1

1
2007Annual Report
Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition
2
Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition Annual
report, 2007

• Table of contents
• Board of directors 3
• A word from the chair 4
• Our concerns 5
• Our vision 6
• What needs to be done 7
• RVCCC goals 8
• Local governments 9
• Community outreach 16
• Community organization 28
• Funding 30
• Financial statements 31

3
Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition

• Board of Directors
• Mary Bishop
• Stan Breakell
• Diana Christopulos
• Renee Godard
• Rupert Cutler
• Gregg Lewis
• Lea Lupkin
• Mark McClain
• Sean McGinnis
• www.rvccc.org

4
Mission Reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced
in or caused by activities in the Roanoke region

• A word from the chair. . . What a great year!
  Since January 2007, the nonpartisan Roanoke
  Valley Cool Cities Coalition (RVCCC) has grown to
  include more than 80 affiliates, representing
  over 10,000 citizens.
• Relying entirely on volunteer labor and financial
  contributions, RVCCC has
• Given away 2,600 energy-saving compact
  fluorescent light bulbs. For an investment of
  5,200 we will save citizens over 100,000 on
  their utility bills while preventing the release
  of 1.8 million pounds of carbon dioxide, the most
  significant greenhouse gas.
• Reached over 3,000 people with educational
  presentations. Audiences included civic and
  church groups, local government leaders, college
  students and many others.
• Helped local governments identify resources to
  measure and reduce their greenhouse gas
  emissions.
• Worked with local governments, businesses and
  nonprofits to educate the community about smart
  solutions to the energy challenge faced by
  everyone.
• Achieved 501.c.3 nonprofit status.
• And we are just getting started!
• Dr. Diana Christopulos
• Board Chair, RVCCC

Invited presentation at Virginia Statewide
Neighborhood Associations Conference, Chesapeake,
VA
Viewing green roof under construction at Claude
Moore Education Complex in downtown Roanoke
5
Mission Reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced
in or caused by activities in the Roanoke region

• We are confronting an energy challenge that will
  continue beyond our own lifetimes. If we do not
  act now, we face a bleaker, more expensive, more
  vulnerable future.
• OUR CONCERNS
• GLOBAL WARMING The consensus among scientists
  is clear the earth is warming, the unprecedented
  trend is largely due to the burning of fossil
  fuels for energy production, and the consequences
  over the next century are potentially
  devastating. Rising seas, for example, could
  exact an enormous price for Virginians. After New
  Orleans, the coastal area around Hampton Roads is
  the most vulnerable densely populated region in
  the United States. A rise of only 1 meter (about
  3 feet) would threaten many communities and
  disrupt the entire states economy.
• THE TRUE COST OF ENERGY Energy costs are only
  partially reflected in the price at the pump and
  the balance on our utility bills. They are also
  reflected in degradation of air quality by
  vehicle and power plant emissions, destruction of
  mountains and streams for coal extraction, and
  impacts on the health of human and wildlife
  communities.
• SECURITY AND INDEPENDENCE We are at risk
  because of our heavy reliance for energy
  resources from unstable regions. True national
  security requires working toward eliminating our
  dependence on foreign oil.

6
Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition

• OUR VISION
• A NEW ENERGY FUTURE We envision a world free of
  significant pollution from energy production,
  with availability of all the energy we need to
  live happy, productive lives. We believe this
  vision can become reality.
• UNITY We all have contributed to the issues we
  face, and we should all have a role to play in
  changing our energy future. While there may be
  disagreements on the methods and priorities for
  change, it is imperative that we have a consensus
  on the goal of a clean, sustainable energy
  future.
• LEGACY Our collective actions on this issue
  will assure that future generations will not
  suffer for our failure to recognize this problem
  and tackle it.
• OPPORTUNITY Conservation and environmental
  protection need not be at the cost of economic
  prosperity. New energy industries will produce
  many benefits -- new products, new jobs, a
  healthy community and economy.

