Q: What motivated you to Install solar panels in your home?
A: I’m motivated to try to convince our local, state and national administrations, business leaders, and fellow citizens that global warming is a real danger to our country and the world, that nature continues to give us abundant clues that climate change is actually happening and that, by acting now to substantially lower the amount of greenhouse gases that we emit into the atmosphere, we can save ourselves and our kids and grandkids from some terrible problems in the decades to come. In this regard, I was very happy to take a leadership role in lobbying our FCC government to join the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement which was started by Mayor Greg Nichols of Seattle, Washington. The Agreement now has 806 cities (all over 3,000) who are members.

Q: How do you think Fresno City College compares to Fresno State or any other college in the valley in terms of its energy conservation?
A: I don’t believe that Fresno City College compares too well with other educational institutions in our city because some of them have invested fairly heavily in solar power installations. For example, both Fresno State and Phoenix University have rather large parking areas covered with solar panels that provide a considerable amount of power to their schools. In the meantime, FCC has nada.
Q: What do you think Fresno City College administrators or students can do to be more environmentally friendly on campus?
A: First of all, FCC might well conduct a thorough survey and inventory to see how energy efficient the campus really is. Is there sufficient insulation in ceilings, ducts, walls, windows, doors etc? Does all the equipment in all the departments measure up to the “Energy Star” standards published by the EPA? Could those students and faculty members who regularly drive a bicycle to school be rewarded (like they are at Fresno State) with maybe a small discount in the cafeteria or the bookstore? Perhaps Fresno City could enroll in PG&E’s program to