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February 2024 | Visit us online at www.icgov.org/climateaction. 

Black leadership in climate action

Father of environmental justice Dr. Robert Bullard has authored over 22 books and numerous articles documenting the  impacts of climate change and pollution on frontline communities.

Biochemist and lawyer Dr. Adrienne L. Hollis has advised or led more than 12 organizations on environmental justice, with contributions at the EPA, National Wildlife Federation, Union of Concerned Scientists, and multiple institutions of higher education.

Sociologist, writer, and academic Dr. Dorceta Taylor has had a 36-year career in environ-mentalism and was the first Black woman to receive a doctoral degree from Yale's School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

What are your most pressing questions about heat pumps? We want to know!

Everyone at the Climate Action Office is a little too bashful to dress up like Mr. Heat Pump, but we share that level of enthusiasm for heat pump conversations!

What are your most pressing heat pump questions? Perhaps you would like to know owners' experiences, or how heat pumps' costs and emissions compare with other heating systems?

The City will be organizing a number of events for contractors and residents focused on heat pumps this year. Your questions can help to tailor our communication and outreach efforts. Please take 2 minutes to complete this short survey, ranking FAQs to show what topics are most key to you.

Public Works building awarded Best New Civic Development and a LEED Gold rating

1000 Friends of Iowa announced the winners of the 2024 Best Development Awards during a ceremony at the Capitol in late January. The awards honor projects that recognize connections between building and project development and quality of life. The winner of this year’s award in the Civic category was our very own Iowa City Public Works building! And to add a shiny finish, the City was also recently notified of the facility's LEED Gold certification, a reflection of its energy efficient design and sustainable features. Congratulations to the Public Works team and Neumann Monson architects!

Love food, fight waste: keep food fresh longer

Avoid playing the “what was that?” game while looking through your fridge. You can make your food last longer by storing it in optimal conditions and organizing your fridge and pantry. Watch this short video for helpful tips. The Love Food, Fight Waste program, a collaboration between Table to Table and the City of Iowa City, offers information on how to reduce food waste. With new topics monthly, City residents can discover and enjoy a variety of ways to get involved and learn.

New rebates support a clean vehicle domestic supply chain

The Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) clean vehicle tax credit saves consumers up to $7,500 on a new EV or plug-in hybrid and hundreds of dollars per year on gas. Because of the IRA's investment in American manufacturing, eligible vehicles must meet certain criteria for where battery components are sourced and where the vehicle's final assembly occurs. The list of eligible vehicles is likely to change as new manufacturing facilities open throughout the upcoming year. Pre-owned vehicles purchased in 2023 or after are eligible for a tax credit of up to $4,000. Find the most up-to-date information at fueleconomy.gov.

Iowa City’s Climate Action Commission meets monthly

The next Climate Action Commission meeting on February 5 will be a time to welcome new members and elect a new chair. The public is invited to attend. Access upcoming and past meeting packets  at the Climate Action Commission web page.

New cohort for Climate Ambassadors now accepting applicants

It's not too late to prevent the worst outcomes of climate change. The time to act is now. As a Climate Ambassador, you can help!

The Climate Ambassador training program is designed to inform and empower effective climate change leaders within the Iowa City community. Ambassadors

• Learn about climate science and effective climate communication strategies
• Meet others engaged in climate action in the community
• Build channels of communication between neighbors, community groups, businesses, City leadership and staff, and fellow residents
• Act on what they learn through personal commitments and volunteer opportunities, and
• Inspire others to take climate action

Applications are now being accepted to join the March-April cohort. Register at this link. For more information, visit icgov.org/CAambassadors.

Upcycle textiles with Green Iowa AmeriCorps

et a head start on spring cleaning and donate any unused yarn, unwearable t-shirts, or single-use plastic grocery bags to Green Iowa AmeriCorps! We will be using these materials to host a crafting night with the community using the second-hand and upcycled yarns provided by this drive to promote reuse and slow fashion.

• Sun. Feb. 25, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• East Side Recycling Center, 2401 Scott Blvd. SE

After the drive, we will be turning any donated t-shirts and plastic bags into yarn. Plain t-shirts without screen-printing or embroidery are the easiest to upcycle, but any shirt that cannot be worn or donated is potential yarn!

Here are two easy-to-follow YouTube video tutorials for T-Shirt yarn and Grocery Bags if you can't make this drive but would like to try upcycling your unwearable shirts or old grocery bags at home!

Start planning for climate action grants

Climate action grant applications will be accepted starting in March. Learn more about available funding and types of eligible projects at icgov.org/ClimateActionGrants.

Michael Anderson

Climate Action Commission Member

How do you take climate action?

Since the beginning of the pandemic, I’ve been lucky enough to work from home. I also live a few blocks from downtown Iowa City, so many of my essential amenities are within walking distance, which has dramatically reduced the carbon footprint associated with my car. While my situation isn’t replicable for everyone, it drives at one of the structural climate actions that I believe to be essential—namely, that we configure our future and existing communities to prioritize humans instead of cars. 

Why is climate action important to you?

We’re talking about the total collapse of our planet’s life-giving systems. “Existential threat” doesn’t cut it. This is happening right here and right now, and it all comes down to the stupidity and greed of a handful of very powerful people. It pisses me off and I’d like to do something about it. 

How can others take climate action?

Like most people who care about climate change, I’m hungry for more action. Iowa City has some great climate initiatives like the insulation and home electrification grants programs, which provide money to homeowners to make their homes more eco-friendly. Reduce, reuse, and recycle--these individual actions are all important starting points, but it’s going to take collective effort and public investment to move the needle in a meaningful way. That’s why I joined the Climate Commission: to learn from and work with other members of my community who care about this issue. I’m excited to get started!

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This newsletter is published by the City of Iowa City Climate Action and Outreach Division. For more information, contact Sarah Gardner at 319-887-6162 or Sarah-Gardner@Iowa-City.org