7
Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition

• WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
• We need to change the way we make and use energy,
  adopting an approach that embraces
• Energy efficiency
• Conservation
• Transition to clean, sustainable sources of
  energy
• TECHNOLOGY We already have technologies that
  will get us started on the right path, and as our
  commitment deepens, exciting new technologies
  will evolve and add to our momentum for success.
  We need to be world leaders in these new
  technologies.
• FIRST THINGS FIRST We can all make an immediate
  impact toward solving our energy problems by
  adopting energy efficient products (such as
  compact fluorescent light bulbs) and by taking a
  close look at our consumption of energy with an
  eye toward conservation.
• THE LONG HAUL But there is no quick fix - our
  migration to a new energy future will evolve over
  a period of decades. We have time to make the
  right choices, but we must get started now.
• TRANSITION We cannot eliminate the use of
  fossil fuels in our energy mix overnight, but we
  CAN reduce harmful emissions by 2 percent per
  year and mitigate the damage they do to the
  environment and the atmosphere.
• LEADERSHIP We need leaders at all levels to
  have the political will to step forward and
  confront this challenge. If they do, we can
  succeed.

A sustainable energy future reduce emissions 2
per year from now through 2050
Use of existing technologies energy-efficiency
and clean, renewable energy sources can reduce
overall carbon emissions dramatically by 2050.
8
RVCCC GOALS
Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition

• LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. Work with local governments to
  measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• COMMUNITY OUTREACH. Educate and influence the
  community as a whole to use smart energy and
  reduce GHG emissions
• COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION. Build a strong, effective
  local community organization
• FUNDING. Adequately fund RVCCC initiatives

9
Local governments. Work with local governments to
measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

• Why act?
• Save money. Energy is expensive, and it will stay
  that way. The Sierra Club found that 46 cool
  cities were saving a total of over 140 million
  annually and cutting emissions by over 500,000
  tons a year. The nonprofit International Council
  for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)
  reports that 159 US cities have saved over 535
  million a year while cutting emissions by 23
  million tons.
• Provide moral leadership. People in our community
  are eager to do something about global warming
  and local air quality.
• Clean the air/improve health. Fuel sources that
  release carbon dioxide especially coal, oil and
  gas - also release many pollutants (ozone,
  mercury, fine particles, etc.) that threaten
  human health and the local environment.
• Make us proud of our community. The Roanoke
  Valley is already gaining a state-wide reputation
  as a leader in the move to smart, clean energy.
  Green communities attract workers and retirees
  who strengthen the local economy.

10
Local governments

• HOW TO BE A COOL CITY/COUNTY
• Sign the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement
  or the Cool Counties Climate Stabilization
  Agreement. Publicly pledge to reduce the
  communitys greenhouse gas emissions.
• Measure your emissions. Establish a baseline
  measurement of greenhouse gas emissions by both
  the local government and the entire community.
• Set a target for emissions reductions.
• Make a plan (with community involvement)
• Implement the plan
• Monitor the results

US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Already
endorsed by over 700 mayors. Started by Mayor
Gregg Nichols of Seattle in February 2005. Cities
measure and set their own emission targets, using
the Kyoto Accords as a guideline. Cool Counties
Climate Stabilization Agreement. Launched in
Richmond, Virginia, on July 16, 2007. Signatories
pledge to reduce emissions 80 percent by 2050, an
achievable average annual reduction of 2 percent.
11
US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement
700 communities and counting...
Virginias Cool CitiesAlexandria Blacksburg
Charlottesville Newport News Richmond Salem
2008 Virginia Beach Williamsburg
11
12
Local governments
Virginias Cool Counties Albemarle Arlington F
airfax New Kent James City
Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Agreement A
new initiative to combat global warming
established by major counties - led by King
County, Washington Fairfax County, Virginia and
Nassau County, New York. Signatories pledge to
reduce emissions 80 percent by 2050, an
achievable average annual reduction of 2 percent.

