Magazine

It’s easy to feel pessimistic when scientists around the world are warning that climate change has advanced so far, it’s now inevitable that societies will either transform themselves or be transformed. But as two of the authors of a recent international climate report, we also see reason for optimism.

The latest reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change discuss changes ahead, but they also describe how existing solutions can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help people adjust to impacts of climate change that can’t be avoided.

To slow climate change and adapt to the damage already underway, the world will have to shift how it generates and uses energy, transports people and goods, designs buildings and grows food. That starts with embracing innovation and change.

As manufacturers introduce new models of electric vehicles, demand for them is growing steadily. New EV sales in the U.S. roughly doubled in 2021 and could double again in 2022, from 600,000 to 1.2 million. Auto industry leaders expect that EVs could account for at least half of all new U.S. car sales by the end of the decade.

EVs appeal to different customers in different ways. Many buyers want to help protect the environment; others want to save money on gasoline or try out the latest, coolest technology. To draw home power from their cars, EV owners need a bidirectional charger and an electric vehicle that is compatible with V2H. Bidirectional chargers are already commercially available, though some can add several thousand dollars to the price of the car.

Mounting evidence suggests the western United States is now in its worst megadrought in at least 1,200 years. Groundwater supplies are being overpumped in many places, and the dryness, wildfires and shrinking water supplies are making climate change personal for millions of people.

About 4,000 miles of canals transport water to some 35 million Californians and 5.7 million acres of farmland across the state. As we explained in a 2021 study, covering these canals with solar panels would reduce evaporation of precious water – one of California’s most critical resources – and help meet the state’s renewable energy goals, while also saving money.

California triggered headlines heard around the world when officials announced how much water suppliers would be getting from the State Water Project. “California water districts to get 0% of requested supplies in an unprecedented decision,” one headline proclaimed. “No state water for California farms,” read another.

The headlines suggested a comparison with the “Zero Day” announcement in Cape Town, South Africa, during a drought in 2018. That was the projected date when water would no longer be available at household taps without significant conservation. Cape Town avoided a water shutoff, barely.

HED, in collaboration with Moore Ruble Yudell Architects & Planners, recently designed a dramatic new academic complex that is set to transform Santa Monica High School’s (SAMOHI’s) North Campus. Benefitting both school and the surrounding community, the complex will elevate educational, cultural and recreational pursuits; improve campus access and circulation; and support whole child development and diverse learning styles.

California has long been a leader in the fight for sustainability, and rightly so. The state has set many goals for itself, including limits on statewide greenhouse gas emissions, reducing petroleum use by 50% in the next 10 years, and pledging to increase the energy efficiency of existing buildings by 50% by 2030. These goals are what put California at the forefront of the sustainability movement, but they can be daunting for the individual or business, especially if you’re not sure where to get the help you need.

As California reopens, ESSER III funds can provide a much needed boost to California schools, allowing them to return to in-person learning safely. Below, a look at what ESSER III funds are, and how they can be used.
What are ESSER III funds?

2020 was a great year for electric vehicles (EVs). Around 3.24 million EVs were sold world-wide. In the US, we had gains in the number of vehicles sold, but we still only account for slightly more than 2% of total EV sales in the last year. In fact, most of the world’s 2020 EV sales were in Europe and China…
Europe and China are doing it… So can we, with California leading the way with smart incentives and scaled up EV Charge infrastructure.

As the 2020-2021 school year comes to a close, there is more focus than ever on reopening our schools safely. It’s been a long year of online learning, Zoom classes, of juggling the needs of our students with the safety of our teachers, and for many, it’s been one year too long. But it looks as if the age of Zoom may be winding down, at least in California.