Item A: Sustainability Commission Recommendations

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Woodburning contributes very minimally to the GHG emissions of the community of Eugene. The CO2 coefficient for burning fuelwood is generally considered to be zero. Carbon released from burning wood cycles in and out of the atmosphere very quickly when viewed on the geologic time-scale of the carbon contained in fossil fuel. It is generally thought that the equivalent amount of carbon released by burning is entirely re-sequestered in growing plant material, assuming that the ability of vegetation to perform this task is remaining stable. Though there is ongoing debate about the sequestration ability given the changing nature of forest and vegetation, for this inventory we have accepted the assumption in the ICLEI model of a net zero GHG impact of woodburning. It is recommended that future updates of this inventory investigate the role that significant changes in the area or quality of mature vegetated landscapes may play in overall atmospheric GHG levels. Although woodburning is not a significant contributor to CO2 in the atmosphere, it does contribute substantially to other forms of pollution in Eugene. While this report does not address the relative criteria air pollutants (CAP’s) of fuel sources, they should be considered an important factor in the step of choosing GHG reduction strategies. Overall health of the environment may not be improved by simply trading one impact for another. Future updates of the inventory will include CAP information in an appendix. 5.3 Results Combined by Sector and Source The following figures show the source of GHG emissions by the four primary activity sectors for 2005. Understanding the relationship between different economic sectors and their individual sources of GHG emissions will help in developing emissions reduction strategies. The following figures show the source of GHG emissions by economic sectors for 2005. (Solid waste was treated in the ICLEI model as a separate GHG emissions source, and is not included below as it was shown as reducing overall Community GHG emissions.) In the residential sector, natural gas is the predominant GHG source, accounting for 83% of residential GHG emissions. (Figure 9a) Electricity is a distant second, at only 15% of residential emissions. (Note that the total energy consumed is different from the GHG emissions due to these energy sources. Natural gas accounts for just under 60% of residential energy consumption, while electricity amounts to about 40% of total residential energy consumption.) The relatively low amount of residential GHG emissions from reflects EWEB’s relatively clean power sources. Light fuel oil and wood are minor sources of residential GHG emissions. Residential light fuel oil use has decreased since 1990 due to switching to electricity or natural gas, and the proportion of GHG due to fuel oil is expected to decline further in the future. The source of GHG emissions for the commercial sector is very similar to the residential sector, with natural gas at 83% of total commercial GHG emissions. (Figure 9b) Electrical consumption accounts for 17% of GHG emissions, and fuel oil less than 1% of commercial emissions. 11