13
Local governments
ICLEI members in Virginia Albemarle County
Arlington County Blacksburg Charlottesville Harr
isonburg Norfolk Roanoke Roanoke
County Warrenton Governments in green have
completed baseline measurement of their carbon
footprint

• MEASURING EMISSIONS
• Government are free to measure their emissions by
  any method they choose.
• Software and printed resources from nonprofit
  ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability can
  be a cost-effective choice. Annual membership
  rates are relatively low, based on a sliding
  scale proportionate to the communitys
  population.

14
RVCCC AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN 2007
Local governments
15
Local government summary. Although the Roanoke
Valley is one of the more progressive areas in
Virginia with regard to greenhouse gas emissions,
we have a long way to go. We anticipate
significant progress by all 3 local governments
in 2008.
Local governments
16
Community outreach. Educate and influence the
community as a whole to use smart energy and
reduce GHG emissions.
Conservation efficiency smart energy We
already have two simple ways to sharply reduce
energy use with existing technologies. Conservatio
n is the cheapest strategy. It means for
example - turning off lights, computers and
appliances when not in use. On the transportation
side, it means carpooling, combining trips, and
walking, bicycling or taking public
transportation when possible. Efficiency means
using existing technology such as efficient
lighting and appliances and fuel-efficient
vehicles and equipment. Roanoke Countys school
system has saved millions of dollars since 1999
through a combination of conservation and energy
efficiency. If we used conservation and efficient
products that are available today, we could save
an amount of energy every year equivalent to what
is used in the entire western United States.
17
Community outreach Lighting the way to a better
world
In 2007, RVCCC gave away 1.5 of ALL the CFLs
sold in the Roanoke region
Over the life of the bulb
RVCCC investment 5,200 Savings to citizens
109,200
RVCCC Board Member Gregg Lewis gives away CFLs at
the Salem Public Library
18
Community outreach Lighting the way to a better
world

• Lighting the way to a better world
• Compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) campaign
• Our challenge is to reduce the amount of carbon
  dioxide (CO2) we add to the air. Every molecule
  we release today will stay in the atmosphere for
  about 100 years.
• Most of the CO2 we generate comes from burning
  fossil fuels coal, oil and gas. Of these, coal
  burned for electricity generates by far the most
  CO2 per ton of fuel. In Southwestern Virginia,
  about 88 percent of our electricity currently
  comes from coal-fired plants. In addition to
  emitting CO2, these plants also emit large
  amounts of mercury, fine particles and sulfur
  dioxide. They are the dirtiest source of energy.
• Lighting accounts for about 9 percent of the
  electricity use in our homes about the same
  amount of energy used for heating water.
  Efficient light bulbs can have a significant
  impact on both energy costs and greenhouse gas
  emissions.
• If every household in America bought and used
  just ONE 60-watt equivalent CFL, the energy saved
  would be
• enough to power a city of 1.5 million people, or
• enough to power all the homes in Delaware and
  Rhode Island, or
• enough electricity to turn off two entire power
  plants--or skip building the next two

Angela Yarbrough hands out CFLs at the Hollins
Goodwill store
19
Community outreach Lighting the way to a better
world
20
Community outreach Lighting the way to a better
world
Mercury and CFL disposal. CFLs contain about 4
mg of mercury - it is the source of the light.
This compares to about 500 mg of mercury in a
thermometer and 3,000 in an old thermostat. The
mercury is safe as long as the CFL is not broken,
in which case it should be cleaned up with a wet
paper towel and placed in a zip-lock bag for
disposal. In southwestern Virginia, we release
much more mercury into the air by using an
incandescent bulb than we do even if we break a
CFL. Worn-out CFLs should be taken to the
household hazardous waste days held several times
a year. RVCCC is talking with local governments
and businesses about making disposal more
convenient. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) the
future? Light-emitting diodes (LED bulbs) may be
the successors to CFLs. Current uses include
flashlights, stop lights and exit signs. They are
very bright dots that use about the same amount
of energy as CFLs, last much longer, and use
phosphorus instead of mercury for the light
source. Todays LEDs have a number of drawbacks
for regular household use- They are not
commercially available for most household
applications - The light is very focused - good
for reading, but poor for area light- They are
much more expensive than CFLs However, there is
a lot of research going on, and it is clear that
demand will grow as people get tuned in to the
issue.
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
21
Community outreach Lighting the way to a better
world

