"Making the inaugural balls as low-energy and low-carbon as possible won't stop global warming, but it is a very important symbol about the direction of the incoming administration," said Dan Weiss, director of climate strategy for the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank.
Attendees are being encouraged to carpool or ride public transit, even in evening gowns and tuxedos. If they must drive, they are being encouraged to drive a hybrid vehicle or purchase carbon offsets.
Organizers of a number of balls plan to use energy-efficient lighting. But no one yet has figured out a way to hook up to a wind turbine exhibit on display near the U.S. Capitol.
"Downtown D.C. is hardly an optimal place for a wind turbine," said Ron Stimmel of the American Wind Energy Association.
Some of the floats in the inaugural parade are being recycled from past parades, including a 60-foot-long, 24-foot-tall American flag float built for Ronald Reagan's 1985 inauguration.
Jimmy Carter made an attempt to be eco-friendly during his inauguration: The White House reviewing stand was supposed to be solar-heated. It did not work out as planned, says Albert Nason, archivist at the Jimmy Carter Library. Rosalynn Carter wrote: "Though it is supposedly a solar booth, something has happened to the sun this day and the booth's heater doesn't work."
"People have forgotten what a difference presidential leadership can make," Weiss suggests.
Not everyone's buying it, though.
"We've had the Christmas season, and it appears we're entering the silly season with efforts by many to look as if they're saving the environment when they're really not doing anything but engaging in feel-good politics," said Brian Darling, of the conservative Heritage Foundation. "In reality, this whole inaugural is going to have a massive carbon footprint."
Darling expects to see far more gas-guzzling, carbon-emitting sport utility vehicles than bikes as people head to inaugural balls.
"If they really want to be environmental, maybe they'll take measures to invite fewer people to Washington," he said, noting the huge carbon footprint that millions of people will leave.
