Langley’s “energy intern” Mariah VanZerr had to check and double-check her numbers.

“I must have done something wrong,” she kept telling herself.

But the numbers didn’t lie. Langley has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions between 2000 and 2005, while almost anywhere else in the country emissions are on the rise.

As a whole, the community decreased its emissions by 1.2 percent — or 9.3 percent per capita.

Langley’s average emission production per capita in 2000 was 10.15 tons. Last year, it was only 9.5 tons per capita.

To put that in perspective, the average American produced 24.89 tons per capita in 1998, VanZerr said.

VanZerr, a graduate student from California, has spent her summer in Langley analyzing the energy use of the community as a part of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives’ Cities for Climate Protection Program. She presented her findings on Wednesday night to the city council.

VanZerr said most greenhouse gas emissions in Langley come from electricity and gasoline. VanZerr attributes the decline in emissions to the reduction of electricity use.

However, the decline is not attributed to the average person turning off the lights when leaving a room or insulating the house more efficiently.

“Residential decline is more varied and may not be statistically significant. Easily explainable,” she said, “by the fact that most electricity use in homes goes to heating, and 2005 was significantly warmer than 2000. Also by the fact that there may be a fuel switching trend from electricity to propane that is difficult to capture, and isn’t accounted for in our data.”

The key for the change can be found in a declining trend in the commercial sector.

Businesses used less energy for a number of reasons, VanZerr said. Sales tax revenues went down, businesses moved out of town, school enrollment declined and some made efficiency upgrades, she said.

“Some businesses, like the Whidbey Record, have left town. This is not confirmed, but other businesses like the Star Store may have put energy-saving measures in place,” she said.

The decline in emissions is an exception for a growing community like Langley and it is not mirrored in neighboring communities.

VanZerr, who also monitored Coupeville’s energy use, said the downward trend was not observed in Coupeville.

VanZerr told audience members and the council that in order to prevent irreversible damage to the climate, experts estimate that emissions need to drop 60 percent from the greenhouse gas emission levels of the 1990s.

VanZerr said that the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives’ Cities for Climate Protection program recommends a more realistic target of 20 percent by 2020 for communities.

But with Langley being well on its way, the town could set its goals higher, she said.

“Langley is a unique locale. It could potentially be poised to attempt a 25-30 percent reduction,” she said.

“Seems like a lot, but remember, there will be outside help. Washington state policies such as the recently passed renewable fuel bill will help to decrease transportation emissions from the outside,” she said.

Additionally, Langley does not have any heavy industry, which is a significant contributor in other communities to high emission levels. Also, VanZerr said she observed above-average community awareness on environmental issues.

VanZerr recommended a number of measures to the city and community to reach the goal.

• Work with Puget Sound Energy to determine next steps in getting an audit/retrofit grant for the wastewater treatment plant;

• Contact Island County to express support for potential curbside recycling program;

• Work with the comp plan energy committee to begin the Community Green Power Challenge Campaign and energy conservation competition;

• Officially adopt the reduction target and Climate Change Action Plan;

• And work with agencies throughout the action plan implementation process and establish a system for monitoring progress toward a reduction target.

She suggested to challenge the community to participate through incentives or simply as a community activity.

“I think with Langley’s small scale and high level of community involvement, a challenge could be a successful program,” she said.

VanZerr’s work was enthusiastically received by the city council, city officials and the comprehensive plan group’s energy committee.

“Mariah has done a wonderful job,” Councilwoman Rene Neff said.

The energy committee members said VanZerr’s work has helped them tremendously in getting started on an outline of their goals and objectives for the planning process.

But Mayor Neil Colburn said Langley doesn’t have to wait for the comp plan process to wrap up before taking action.

“We are a very progressive little city,” Colburn said. “It doesn’t have to be in the comp plan to start implementing these things.”

VanZerr had some parting words for her host city.

“Langley’s small scale and high level of citizen involvement uniquely poise it to become a leader in taking positive community-based action against the challenges of climate change. I look forward to seeing Langley’s progress in the coming years, and feel honored to have been, however briefly, a part of this wonderful community,” VanZerr said.

On Thursday, VanZerr presented her findings at a meeting in Mount Vernon where area government officials and energy interns from other communities outlined their preliminary findings.

Langley, Oak Harbor, Anacortes, Bellingham, Coupeville, Ferndale, La Conner, Lynden, and Whatcom County participated in the Energy Conservation and Climate Protection Project sponsored by the Northwest Clean Air Agency.

The project helps local governments identify the main sources of global warming pollution in their communities, and then develop cost-effective emissions reduction plans.

The predicted local impacts of global warming range from rising sea levels and increased fire danger to disruptions in rainfall patterns that lead to increased drought and flooding and the loss of hydropower generation.

Responding to global warming can help build stronger local economies and communities. Other communities are also tackling greenhouse gases:

• Oak Harbor expects to reduce energy costs by $10,000 and global warming pollution by 76 tons per year by changing all its traffic signals to efficient LED lights.

• The cost-saving realized by implementing a curbside composting program would allow the town of Coupeville to purchase green power for all of their energy needs.

Michaela Marx Wheatley can be reached at 221-5300 or mmarx

wheatley@southwhidbeyrecord.com