• How we did it
• Local citizens, governments, businesses and
  nonprofits all helped in Lighting the way to a
  better world.
• Partners for CFL distribution
• Roanoke County and City governments 900 bulbs
  at 3 Household Hazardous Waste Days
• Goodwill of the Valleys 1,200 bulbs at 4
  different stores
• Hollins University and RIDE Solutions Over
  100 bulbs at the film festival, Putting a Chill
  on Global Warming
• Numerous other events
• Major CFL sources
• RIDE Solutions
• Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy
• Roanoke Cement
• Breakell, Inc
• And many other RVCCC affiliates
• RVCCC affiliate

22
Community outreach RVCCC presentations
RVCCC presentations Representatives of RVCCC
made presentations to a wide variety of groups
church, school, scouts, neighborhood
associations, civic clubs, companies, business
associations. 
Here is a partial list of the groups that have
hosted RVCCC presentations
Antioch Church of the Brethren, Rocky MountBent
Mountain Women's ClubCatawba Community ClubCity
Council of Bristol, TennesseeCity Council of
RoanokeCity Council of SalemFirst United
Methodist Church, SalemFRIENDS of the Blue Ridge
Parkway Board of DirectorsFranklin County
LibraryHollins UniversityGlenvar High
SchoolGoodwill Industries of the ValleysGrandin
TheatreGreater Raleigh Court Civic League
Greene Memorial United Methodist ChurchKiwanis
Club of Big LickKiwanis Club of
RoanokeLeadership ForwardNorth Lakes Civic
LeagueRoanoke City LibraryRoanoke
CollegeRoanoke Natural Foods Co-OpRoanoke
Valley Ministers ConferenceRoanoke Valley Rotary
ClubStar City StridersThe Unitarian
Universalist Church of RoanokeVirginia Statewide
Neighborhood ConferenceWashington County Library

23
Community outreach RVCCC presentations
Choose your customized program RVCCC offers 11
programs. Length and details can be tailored to
fit any organization. When feasible, RVCCC
distributes free CFLs.
24
Community outreach RVCCC presentations
Presentation highlight
Putting a Chill On Global Warming (Hollins
University Film Festival) 4 weeks 6 films 23
panelists 400 participants
Panelist Rupert Cutler talks with WVTF radio
reporter
Wind energy panelists Michael Town (Sierra Club),
Sean McGinnis (Virginia Tech), Aaron Barr
(Chesapeake Climate Action Network) and Lea
Lupkin (Roanoke College)
25
Community outreach Media
MEDIA RVCCC affiliates and board members
frequently commented on energy issues and
sustainable growth in the local media. Prime
Living, a widely-distributed free magazine in the
Roanoke Valley, ran a cover story on cool
couple Mark McClain and Diana Christopulos in
their August 2007 issue. Both are RVCCC board
members. Mark noted that the U.S. could lose its
energy leadership position in the world.
Already, he said, the Germans and the Japanese
are ahead of us in the development of solar
power. We dont advocate banning products
important to anyones lifestyle, but it is clear
that 100 years from now we probably will not fuel
our cars with gasoline. The key, he added, is
to strive for sustainability, meaning we can live
in that fashion for eternity. And we can do it
without poisoning ourselves or running out of
natural resources. Western Europe, for example
lives comfortably on half the energy per person
that we do in the U.S. Diana noted that Hollins
University is already measuring its carbon
footprint. Were not waiting for Washington
anymore.
Cover of "Prime Living," August 2007
26
Community outreach Media
Letter published in Roanoke Times, November
2007 To the Editor, A previous letter writer
suggested in his letter of Oct. 24 that
scientific consensus on global warming is
faceless and thus not real.  Obviously, he has
done little work to find those faces.  In 2001,
100 Nobel laureates, including Guenter Blobel
(Physiology/Medicine 1999), James Cronin (Physics
1980), and Frederick Sanger (Chemistry 1958,
1980) signed a letter published internationally
warning of the dire security consequences of
ignoring human driven global climate change.  In
2005, the science academies of Brazil, Canada,
China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan,
Russia, the U.K. and U.S. issued a joint
statement that climate change is real and that
immediate action was required.  Elected
membership into National Academy of Sciences is
recognized as the highest honor a U.S. scientist
can receive.  In response to this overwhelming
scientific consensus, 434 college/university
presidents have signed the American College and
University Presidents Climate Change Agreement
which commits their institutions to develop a
plan to address their greenhouse gases. When the
first images of our round earth were photographed
from space in 1956, members of the Flat Earth
Society continued to claim it was flat. 
Similarly, there are rogue scientists, like Fred
Singer, that continue to deny the evidence of
global climate change. Renee Godard, Professor
of Biology and Environmental Studies Hollins
University
MEDIA RVCCC and its activities received periodic
coverage from local print and radio media such as
the Salem Times-Register and the Roanoke
Times. In addition, the Roanoke Times frequently
published op ed columns and letters to the editor
from RVCCC board members. RVCCC generally focuses
on positive actions and collaboration with
governments, business, nonprofits and local
citizens. Sometimes more is required. While early
opponents of global warming science such as
ExxonMobil have stopped officially funding
climate skeptics, the associated ideas continue
to circulate. Prof. Renee Godard of Hollins
University, Director of Environmental Studies and
an RVCCC board member, responded to a round of
dubious opinion pieces in the Roanoke Times with
a firm statement about the current scientific
consensus on global warming and climate change.
27
Community outreach Website

