KLA Perspectives

How I Utilized Home Energy Efficiency Upgrades – as a Renter.

Posted by Danielle Civitillo on Feb 27, 2024 2:42:40 PM

Home electrification and energy efficiency should always be considered top priority climate action strategies given their high-impact potential. The availability of incentives and rebate programs in this space are important – but residents actually utilizing those incentives is critical to match the urgency of the climate crisis. 

When creating and implementing climate action plans, we often see these issues from a 10,000-foot level, but it’s important to know how these rebate systems play out on the ground in order to address barriers that residents may face in accessing the benefits that electrification and efficiency can bring. 

This month’s blog is guest written by KLA’s Technology Director, Danielle Civitillo, who utilized local incentive programs to assess her home’s energy efficiency and install energy-efficient insulation as a renter in Massachusetts.

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Topics: community, energy efficiency, MA, climate resiliency

Cambridge Leads Building Decarbonization with BlocPower Partnership

Posted by Dunia Seidu on Sep 19, 2023 12:58:56 PM

 

Guest Post by Dunia Seidu, KLA Summer 2023 Climate Storytelling Intern.

Dunia is a rising senior studying English at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  As Climate Storytelling Intern, she worked with a range of KLA clients, like Cambridge, to tell stories about their current efforts to address and adapt to climate change.


The City of Cambridge has announced a new pilot partnership with BlocPower, is a climate technology company that analyzes, finances and upgrades homes and buildings, becoming the first city in New England to work with the climate technology company on building decarbonization. 

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Topics: clean energy, climate action, energy efficiency, climate resiliency, planning

Choosing Climate Metrics that Matter

Posted by Nathan Abreu-Cruz on Sep 19, 2023 12:57:02 PM

 

Guest Post by Nathan Abreu-Cruz, KLA Summer 2023 Climate Analysis Intern.

Nathan is a recent graduate of Clark University, where he studied Environmental Science, with a specialization in Earth System Science.

Climate change resilience is the ability to withstand the effects of climate change. Resilience metrics allow us to track our progress in attaining greater climate resiliency, by giving us a sense of what “successful” climate change adaptation looks like.  

There is a wide range of metrics that a community can track to measure the progress of climate action. Throughout my work at KLA, I've learned that picking the right metrics and targets for each community is critical in forming climate action plans that are well-fit to the municipalities they serve. 

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Topics: sustainability, climate resiliency, equity, planning, Webinars

How Can Climate Communication Drive Behavior Change?

Posted by Saahithi Achanta on Sep 19, 2023 12:56:28 PM

 

Guest Post by Saahithi Achanta, KLA Summer 2023 Marketing & Engagement Intern.

Saahithi is a rising senior at Boston University studying Environmental Policy and Analysis.

My summer as KLA's Marketing and Engagement Intern exposed me to three top strategies for driving behavior change as we fight the climate crisis, including the value of storytelling, the importance of knowing your audience, and the critical role of effective communication tactics in planning. 

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Topics: sustainability, local government, solutions, climate resiliency, equity, planning, Webinars

Regional Climate Action Planning: Webinar, Resources, & Expert Advice

Posted by Kim Lundgren on Aug 2, 2023 12:48:40 PM

In July, KLA held a webinar to discuss regional climate action and collaboration in a new age of federal funding for sustainability and resilience planning. The fact that the webinar took place among record deadly heat across the country only underscores the need for smart, ambitious climate action. 

Our expert panel, consisting of regional climate veterans from Clark County, NV and Washington, DC, discussed all things regional climate planning, from tips for regional GHG inventories to critical considerations for equitable engagement strategy.

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Topics: sustainability, local government, solutions, climate resiliency, equity, planning, Regional GHG Analysis, Regional Climate Action Planning, CPRG, Webinars

Six Takeaways from the National Adaptation Forum

Posted by Tacy Lambiase on Nov 9, 2022 10:49:13 AM


Guest post by Tacy Lambiase, Climate Communications and Storytelling Manager

Last month, I had the opportunity to connect with many passionate, smart, and hardworking climate professionals at the 5th National Adaptation Forum in Baltimore. More than 800 people attended – a record turnout – to share their ideas, strategies, successes, and challenges with preparing our world for a rapidly changing climate.

The KLA and Climate Resilience Consulting (CRC) teams also had the chance to meet and network with many attendees at our interactive booth. (If you haven’t already, take our quick quiz to find out which adaptation strategy matches your personality!)

Couldn’t attend this year’s event? Check out the 2022 program; NAF will be posting videos and summaries of the main sessions later this month. We also talked about KLA's equity-centered approach to resilience planning and our work with clients from Cambridge, MA, to Clark County, NV, in a recent blog post.  And we compiled the KLA and CRC resources from NAF on this page. 

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Topics: adaptation, local leadership, climate adaptation, resilience, climate resiliency, climate leadership

Conferences: Content + Connections

Posted by Kim Lundgren on Jan 31, 2018 11:53:02 AM

I have spent a good chunk of my career travelling around the country for work. Whether for conferences or to meet with local government clients, I spend enough time in the air to maintain elite airline status. Once I had my daughter, regular travel became a bit harder, but once I arrive at my destination, I am all in. It is so gratifying and inspiring to engage with so many talented people -- many of whom have become not just peers and colleagues but good friends along the way.

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Topics: sustainability, podcast, climate action, local leadership, climate adaptation, climate resiliency, conferences, SAS Talk Podcast, cities

SE Florida Climate Summit: Time to Act

Posted by Kim Lundgren on Dec 20, 2017 4:35:11 PM

I wrapped up my 2017 travel at the 9th Annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit. This event continues to grow and inspire with nearly 600 attendees this year! The Summit actually sold out this year and they worked with the Broward County Convention Center to adjust room layouts so they could accommodate extra people, allowing an additional 40 people to attend.

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Topics: sustainability, Florida, local leadership, climate resiliency, cities, sea level rise

Flooding + Coastal Resilience on the Front Lines in Norfolk (New Podcast!)

Posted by Kim Lundgren on Sep 28, 2017 3:41:12 PM

If you live in a coastal community or one prone to flooding, you might have watched Houston in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey with a bit of trepidation.

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Topics: climate resiliency, flooding, SAS Talk Podcast

Houston flooding has climate resiliency lessons for us all

Posted by Kim Lundgren on Apr 28, 2016 1:45:09 PM

“April showers bring May flowers” has always been the optimist’s view of the rainy weather that often marks this month. But for many cities, these days “rain” is more like “deluge” that leads to flooding before flowers and it’s not just confined to April.

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Topics: community engagement, climate resiliency, Houston