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The final air pollutant emissions standards announced by the EPA in late March offer an estimated $13 billion of annual public health benefits due to improved air quality, and $62 billion in reduced annual costs for maintenance, repair, and fuel for drivers. |
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On average, consumers will save about $6,000 over the lifetime of a model year 2032 vehicle, compared to a vehicle meeting the 2026 standards. |
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The EPA final standards will cumulatively reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 7.2 billion metric tons between 2027 and 2055. |
 Great big thanks to the many people who responded to our survey about top heat pump questions! The City is sponsoring an upcoming session for contractors to learn more about Air Source Heat Pumps, and the feedback received from February's survey will help shape the discussion. Top questions and concerns from consumers have been passed along to the organizers of the training summit. Look for more heat pump information from City channels in coming months.
If you received a Root for Trees voucher this year, you have until May 15 to redeem it. If you meant to apply for a voucher this year, it is not yet too late! Root for Trees applications will be accepted through May 1, until 5 p.m. For more information, visit icgov.org/rootfortrees.
 Moldy bread, sour milk, and wilted veggies — these are common outcomes of buying too much food. Reduce food waste at home and save money by following easy, simple tips on how to shop to reduce food waste.
The Love Food, Fight Waste program, a collaboration between Table to Table and the City of Iowa City, offers resources and information on how to reduce food waste. Explore monthly topics that include a variety of ways to get involved and learn. More details at https://table2table.org/shop-to-reduce-food-waste/
 Each year, revenue from the annual Farm to Street Dinner is awarded to an area organization that is working to enhance our local food system.
Applications to be considered as the selected beneficiary will be accepted now through April 30.
More information on selection criteria and participation requirements for the event beneficiary are available on the online application page.
Tickets for the event itself will go on sale the week of April 15. Visit downtowniowacity.com for more information.
 The White House will officially launch an online jobs platform for the American Climate Corps this month. Up to 20,000 young people are expected to be hired in the program’s first year, and positions with the new corps could range across a number of fields including energy-efficiency installations, disaster response preparedness, recycling, and wildfire mitigation.
Find more climate hope on the Project 51 web page.
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Iowa City’s Climate Action Commission meets monthly
The April 1 meeting will include presentations on both the Bicycle Master Plan and a collaborative project with UI students, and the public is welcome. Access upcoming and past meeting packets at the Climate Action Commission web page.
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Teams, clubs, families, individuals, and friends can make a difference this Earth Day weekend! Iowa City will be hosting its fourth Neighborhood Energy Blitz on Saturday, April 20, 2024. Reach for your walking shoes and join others taking climate action.
Volunteers are needed to deliver energy saving kits to homes in the Washington Hills neighborhood in the morning and collect used lightbulbs and batteries in the afternoon.
Find more information and register as a volunteer on the sign up page.
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 Bring your family and friends to check out Earth Expo exhibits from organizations such as the Iowa Flood Center, Bur Oak Land Trust, student environmental groups, and more! At 4:00 p.m., enjoy a fashion show arranged by Green Iowa and the City of Iowa City's Resource Management department, featuring second-hand and upcycled clothing styled by members of the community.
- Saturday, April 6, 2-5 p.m.
- Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, 220 S. Gilbert St.
On Earth Day, meet at Riverfront Crossings Park to collect litter along Highway 6 from Gilbert St. to Lakeside Dr. Sign up online. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old.
- Monday, April 22, 9:45 a.m.
- Riverfront Crossings Park, 1001 S Clinton St
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The UI Office of Sustainability has assembled a hub for activities and events related to Earth Month. Browse the rich offering of opportunities to celebrate, connect, and act as an Earth-friendly community during the month of April!
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 Heidi Roop
Educator, writer, scientist
 How do you take climate action?
For our household, part of our climate solutions journey involves making our old home more energy efficient. However, this is expensive and time consuming, so we are taking it one step at a time. Recently we had an energy audit performed on our home to give us a roadmap to action. As we implement it, we are prioritizing and saving up for some of the work we’d like to do, like improve the insulation and install high-efficiency heat pumps. We recently installed a heat pump hot water heater because there are great financial incentives to upgrade right now. We love it and are already seeing the benefits on our utility bill. For us that is a win-win.
Why is it important to take climate action?
Climate action is important to me because I want to be a role model for the kids in my life and I want to support a healthy, thriving community for my family and friends.
What can others do to take climate action?
When it comes to climate work, we need to engage in a multitude of actions and adopt behavior changes, all while we simultaneously work for systems-level change. There are many ways to do this, including voting, engaging in climate dialogues at work, and having climate conversations with friends and family. I encourage everyone to think about how you can contribute to both individual and collective climate efforts. There are actions that prevent the problem of climate change from getting worse—by avoiding or reducing greenhouse gas emissions—and also actions that help prepare our communities and landscapes for the impacts of climate change we have already set in motion. The best place to start your climate solutions journey is by doing something you love and are good at. Remember: every action matters.
Climate Solutions Surround Us
From Awareness to Action: The Climate Action Handbook
- Tuesday, April 22, 7-8 p.m.
- Prairie Lights Books
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More events from around the community:
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