One of the many reasons why it’s good to have a mayor like Mike Fahey:

Omaha hopes to reduce its contribution to global warming gases, and on Thursday the first citywide effort to do so was launched.

The Omaha Energy Challenge asks families to replace one conventional light bulb for each family member with a compact fluorescent light bulb. The bulbs can last eight years or more and use about 25 percent to 30 percent of the energy of conventional light bulbs.

Mayor Mike Fahey noted that it was a year ago that he enrolled the city in the Cool Cities Initiative and Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement, which commit cities to reducing global warming gases. Lincoln and Bellevue are among the 420 other cities participating.

The city is taking other steps to reduce its energy use:

Working with OPPD to audit and reduce energy use in the City-County Building.

Replacing burned-out conventional traffic lights with LED bulbs, which cut energy use by about 80 percent. The LED bulbs also last years longer, which means city workers spend less time and take fewer risks replacing them.

Increasing tree plantings along streets with few trees.