The top story of the June 14 issue was “Branford Breaks Ground on Next-Generation WIS.” Unfortunately, when it comes to incorporating renewable energy systems and reducing the school’s greenhouse gas emissions, the Walsh Intermediate School project is a step backward, into the last century. Unlike the Fire Headquarters building, which incorporated both a ground-based heat pump (geothermal) system for heating and cooling and solar photovoltaic panels that generate the electricity to power the system, the renovated Walsh School (like the renovated Community House, currently under construction) will generate no renewable energy and so it will continue to add to the already-high amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere.

Branford, like other coastal communities, is already experiencing increased flooding during storms and the highest tides of the year due to the sea level rise caused by current levels of CO2. The Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Coastal Adaptation recommends that towns like Branford plan for a sea level that is 20 inches higher in 2050 than in 2005, and for sea level to continue increasing after that. (The last time that the amount of CO2 in today’s air occurred naturally, sea level was 50 to 80 feet higher than today.)

All of us who have driven cars, flown in planes, or heated our homes, businesses, and schools with oil or gas have contributed to the problem and we have a responsibility to contribute to the solution. There is still time to make a difference. A recent paper in the journal Nature reported that reductions in CO2 emissions in the next 10 years, if large enough, could significantly reduce the sea level increase that occurs during the rest of the century and beyond. It’s up to all of us, individually and as a community, to act now.

Bill Horne

Branford