Phoenix is getting hotter. Here’s what we’re doing to stop it

Steve Chucri, opinion contributor
Published 6:02 a.m. MT Aug. 18, 2018

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Arizona has blistering heat throughout the year. Take a look at the most extreme facts about Phoenix heat and how to deal with the hot temperatures.
Noah Lau, The Republic | azcentral.com

Opinion: Extreme heat brings trouble with ozone and air quality. Here’s what we’re doing (and still need to do) to make Maricopa County more sustainable.

Maricopa County is growing exponentially. How can we ensure this growth is sustainable?

People have come here for years to escape miserable winters, stifling humidity or skies that never seem to let the sunshine through. The phrase “Valley of the Sun” is a badge of honor, albeit less so during the excessive summer heat.

Maricopa County has always been hot, but it’s getting hotter. Every year, we seem to set new temperature records. In 2017, at least 155 people died from heat-related causes. With extreme heat comes more trouble with ozone and air quality.

County government can be part of the solution, in both practical ways and in terms of leadership.

How government is conserving energy

Maricopa County’s physical footprint grew more than 5 percent from fiscal 2011 to fiscal 2017, but in that time, the county’s annual energy use (electricity and natural gas) decreased by nearly 10 percent. 

We’ve done it by:

• Putting solar thermal systems in our jails and solar panels on top of other county buildings. 
• Automating energy controls so that we’re using electricity more efficiently.
• Working with our partners, NRG, to expand the chilled water loop under the streets of downtown Phoenix, cooling buildings in the city’s core for less money than we’d spend if we tried to do it ourselves.
• “Harvesting” daylight in our newer buildings so that we lean on the sun more and artificial lighting less. Overhead lights dim or switch off automatically when there is enough natural light in a room.  

How we’re helping you conserve, too

Long-term trends show a 3.1 percent decrease in ozone air pollution in Maricopa County over the past 20 years, and our Air Quality Department has played an important role. 

Outreach efforts such as the “Commit to One Day” summer ozone campaign encourage residents to make small changes to improve quality of life for everyone. 

To that end, the county — in partnership with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality — created the Mow Down Pollution Program. 

The goal is to reduce air pollution from gasoline-powered lawn mowers. People who recycle their gas-powered mower can get a $150 voucher toward the purchase of a new electric- or battery-powered lawn mower. 

This lawn mower replacement program launched June 4 and is available to all Maricopa County residents. In less than two months, more than 1,000 people have submitted applications and more than 600 gasoline-powered mowers have been recycled. 

If we can meet our goal of recycling 2,500 gasoline-powered lawn mowers, we can reduce 21 tons of air pollution.

We’re extending the conversation

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Pollution is a on-going problem in our world today. Take a look at ozone gas and the effects it can have around you.
Noah Lau, The Republic | azcentral.com

One of my priorities as chairman of the Board of Supervisors is to emphasize the county’s ability to lead on issues that are bigger than any single government, organization or field of discipline. 

That’s why the board recently asked Arizona State University President Michael Crow to help us ensure a future with cleaner air, fewer heat-related illnesses and deaths, and greater investment in energy innovation.

While there is no formal agreement between Maricopa County and ASU, talking is the first step. There is no magic bullet, but possible approaches include expanding and integrating agriculture into more neighborhoods, and designing buildings to lessen nighttime heat and smart clothing that adapts to the changing heat index.  

Everyone – including public, private and non-profit group leaders – must step up to share our vision of a sustainable and world-class community.

Past generations have looked after us, starting with the Hohokam whose canals gave us accessible water and farmable land. Now it’s our turn. 

Steve Chucri represents District 2 and is chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. Reach him at chucris@mail.maricopa.gov. Twitter: @Steve_Chucri. 

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