The following is a press release issued by the County of Mendocino:
In 2021, the County of Mendocino made a monumental commitment to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a Net Zero Carbon Resolution which dedicates $2 million towards lowering carbon emissions from County government operations.
In 2022, one of Mendocino County’s first actions was to upgrade its facilities, including all eligible library branches, to Sonoma Clean Power’s 100% renewable and locally generated 24/7 EverGreen service. By using local solar energy during the day and geothermal energy at night, the county has reduced its carbon emissions by over 75,000 pounds of CO2 so far.
To inspire the public to reduce their own carbon footprint, the Mendocino County Library and Sonoma Clean Power have partnered to launch “Climate Corners,” a climate change awareness campaign highlighting ways to take climate action and save energy at home.
The displays in each library branch offer climate-related books for all ages and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Energy and Water Saving Toolkits which are available for checkout. The catalog of climate books has been expanded at every branch with funding from Sonoma Clean Power. Each DIY toolkit comes with free supplies, including LED lightbulbs, weather stripping, and low-flow showerheads, as well as tools to help measure energy and water use in your home, including a Kill-a-Watt meter and flow rate bag.
“Our county’s commitment to reducing our environmental impact and improving our long-term sustainability stems further than just our own facilities. We want our community to be part of this movement too,” says Supervisor Dan Gjerde.
“The Climate Corners at our local libraries are a reminder that we cannot ignore the climate crisis, and they are also a place for people to get informed and empowered to take action,” Gjerde added.
In addition to the library Climate Corners and the upgrade to EverGreen, the County intends to electrify its vehicle fleet, improve the energy-efficiency of its facilities, expand access to public electric vehicle charging, and simplify the permitting process for solar panel systems.
For more information about the Climate Corners, visit www.mendolibrary.org or contact the Mendocino County Cultural Services Agency at 234-2873.
