Our Neighbors in Sustainability

Juneau isn't the only Alaska community striving to become more sustainable. Grass roots efforts are underway in several other cities, including Kodiak, Homer, Sitka and Haines.

Check out these links to learn more:

KODIAK

SITKA

HOMER

HAINES

July 14: Assembly approves Sustainability Fund

From KINY NEWS ONLINE:

"The CBJ Assembly has approved the creation of a fund within the CBJ general fund to receive donations earmarked for energy savings projects. Private donations would initially stock the Sustainability Fund.

"At Monday night's Assembly meeting Mayor Bruce Botelho said that amount could be between $500,000 and $1 million dollars depending on the number of participants. The fund would be used as a source of capitol for energy conservation devices and projects that the city manager forwards to the Assembly for consideration. The money that's saved would be deposited back into the fund to replenish it along with the private funding sources. Private donations would initially stock the Sustainability Fund.

"At last night's meeting Finance Committee Chair David Stone said several private companies have expressed interest in contributing to the fund but he was not at liberty to identify them. However, last night, Kirby Day of Princess Cruises spoke in support of the fund."

Energy Efficiency Can Pay for Itself

Alaska Housing Finance Corporation has $100 million set aside for energy rebates to help homeowners of all incomes make their homes more energy efficient. Another $200 million has been set aside to provide weatherization assistance to low and moderate income renters and homeowners. See article in today's Anchorage Daily News.

For more information on how to take advantage of these programs that will help you save on energy costs, go to AHFC.

Image courtesy of All Cape Insulation, MA

Home Depot will collect CFLs for recycling

Today in Grist:

"Home Depot announced Tuesday that it will collect compact fluorescent light bulbs and send them off to be recycled. The home-improvement behemoth hopes the new program will keep the bulbs, which contain a small amount of mercury, out of household trash and recycling bins. IKEA also collects CFLs for recycling but doesn't have the market saturation of Home Depot; more than three-quarters of U.S. households are estimated to be within 10 miles of a Home Depot store. The company's 1,973 U.S. stores will also switch to CFLs in light-fixture showrooms by the fall, a move expected to save it $16 million annually in energy costs."

See http://www.grist.org/ and sources: Atlanta Business Journal and New York Times

TerraPass Carbon Offsets

The first step you can take to fight global warming is to reduce your carbon footprint through conservation. Drive less. Turn down the thermostat. Buy locally produced goods.

Then use TerraPass to balance the emissions you can't reduce. When you buy a TerraPass, your money funds clean energy and efficiency projects such as wind farms. These projects result in verified reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

JCOS comments on the Parking Garage/Transit Center Project

The Juneau Commission on Sustainability outlines eight sustainability challenges for this project and offers solutions to meet those challenges. Click here to see the Commission's comments.