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December 5, 2022 - v. 2, number 12 |
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SolSmart in Connecticut Towns:
Tripping the Light Fantastic
Ashford, Bloomfield, Manchester and Stonington Shine
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STORRS, CT, December 1, 2022 – Sustainable CT, a statewide, voluntary certification program that supports sustainability best practices in Connecticut municipalities, announced that four of its registered towns – Ashford, Bloomfield, Manchester and Stonington – have achieved SolSmart designation this year.
SolSmart is a national program led by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) that recognizes cities, counties, and regional organizations when they foster the development of mature local solar markets. According to the SolSmart website, more than 400 cities, counties, and regional organizations in 42 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico have achieved SolSmart designation, representing over 107 million people...
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UConn at COP27
Including 2022 Sustainable CT Fellows
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Last month, the executive director Jim O'Donnell of the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) helped lead a UConn contingent, including 14 students, to the 27th United Nations Conference of Parties Climate Conference (COP) taking place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. The COP is an opportunity for world climate experts, activists, and leaders to meet and discuss measures to act in the face of the climate crisis. Following is a summary of a high-level panel on a “Sustainable Ocean Economy” and reflections from Dr. O’Donnell…
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Heirlooms of Change –
2022 Fellow Monet Paredes
I can’t pinpoint the first time I ever learned about climate change. I don’t recall it being mentioned in my education before senior year of high school and it didn’t seem to show up in my early exposure to pop culture. But I can pinpoint the many times I have heard generations before mine apologize for leaving us with the climate crisis…
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Compromise on Progress? – 2022 Fellow Lillian Adamo
Attending the UN Conference of the Party (COP) has been one of the most incredible experiences and I am immensely grateful for this opportunity. It allowed for unique access to the highest level of climate discussion in the world...
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Glastonbury Joins the Energy Star Certification Nation
To celebrate their 30th anniversary this year, Energy Star is awarding special, one-time recognition to any organization that has earned 2022 certification for at least five buildings or plants. The Town of Glastonbury has been recognized as a Premiere Member with 36 Energy Star properties. Congratulations, Glastonbury!
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The Day: Small Steps Can Mean Big Results for Climate Change
We like the way The Day thinks: even relatively small or experimental erosion control projects are extremely important. An editorial highlights two small but important projects - one on the northern Connecticut College shoreline and the other on the eastern side of Mason’s Island - that are making a difference. "First steps can be the start of big results that will help slow or control the worst impacts of climate change." Amen to that.
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Learn about C-PACE New Construction Financing
Assembling the capital needed to develop commercial and industrial properties is increasingly challenging and expensive. Join this Connecticut Green Bank webinar to learn about how C-PACE new construction financing can help provide capital to new construction, repositioning, and gut renovation projects. December 7, 12 - 1 pm.
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The Drawdown Roadmap: Accelerating Action to Address the Climate Crisis
The world now recognizes that climate change is a real and serious issue, but our actions to date are woefully insufficient to solve the problem. How can we get unstuck, catch up, and advance climate action more quickly? Project Drawdown executive director Jon Foley presents research that points to which climate actions we should prioritize—across sectors, timescales, and geographies—to make the most of efforts to achieve drawdown. December 8, 12 noon PST (3:00pm EST).
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ACEEE: Initiative to Accelerate Energy Upgrades for Affordable Housing
Washington, DC—Communities often left out of climate investments will receive support to develop energy-saving home retrofit strategies under the new nationwide initiative Residential Retrofits for Energy Equity (R2E2). Funded by a $2.5 million grant from The Rockefeller Foundation, $250,000 each from JPMorgan Chase and the Wells Fargo Foundation, and additional support from The JPB Foundation, R2E2 will provide training to state, local, and tribal governments as well as community-based organizations to jumpstart energy upgrades for affordable housing that will lower utility bills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve residents’ health, create good-paying local jobs, and help advance racial equity.
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This month: Emily Basham, Senior Manager of Partnership Development at the Connecticut Green Bank, brings the holiday cheer.
The IMPACT is available Dec. 15 at sustainablect.org and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Southbury's
CMF Project Recycles Food Scraps
Food waste significantly increases waste disposal costs and it contributes to more than 20% of the waste stream.
Each pound removed keeps it from being burned in the incinerator, reducing air pollution; it reduces methane emissions produced by decomposition in landfills; and it decreases the amount of trash and the cost of trash disposal.
In collaboration with the community, Sustainable Southbury is developing drop-off sites for residents to bring their food scraps. Food scraps can be brought to the drop-off site in no-spill containers and left in conveniently placed bins. A hauler then transports the scraps to a commercial facility where they are converted into animal feed, compost, or biogas.
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The Next Sustainable CT Coffee Hour:
December 16 at 10 a.m.
Check out what's new for 2023
We're bearing gifts for the holidays: program updates, new actions, GOLD level certification, Climate Leader Designation - a preview of everything that's new for 2023 (okay, CLD technically started in 2022, but its pilot year is coming to a close!). 2023 actions are live, applications are unlocked and they're ready to go! This will be is a great time to connect with us if you have any questions about certification, recertification, CLD, or any of the free technical support programs we have available to help you get to the next level in the new year.
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For more fun and informative December events,
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Happy holidays to you and yours |
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Peace and good cheer in any language
Whether you observe and celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, the Winter Solstice, Festivus ("for the rest of us"), or even some combination, we hope you're able to find peace, share a bit of good cheer, and embrace a sense of hope for the year ahead. Chag Sameach, Heri za Kwanzaa, Feliz Navidad, Osiyo Gola. No matter how you say it, it means love.
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