CoolCalifornia.org is a website for Californians with resources to help them reduce their impact on the environment and
combat climate change. The website is geared towards different audiences, including: individuals, small businesses, local government, youth, community organizations, and schools. The website currently features two
carbon footprint
A carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by an individual, event, organization, service, place or product, expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). Greenhouse gases, including the carbon-containing gases carbo ...
calculators. One is for individuals and households and one is for small businesses; a similar tool for local governments is under development.
History
CoolCalifornia.org was created by a team of California State agencies, universities and a nonprofit organization. Partners include the
California Air Resources Board
The California Air Resources Board (CARB or ARB) is the "clean air agency" of the government of California. Established in 1967 when then-governor Ronald Reagan signed the Mulford-Carrell Act, combining the Bureau of Air Sanitation and the Motor ...
, the
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of California, it is the state's first land-grant u ...
,
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), commonly referred to as the Berkeley Lab, is a United States national laboratory that is owned by, and conducts scientific research on behalf of, the United States Department of Energy. Located in ...
, the
California Energy Commission
The California Energy Commission, formally the Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, is the primary energy policy and planning agency for California.
Created in 1974 and headquartered in Sacramento, the Commission'core respon ...
, Next 10, and the
California Public Utilities Commission.
Tools
CoolCalifornia.org offers a variety of resources for all types of Californians looking to reduce their impact on the environment.
Such resources include:
carbon calculators, ideas and tips to save money, case studies of small businesses and local governments that have "gone green," lists of rebate programs, and resource lists linking to other websites. The site offers guidelines called "toolkits" for small businesses, local governments, and schools. These toolkits help people learn how to create climate action plans.
The carbon calculators are California-specific and calculate both direct
greenhouse gas emissions, such as from fuel burned in your car or a natural gas furnace, and indirect greenhouse gas emissions, such as those emitted at power plants, or embedded in food or purchased goods. For both the household and small business calculators, all calculations are transparent and references are provided. CoolCalifornia.org's household carbon calculator has been ranked among the most robust available, even though various
carbon footprint
A carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by an individual, event, organization, service, place or product, expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). Greenhouse gases, including the carbon-containing gases carbo ...
calculators can produce different carbon footprint results.
Awards
CoolCalifornia.org offered its first Small Business Awards in 2009. One of the awards given out was for Organization of the Year. Another award was given out for Small Business of the Year. Excellence awards were also given out to organizations and businesses.
[https://www.bc3sfbay.org/blog/post/754]
See also
*
Climate change in California
*
Environment of California
References
External links
CoolCalifornia.org
{{DEFAULTSORT:Coolcalifornia.Org
Climate change organizations based in the United States
Environmental organizations based in California
Environment of California