• WEBSITE
• RVCCCs website provides resources that let
  people begin measuring and reducing their own
  carbon footprint.
• Resources include
• Carbon calculator based on local sources of
  energy (over 88 coal for electricity in the
  Roanoke Valley)
• Strategies for reducing emissions
• A verifiable way to purchase local carbon offsets
• CFL facts and resources
• Biofuel facts and resources
• Energy saving tips for homes and transportation
• Green building tips
• Links to more resources
• Calendar of RVCCC-related events
• List of RVCCC affiliates
• List of RVCCC presentations (Host an Event)
• And more

www.rvccc.org
28
Community organization Build a strong, effective
local community organization.
NONPROFIT, RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS Assn. of Energy Conservation
Professionals Association for Regenerative
Culture, Inc .BE-Cooperative.org BikeWalk
Roanoke Valley C2C Home Inc Chesapeake
Climate Action Network (CCAN) Clean Valley
Council, Inc. FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway
Gereau Center for Applied Technology and Career
Exploration Goodwill Industries of the Valleys
Greater Roanoke Valley Asthma Air Quality
Coalition Hollins University Impact Amplify
Pathfinders for Greenways RIDE Solutions
Roanoke Public Libraries Sierra Club, Roanoke
Group SW Virginia Chapter US Green Building
Council The Unitarian Universalist Church of
Roanoke Virginians for Appropriate
Roads BUSINESSES Animal Art By Meg Hibbert
Breakell Inc. Clark Company Coker
Composting Consulting Custom Design Cabinets
Direct Connect Solar Electric Gallery 108
Good To Go Foods Grandin Gardens Hill Studio
The Hopkins Group - Business Brokers / Realtors
Misty Gregg, Shaklee Independent Dist. Icon
Development LLC Integral Health The Issues
Management Group Krull and Company Liberty
Stone Works Nature Neutral Building Supply
Nelligan Insulation, Inc., Quantum Enterprises
Rainwater Management Solution Roanoke Cement
Roanoke Natural Foods Co-Op Roanoke Tails
Magazine Sav-Elec, Inc. Seven Springs Farm
SimpliFine SmithLewis Architecture Spectrum
Design, PC, Roanoke Sustainable Building
Concepts, LLC TerraZia Corporation The Yoga
Center INDIVIDUALS Rebekah F.Alpisa Jennings
T. Bird Mary Bishop Maya Bohler Richard
Buckingham Karen Cairns Caryl Connolly Dan
Crawford Rupert Cutler Bill Dandridge
Broaddus C. Fitzpatrick Mark Garland Sara
Geres Ann Howard David King, River Valley
Farm Edw. G. Kohinke, Sr. Lea Lupkin Robert
Manetta Sean McGinnis Susan Jackson Mills,
Ph.D. Bill Modica Jude Prashaw Richard C.
Pennock John Renick John Richardson Carol
Sease Don Thacker Paul Timmerman Paula
Willis, Ph.D., EE

