Buildings & Energy:

The most recent greenhouse gas inventory for Iowa City shows that 78% of our emissions come from the natural gas and electricity used to power and heat our homes and businesses. Preventing the worst impacts of climate change begins with reducing how much energy we consume in our buildings and using cleaner power sources like wind and solar to generate that energy.

Resources:

• Sign up for a free home energy audit from Green Iowa AmeriCorps and try these easy DIY projects to help weatherize your home.
• Find out if you qualify to have the cost on increased insulation covered in full through the Insulate Iowa City grant program.
• Apply for a low-interest GRIP loan from the City of Iowa City to make improvements like upgrading your furnace or installing new, more efficient windows.
• Learn more about the City of Iowa City’s Housing Rehab and Energy Efficiency programs available to eligible residents.
• Explore the many energy saving features of a LEED platinum residence here in Iowa City and consider which might be a good fit for your home.
• Find more resources for homeowners and renters at energy.gov or energystar.gov.

Sustainable Lifestyle

Choosing to live sustainably has many benefits, both on the individual level and for the community. It can lead to healthier lifestyles, support for local businesses and jobs, and increased greenspace. Individual choices can also help build a groundswell of community support around more climate-related actions. If each of us chooses a few actions where we personally can have an impact, we help to create a more climate-aware community.

Resources:

• Get ideas for home, work, and more from Iowa City's Climate Action Toolkit.
• Find tips and tricks on how to Love Food, Fight Waste.
• Help improve your lawn and reduce runoff through soil quality restoration in the Your Best Lawn program.
• Explore the Iowa City Repair Directory or visit our DIY Repair resource page.
• Read Iowa City's consumption-based emissions report to learn how better practices can help reduce emissions beyond the boundaries of Iowa City.
• Visit our Environmental Education resource page for access to all-free virtual education resources.
• Connect with the tribal history of the land in and around Iowa City,
• Use the Cool Climate Calculator to find areas in your daily practices where you can make a difference

Transportation:

The more we can embrace active transportation like biking and walking, and transportation that makes more efficient use of our resources like transit and electric vehicles, the more we can put ourselves on a path toward better health in the present and reduced climate change impacts in the future.

Resources:

• Use this easy calculator to find out how much your daily commute is costing you.
• Learn more about our bus routes and fares – including potential discounts!
• Apply for SEATS paratransit service, available to eligible Iowa City residents
• View our local Bicycle Resources page for a trails map and route planning guides.
• Get the most out of bike-friendly amenities in Iowa City by watching the video tip series "Bike Shorts."
• Learn more about electric vehicles, and models available.
• Check out the Eastern Iowa EV Readiness Plan and Iowa City's rebate for installing EV charging at apartments and condos.

Waste

A wealth of information and resources are available through Iowa City's Resource Management pages.

In October 2019, the City Council authorized the creation of a Climate Action Commission to carry out the following duties.

• Advise the council on climate issues
• Research, promote, and analyze climate actions with particular attention to equity
• Engage the public on climate and sustainability goals
• Assist City staff, City Council, and members of the community with implementing approved initiatives that support the City’s climate and sustainability goals.

The commission meets on the first Monday of each month at 3:30 p.m. in City Hall.

The commission consists of 11 members. Two of these are standing members representing the University of Iowa and MidAmerican Energy.

Applications for the commission are accepted year-round and retained for one year in the event that a commission member is unable to continue.

Questions can be directed to Sarah Gardner, Climate Action and Outreach Coordinator, at 319-887-6162.

Get the latest Climate Action news sent directly to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletter! Just visit our e-Subscriptions page, put in your information, and select Climate Action! Here are a few of the most recent newsletters:

• May 2024
• April 2024
• March 2024
• February 2024 
• January 2024
• December 2023

• Environmental Protection Agency Climate Change Webpage
• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
• Environmental Defense Fund
• Climate.gov Maps and Data
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Change Webpage
• Union of Concerned Scientists Climate Change Webpage