Legislation. 1. Adopt a carbon-reduction ordinance for existing buildings to require energy benchmarking and carbon performance of existing buildings over a certain size, such as 20,000 s.f. of building area. Require multi-family buildings to reduce fossil fuel usage by 15% in 5 years. Require all buildings to be fossil fuel-free by 2050. 2. Cities should pass legislation that Home Owners Associations cannot prohibit solar installs. Perhaps the same with condo associations. “NC Supreme Court: HOAs Cannot Prohibit Solar Installs” www.cleantechnica.com 6/28/22. 3. City governments should consider banning the construction of new gas stations, as is currently happening in California. 4. Cities should impose a ban on gasoline-powered land and landscaping tools, especially leaf blowers. “Lexington Residents Vote to Restrict, Eventually Ban Gas-powered Leaf Blowers” www.wcvb.com 3/8/22. “Leaf Blowers: Out of Gas?” www.rochesterbeacon.com 5/4/22. Other cities that have acted in a similar manner include Brookline MA, Montclair NJ, Burlington VT, Washington DC, Chevy Chase MD, Long Beach CA, Greenwich CT, Naples FL, Ann Arbor MI, and Larchmont NY.
