Bigfoot is tamed in Edmonds carbon footprint challenge

Published 1:30 am Saturday, May 12, 2018

Taming Bigfoot Edmonds, a friendly community competition to reduce the city’s collective carbon footprint, wrapped up with an awards celebration on April 23. About 80 people took part. They were organized into 15 teams, with names like “The Green Yetis” and “Sassyquatches and Wesleys Water Walker.”

The contest tracked different behaviors — like home energy and water use, private transportation and garbage production — from January to March. Contestants helped their team by carpooling, buying less clothes, switching to locally sourced foods and resisting the urge to turn up the thermostat.

The best team reduced their energy by 19 percent. Some teams saw their footprint grow, thanks to flights that didn’t have carbon offsets purchased. Overall, the 80 participants reduced their collective footprint by 10 percent.

Top individual awards went to Randi Leonetti and Joe Wermus.

Organizers included Interfaith Climate Action and the Mayor’s Committee on Climate Protection.