MENLO PARK DRIVE LESS CHALLENGE Menlo Park Green Ribbon Citizens’ Committee Adina Levin

Drive Less Challenge Goal: friendly social competition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 2009 Pilot - experiment at a local scale 2010 Expansion - scale to multiple communities, more deeply per community

Goal: friendly social competition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

2009 Pilot - experiment at a local scale

2010 Expansion - scale to multiple communities, more deeply per community

In 2005, the community of Menlo Park emitted approximately 491,054 metric tons of CO2e 45.8% from vehicles on roads and highways 30.1% from energy use in commercial and industrial buildings 11.4% from energy use in residences 8.5% from the closed Marsh Road Landfill 3.6% from solid waste generated by Menlo Park homes and businesses 0.4% from municipal government operations Single biggest source of carbon emissions…

In 2005, the community of Menlo Park emitted approximately 491,054 metric tons of CO2e

45.8% from vehicles on roads and highways

30.1% from energy use in commercial and industrial buildings

11.4% from energy use in residences

8.5% from the closed Marsh Road Landfill

3.6% from solid waste generated by Menlo Park homes and businesses

0.4% from municipal government operations

Community incentives Role models & norms School, work Neighborhoods Faith communities Community sponsorship Shop locally

Role models & norms

School, work

Neighborhoods

Faith communities

Community sponsorship

Shop locally

Friendly social competition… Participate with school, work, neighborhood, faith community 1 week after earth day, go online and log your trips

Participate with school, work, neighborhood, faith community

1 week after earth day, go online and log your trips

Getting kids engaged… Oak Knoll School - 28 participants, 143 trips Out of bike rack space

Oak Knoll School - 28 participants, 143 trips

Out of bike rack space

City role model All 5 city council members City employees - 8 participants, 41 trips The mayor and the bus rack

All 5 city council members

City employees - 8 participants, 41 trips

The mayor and the bus rack

Neighborhoods & Faith Communities Willows - 8 participants, 95 trips Congregation Etz Chaim - 5 participants, 44 trips Lighting the way Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/videolux/3007141810/

Willows - 8 participants, 95 trips

Congregation Etz Chaim - 5 participants, 44 trips

Lighting the way

Local business sponsors

Overall Results Over 120 participants Nearly 500 green trips Over 5000 green miles Equivalent of 17 cars off the road If everyone did this… 15-20% of transportation emissions

Over 120 participants

Nearly 500 green trips

Over 5000 green miles

Equivalent of 17 cars off the road

If everyone did this… 15-20% of transportation emissions

Next steps - improve and scale Scale - deeper into Menlo Park, broader to neighboring communities Go from 120 participants to 2400 participants Involve 3 other communities in Bay Area (targets Palo Alto, Mountain View, Burlingame, Los Altos, Redwood City) 20K green trips, 200K green miles Grant sponsorship to fund scale (targets: commute.org, Sustainable SV or SM, etc.)

Scale - deeper into Menlo Park, broader to neighboring communities

Go from 120 participants to 2400 participants

Involve 3 other communities in Bay Area (targets Palo Alto, Mountain View, Burlingame, Los Altos, Redwood City)

20K green trips, 200K green miles

Grant sponsorship to fund scale (targets: commute.org, Sustainable SV or SM, etc.)

Next steps - improve & scale Version 1 - minimal cost SurveyMonkey to log trips & calculate results Logging was awkward Results only at end Couldn’t see others Volunteer website to share stories, list sponsors Not integrated with logging app Not social Community outreach narrow Menlo Park focus with some neighboring communities

Version 1 - minimal cost

SurveyMonkey to log trips & calculate results

Logging was awkward

Results only at end

Couldn’t see others

Volunteer website to share stories, list sponsors

Not integrated with logging app

Not social

Community outreach narrow

Menlo Park focus with some neighboring communities

How to improve Easier to use, more responsive More responsive trip logging Immediate results - more feedback, more fun Better social networking Visibly participate with social groups Reach out through Facebook, Twitter

Easier to use, more responsive

More responsive trip logging

Immediate results - more feedback, more fun

Better social networking

Visibly participate with social groups

Reach out through Facebook, Twitter

How to improve Deeper community outreach Deeper outreach to schools, workplaces Templates for easier volunteering Additional communities Toolkit to adopt per community Needs local team & outreach

Deeper community outreach

Deeper outreach to schools, workplaces

Templates for easier volunteering

Additional communities

Toolkit to adopt per community

Needs local team & outreach

Requirements: Interactive

Organization Chair and coordinating committee How to: toolkit Roles per city Publicity - press and social media Community outreach (schools, workplace, neighborhoods, faith) Sponsorship - prizes, financial support

Chair and coordinating committee

How to: toolkit

Roles per city

Publicity - press and social media

Community outreach (schools, workplace, neighborhoods, faith)

Sponsorship - prizes, financial support

Questions? Adina Levin [email_address] drivelesschallenge.com

Adina Levin

[email_address]

drivelesschallenge.com