• RVCCC Affiliates
• 83 affiliates
• 20 nonprofit/religious/ educational
• 33 businesses
• 30 individuals
• Representing over 10,000 citizens

29
Community organization
Volunteers and friends In addition to the board
of directors who all made significant
contributions of their time and other resources, 
many affiliates and other individuals also helped
to make 2007 a big success.  These include folks
who directly volunteered for RVCCC activities,
and those who helped indirectly though their
participation in, invitation to, or arranging of
an event that we participated in.  Listed here
are as many as we can remember . . . with our
apologies to anyone who may have been
inadvertently left off
Karen Adams Jason Altice Aaron Baar Jeff
Bader Chris Bachman Carolyn Barnes Christine
Behrens Jon Bohland Maya Bohler Nell Boyle Chad
Braby James Breakell C-J Brodrick John
Broughton Hugh Brown Isaac Campbell Bob
Clement Joe Cobb
Rev. Audette Fulbright Rusty Galbraith Sara
Geres King Harvey Rev. Donna Hopkins Britt Anne
Marie Green Edward Hamilton Meg Hibbert Jeremy
Holmes Don Ingerson Jimmy Johnson Lisa
Johnson Roberta Johnson Betty Kelly Sandra
Kelly Ed Kohinke Barbara Kyle Ed Kyle Kristen Kyle
Craig Coker Dan Crawford David Crawford Ken
Cronin Krista Crowder Rebecca Dameron Vicki
Damico Kathryn Debnar Diane DiCarlo Joseph
DiCarlo Patrick DiCarlo Bob Egbert Sue
Egbert Margaret Feierabend Anthony
Flaccavento Powell Foster Sharon Foster
Mary Beth Ladenheim Linda LaMona Chris
Lazzuri Peggy Lindsey Lori Livingston Mike
Loveman Chuck McCarty Mark McCaskill Kevin
Myatt Roxana Navab-Boushehri Ron Oetgen Lee
Osborne Dick Pennock Bruce Phleger Rebecca
Reiff John Richardson Amy Rockhill James Ruhland
Daniel Sarabia David Scaer Garrett
Schapperjahn Carole Sease Bill Stack Joe Tamez,
MD Grace Terry Stuart Tousman Mike Town Larry
VanDeventer Veronica VanDeventer Howard
Warshawsky Billy Weitzenfeld Steve Walz Richard
Wells Angela Yarbrough David Zachow
30
Funding Adequately fund RVCCC initiatives
RVCCC affiliation is free. All funding has been
entirely voluntarily. We thank those who helped
us in 2007!

• 1,000 or more
• Roanoke Natural Foods Co-Op
• Roanoke Cement
• 200-350
• American Lung Association/Greater Roanoke Valley
  Asthma and Air Quality Coalition
• SmithLewis Architecture
• Roanoke Group, Sierra Club
• Broaddus Fitzpatrick
• Diana Christopulos
• 100-150
• Breakell, Inc.
• Mary Bishop and Dan Crawford
• David Bowers
• Powell Foster
• AECP/Billy Weitzenfeld

• Additional donors
• Maya Bohler
• Charles Faggart
• Chris Lazzuri
• Catawba Community Club
• Bob Sue Egbert
• First United Methodist Church Men's Group, Salem
• Good to Go Foods
• Sean Amy McGinnis
• Rupert Cutler
• Rich Productions LLC
• Green Memorial United Methodist Church Women
• Keith Weinwurm

Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition is a
private, tax-exempt 501.c.3 organization
registered in Virginia. All contributions are
tax-deductible.
31
Financial statements 2007
32
www.rvccc.org [phone]