Huntsville — Mayor
1. What actions have you personally taken to support a greener, more sustainable climate?
The actions I have taken personally to reduce my impact on the climate have been focused around reducing consumption of fossil fuels. I have done this by adding proper insulation to my home, upgrading to a high-efficiency furnace, installing LED lights throughout my residences and rental properties, replacing older windows with air-tight triple panel products and constructing tight, high- efficiency buildings.
2. What opportunities for climate leadership at the municipal level (e.g. greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs)) would you champion in one or more of these areas: Buildings | Housing | Land use (sprawl) | Transportation | Other
I think the Municipality has an opportunity and responsibility to be a leader in the reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions. We need to investigate and use new technology in our buildings and our fleet of vehicles to make them more efficient and consume less energy. We should look at higher densities in multiple zoning areas, to reduce the sprawl and keep residents living close to municipal services which in turn will reduce their reliance on vehicles. An improved transit system with increased service hours and routes will also decrease the reliance on vehicles. Electric-car charging stations should be installed in municipal parking lots and buildings which again, will encourage and assist residents to switch to more efficient vehicles.
3. A long-term problem requires a long-term solution. What is your 100-year plan? If elected, what would be your first action?
The first actionable item I would work on would be to increase the availability of car-charging stations at municipal parking lots and facilities. I feel that this will be an achievable goal and will show the public that a lack of available charging stations should not be a deterrent when purchasing their next vehicle.
You are correct, that overall, this will require a long-term plan. However, moving forward, I feel that with proper education, use of technology and the availability of necessary infrastructure, reducing our Greenhouse gases is an achievable goal.