In 2009 and 2010, the City of Davis with the help of local citizens and sustainability groups encouraged households to make a low carbon plan based on the book The Low Carbon Diet: A 30 Day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds.

Residents started by forming neighborhood groups, then calculated their carbon footprints. Next, participants followed  24 easy-to-follow recipes for reducing emissions.

Susan Steinbach commented, “What a refreshing, creative way for Davisites to take a look at their energy usage and household habits in order to get a clearer sense of their personal connection to climate change.”

These efforts were the beginning of a the partnership between our community and the City of Davis to achieve sustainability and carbon neutrality by 2050.

The following text is part of that legacy:

You can use the book on your own, or even better form a group for mutual support. Each household chooses which recipes work best for them. The book recommends groups representing 6-8 households each forming their own team. Team meetings can be great fun with lively discussions and useful exchanges of ideas.

Initial assessments of Davis show that more that 75% of GHG emissions are generated by the daily activities of residents.

The recipes cover:

• Making quick fixes around the house – such as, installing low-flow shower heads, washing clothes with detergent formulated for cold water, setting the thermostat at 65-68, etc.
• Changing habits and lifestyle– such as eating one more vegetarian meal a week, using a bike for errands more and the car less each week, taking five-minute showers, etc.
• Making big-ticket upgrades – such as replacing old appliances with more energy-efficient ones, adding solar hot water or solar panels, landscaping with drought-tolerant plants, etc.

Take action

1. Do it yourself!  Measure your carbon footprint on the Cool California website, then read David Gershon’s book, “The Low Carbon Diet,” to find out what actions you can take (available at Yolo County libraries).

2. Join with others: meet with friends, neighbors, church, mosque, or a community group once a week to go through the book for a month to complete the program

When we all do our part, we can work wonders!

More resources

• How long does it take to pay for your investments? Useful guide showing how investments can pay for themselves in any time from 1 year to 10 years.
• 101 things to do in Davis to reduce your carbon footprint