Nevada making great strides to live lighter on the planet

About this time last year, I was urging people to see "An Inconvenient Truth." Much has happened in the last 12 months, as the climate crisis has gained momentum, as well as practically unanimous scientific confirmation. The topic is now covered regularly in the mainstream media as signs of climate change occur rapidly all around us.

The increased awareness of the incredible urgency of this issue is creating a shift in society that continues to accelerate. The problem is immense and our efforts to resolve it have not yet had a significant impact, but the recent Live Earth event was a good indicator that momentum is building on a global scale.

Thinking globally is important, but it's what happens locally that gets the job done. The Live Earth event was celebrated locally at the Moon nightclub at the Palms. Hundreds of people turned out to support action on the climate change issue and learn how they can be a greater part of the solution. The successful event was jointly coordinated by the local chapter of the Sierra Club and the Nevada Conservation League.

Both organizations are actively involved with climate solutions. The Sierra Club has a Cool Cities program and the 2% Solution campaign. The Nevada Conservation League promotes presidential campaign awareness with The Heat Is On campaign, and is also participating in the One Billion Bulbs program.

Find out more about these organizations at www.sierraclub.org, www.nevadaconservation league.org and www.heatison.org.

At the state level, we have new legislation that enhances incentives for renewable energy, providing greater capacity and flexibility to accommodate homeowners, schools, businesses and public facilities that want to implement clean energy systems. To help meet Nevada's Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, both Sierra Pacific and Nevada Power have implemented several incentive programs for energy efficiency. In addition, the 64 megawatt Nevada Solar One plant in Boulder City is now feeding clean energy from the sun directly to the power grid.

Our progressive green building tax incentives are helping to hasten the change toward more environmentally responsible construction practices. Nevada now has several Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified green buildings, including the Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences in Incline Village, rated Platinum; the Patagonia Distribution Center in Reno, rated Gold; and two other certified projects -- the Tate Snyder Kimsey Architects Design Studio in Henderson and the Telecommunications Building at the College of Southern Nevada.

An incredible number of additional LEED-registered projects are under development, including some of the largest green-building projects in the world. Some notable examples include MGM's Project City Center in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip; the Molasky Corporate Center, which is nearing completion downtown; the Springs Preserve; and the mixed-use development of Sullivan Square at the Las Vegas Beltway curve.

On the home front, there are several projects registered in the pilot phase of the LEED for Homes system. From The Enchantment Way in Las Vegas to Job's Peak Cottages in Gardnerville, these projects are at the forefront of the residential green building movement.

Las Vegas even has its own source of responsibly harvested stone that provides exquisitely beautiful counter tops. Vegas Rock operates a local quarry near Goodsprings and its operations are so green that they have been awarded Cradle to Cradle Silver certification -- the first mining operation in the country to achieve such a certification.

Another sign of local action is the rapidly growing number of fuel-efficient vehicles on the road. When I got my first hybrid, it would often be weeks before I'd spot another one. Now, they are at nearly every stop light. Sure, some of the shift is due to rising fuel prices, but an increasing number of people are realizing that they can make a huge contribution to the climate solution by choosing a fun-to-drive hybrid rather than an SUV, no matter what the cost of fuel.

Local government officials are working on creating greener building codes, seeking ways to create sustainable community and implementing renewable energy and efficiency programs.

Overall, the signs are indeed all around us. Record-high temperatures and drought underscore the reality of the problems we face, while real action being taken by citizens, business and government highlight the progress we are making to address them.

Steve Rypka is a green living consultant and president of GreenDream Enterprises, specializing in renewable energy, green building, alternative transportation and lifestyle choices for both residential and commercial clients. The company is committed to helping people live lighter on the planet. Rypka can be reached via email at steve@greendream.biz. More information relating to this column is posted at www.greendream.biz.