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ao air pollution emitted by conventional vehi- cles while saving money at the gas pump. Some cities are also providing incentives, such as free parking and lower registration fees, to encourage the purchase of hybrids by local residents and businesses. ENERGY EFFICIENCY SOLUTIONS Energy efficiency means using less energy through better technology to light streets and power buildings and industrial facilities. Reducing energy use is one of the most cost-efFective and fastest ways to meet our energy needs. Lowering energy costs enables communities to invest more in schools, job creation, and new infrastructure. Since fossil fuel power plants account for more than one-third of U.S. global warm- ing emissions, saving energy also means Clean Harvest: Waverly Light & Power in Iowa has installed wind turbines on land leased from local farmers, creating clean electricity for the city and additional income for farmers. Cool Mayor. Mayor Joseph Adams, of University City, Missouri, accepts the Sierra Club's Cool City award for signing the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement less pollution. From high-tech interior and street lighting, energy-efficient building standards and retrofits, to efficient com- bined heat-and-power, cities in every region of the country are modernizing lighting, heating, cooling, and other systems. RENEWABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS Cities across the nation are investing in clean and renewable power like solar and wind energy to lower global warming emissions and create a reliable source of . safe, homegrown electricity. Many cities are adopting "renewable ener- gy standards" that require a specific per- centage of the electricity sold in a city or utility area to come from renewable sources by a specific target date. Other cities are incorporating renewable energy technologies, such as solar photo- voltaic panels, into the design of public buildings. Renewable power and energy efficiency are essential solutions for replac- ing electricity from dirty, fossil-fuel-burn- ing power plants. COOL CITIES: BRINGING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER The most successful Cool Cities are engaging the entire community to help meet the goals of the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Local businesses, builders, faith groups, environmentalists, and labor unions are working together to make their cities more livable and vibrant while lowering energy bills, creating good jobs, and tackling a global problem. RE-ENERGIZING YOUR CITY As the news of successful city solutions spreads, more cities arejoining in the Cool Cities movement to lead our country and our world into a new energy future. Cool Cities are literally re-energizing our nation, proving that we can solve global warming one city'at a time. Now it's your city's turn. ['~ - } z~ n I ~ 'C. C. ~ T I~ i ~~~~~ 1. Join the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement to reduce global vvarming pollution 2. Green your city's vehicle fleets with Hybrid and other!cleanei• cars '3. Modernize city buildings with money-saving energy-efficiency ;;technology 4. Invest in clean and safe renewable energy LEARN MORE: For a list of cities that are becoming "cool," and for resources and specific examples of smart energy city solutions and model action plans, go to sierraclub.org/coolcities. SIERRA CLUB HEADQUARTERS: 85 Second St., Second Floor • San Francisco, CA 94105 • (415) 977-5500 MARCH 2006 SIERRA CLUB LEGISLATIVE OFFICE: 408 C St. NE • Washington, DC 20002 • (202) 547-1141 • sierraclub.org