less fortunate. By replacing inefficient lighting and an inefficient boiler they are also saving money and reducing pollution. The cost to upgrade the lighting system was $7,500—but the shelter will save $5,073 per year. The new boiler cost $25,100—but saves $11,200 per year in heating costs.

The results:

• Annual Savings: $16,293

• Annual Energy Savings: 72,414 kWh

• Payback Period: 2.5 years

• Pollution Prevented: 93,783 pounds of global warming pollution per year.¹⁷

• Sligo Adventist School

By upgrading to efficient lighting throughout their 46,000 square foot facility, the Sligo Adventist School in Takoma Park, Maryland, actually improved the quality of their lighting and has added outdoor lighting, resulting in their employees feeling safer at night.

The results:

• Annual Savings: $11,136.00

• Payback Period: 18 Months. ¹⁸

Individuals

• The Rev. Dr. Richard Cizik, VP of Governmental Affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals, recently purchased a second Toyota Prius for his family. The Prius is a hybrid electric vehicle that gets about 55 miles to the gallon.

• Dr. Bob Andringa, President of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), owns a hybrid Honda Civic that gets about 45 miles to the gallon.

• The Rev. Jim Ball, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Evangelical Environmental Network, has owned a Toyota Prius hybrid electric vehicle since 2002. This is his family's sole vehicle. He telecommutes and takes public transportation to work.