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November 2016
On Wednesday, my son came home from school and stated confidently,
"Despite the outcome of the presidential election, you don't have to worry about climate change. Because of the checks and balances in our government, President Trump can't roll back the progress that's been made."
I wish I had his confidence, and I hope with all my heart that he's right for his sake and the sake of our planet. Here's what I AM really confident about and what's given me hope this week:
YVSC will continue to work hard LOCALLY to fight climate change. By reducing carbon emissions through energy efficiency and waste diversion and increasing carbon sequestration by planting trees, YVSC will keep doing this critical work, no matter what happens in Washington.
And, we're counting on you to fight climate change with us and preserve the Yampa Valley for future generations--whether that's by recycling in your home or business, making your holiday feast Zero Waste, weatherizing your home for winter, investing in community solar, or planting trees.
Are you with us?
Sarah B. Jones
Executive Director
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Get your home ready for winter:
DIY Weatherization Clinic
5:30-7 p.m.
Strawberry Park Elementary School
Come learn from local experts how to complete do-it-yourself, affordable steps to make your home more energy efficient and comfortable this winter.
Learn in mini-sessions about:
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Quick fix items such as hot water heater wraps and programmable thermostats
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Converting to air-tight canned lights and LED tubes
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How best to seal air leaks from windows, doors, attics and crawlspaces
Free LED lightbulbs, free Energy Saver booklets and affordable radon kits will be available.
Participants will also have a chance to win Honeywell programmable thermostats, low-flow showerheads, door and window seals, window insulation kits and more!
Thank you to our Green Building Sponsors!
Fair & Square Construction | Zola European Windows | Mountain Window & Door | workshopL | Pinnacle Construction & Design | Control Designer |
Steamboat Architectural Associates
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America Recycles Day
Tuesday, November 15
Recycling is one of the easiest actions to take every single day to protect the environment--
at home, at w
ork, at school and on the go.
Americans recycle and compost 87 million tons annually, which reduces carbon emissions as much as taking 39 million cars off the road for a year!
In observance of America Recycles Day and to encourage our community to reduce, reuse and recycle,
YVSC will be handing out reusable shopping bags at City Market and Safeway at noon on America Recycles Day. Get your "Green Bag" while supplies last!
Students at Soda Creek Elementary, Strawberry Park Elementary and the Middle School will be taking the pledge to recycle that day. Will you take the pledge?
In honor of America Recycles Day and to help increase recycling rates in our community, below are some resources for hard-to-recycle items:
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Political signs: Plastic bag-like signs can be recycled with plastic grocery bags at Safeway, City Market or Walmart. Steamboat's Sears Hometown Store located at 1755 Central Park Drive has generously offered to collect the metal political sign frames for recycling as scrap metal. Please remove all plastic or cardboard signs from the frames before recycling. (Thank you, Sears!)
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Scrap metal:
D & D Enterprises and Waste Management accept scrap metal and appliances without Freon for a fee. Axis Steel also plans to collect scrap metal in Steamboat Springs for free, but their public collection facility is not open yet.
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Paint:
Ace Hardware and and Sherwin-Williams accept 5 gallons of paint per customer per visit at no charge.
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As we celebrate, decorate, give gifts and travel this holiday season, we all generate a lot of waste and increase our energy use. Between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, the volume of household waste increases 25%, and 33% more food is thrown away during the holidays!
YVSC is here to help you green your holidays this year. Check out our new Green Holiday Guide.
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Plant the seeds of sustainability:
Reduce our community's impact on the climate
Now more than ever, our community needs to come together to fight global warming on a local level and preserve the clean air and water, pristine forests and deep powder (It's coming!) that make the Yampa Valley so special. On Colorado Gives Day, state and local incentive funds boost the value of every dollar you donate on December 6 to help YVSC
plant even more seeds of sustainability in our community.
You can easily schedule your donation for 12/6/16, so that you don't forget. (Much easier that tying a piece of string on your finger or leaving yourself a sticky note!)
Here's how:
2. Click the orange "Donate" button
3. Enter the amount you want to donate.
4. Under Donation type, choose the button "CO GIVES DAY." Enter the details of your donation in the appropriate fields, and click the "Add to cart" button.
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Click on the "Checkout" button, enter payment information, and then submit.
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ReTree:
Inspiring our community and protecting our native ecosystems
Since 2010, YVSC has engaged 2,706 volunteers ages 2 - 72 to plant and nurture 25,565 trees throughout the Yampa Valley as part of ReTree Steamboat. Survival rates for seedlings planted over the past few years are 70-80% average, which is notable given the drought conditions in recent years. In celebration of ReTree and all of our amazing volunteers, we put together this short, 2-minute video. Enjoy!
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YVSC seeks volunteer Board members
The YVSC Board is a group of committed individuals representing various sectors of our community: construction, energy, education, business, finance, resort, recreation, hospitality and more. Board members provide direction for the organization as a whole and serve on at least one YVSC committee. If you are interested in joining our dynamic team, please email board@yvsc.org with any questions and to request a Board application.
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Sponsor a YVSC program in 2017:
A winning strategy for your business!
YVSC programs and events like ReTree, Zero Waste, Green Building and Talking Green would not be possible without our local business sponsors. As you finalize your business budget for 2017, sponsoring a YVSC program is a great way to show customers your commitment to our community and provides a great return on investment! When you partner with us, we'll help you connect with locals and visitors AND accomplish your business objectives.
Please contact Anne Mudgett at anne@yvsc.org or 970-871-9299 ext. 102 for more information and reserve funds in your 2017 budget for YVSC sponsorship.
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Upcoming Events
Tuesday, November 15
5:30.-7 p.m.
Strawberry Park Elementary School
YVSC Volunteer Thank You Party
Steamboat Grand Owner's Lounge
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Yampa Valley Sustainability Council |
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