Climate change is happening. If we don’t prepare for it, it could impact our state, economy and our residents.
How climate change affects Arizona
You might ask, “What is climate change?” Simply put, climate change occurs when an average weather pattern changes over a long period of time.
Throughout history, the world’s climate has changed naturally. Carbon emissions, gases released into the air from burning fossil fuels, trap and hold heat from the sun rather than letting it escape into space.
If you live in Arizona, you don’t need us to tell you that it’s one of the hottest and driest states. As the climate changes, our home state faces tough issues, including:
- Warmer temperatures increasing 1.5 to 3 degrees over the next century
- More severe droughts and floods
- Increased wildfires
Here’s how we’re taking action against climate change
It’s important that we continue to provide reliable and affordable power and water to those we serve. That’s why we’re taking bold steps to help keep our state safe from the risks of climate change.
With climate change in mind, we set our 2035 sustainability goals. These goals will help us:
- Reduce our carbon emissions
- Protect our water supply
- Continue improving the grid, which is the way we bring power to your home
Reducing our carbon footprint
In addition to powering the Valley with more clean energy sources like solar, we’re reducing our carbon footprint as a company.
We’re making greener choices when it comes to powering our buildings. Plus, we’ve completely changed how our employees dispose of waste. For instance, we’ve added recycling and composting to 80% of our buildings. And we’re not done yet.
To improve air quality and lower the Valley’s heat island effect we:
- Provide free trees and education through our Shade Tree program (our workshops have gone virtual!)
- Help keep our state’s forests healthy
- Will get more electric vehicles on the road
Ensuring water for today and tomorrow
Did you know that SRP has brought water to the Valley for over a century? Part of that legacy is ensuring a reliable water supply for Greater Phoenix for years to come. That starts with keeping the origin of our water supply in forested land, or watershed areas, healthy.
While continuing to supply water to the Valley, we will find new ways to conserve this precious resource. Working with local municipalities, we’ve committed to conserving 5 billion gallons of water by 2035. We’re walking the talk by cutting water use at SRP facilities by 45% by 2035 as well.
To conserve water, we’ve partnered with Arizona universities to provide research grants to better detect leaks in the canal system, to study best water use for urban to multi-family housing as well as how to more efficiently use water at data centers.
Plus, we continue to work with federal, state and local partners to research ways to conserve water and to build infrastructure to store water when it’s available and deliver it where it’s needed.
Updating the energy grid
We will continue to keep you in power while making our grid safer and stronger. This will allow our customers to make use of new technologies and programs that reward eco-friendly choices and help more electric vehicles get on the road.
Promoting a sustainable supply chain and reduce waste
When it comes to our supply chain, we are making smarter, eco-minded choices. And to help keep waste out of landfills, we will mix that way-of-life into how we do business. We encourage our business partners to do the same.
Moving forward with research and development to fight climate change
At SRP, we take part in research that moves us toward a greener future. Here are some ways we’re doing that.
Testing renewable energy and energy storage
We’re testing how to use large-scale batteries to store energy produced by solar panels during the day for use when the sun goes down.
We also look at how customers use power, how to best support ever-changing needs and new ways to plug solar solutions into our grid.
Using technology to help customers save energy
We know that cooling a home in the desert can take a lot of energy. That’s why we’re researching how to improve home cooling and reduce energy use.
As a result, we’re trying out programs that reduce the stress on the grid and power system during peak, or high-energy-use, hours.
For our industrial and business customers, we’re working with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to find ways to replace fossil fuel equipment, such as converting gas-powered forklifts to electric models.
Improving the performance of electric vehicles (EVs)
More electric vehicles on the road mean fewer gas emissions and a healthier planet. That’s why we’re testing ways to improve EV battery life in the desert and rewarding customers who make the switch to electric.
Let’s create a better future together
Ready to help reduce the impacts of climate change at home and in your community? There are so many ways you can help! See how to save energy at home and use less water to get started.