Service-Politics launched with a bang!
Monday, April 16, 2007
This past Saturday, the Service Politics Institute was thrilled to participate in the Step It Up 2007 campaign. Step It Up is a nationwide effort aiming to convince Congress to cut carbon emissions by 80% by the year 2050. As part of the National Day of Climate Action, over 1,400 community service projects took place across the nation, aimed at raising awareness about energy-use and global climate change. Many of these projects took place in locations that symbolize the current destruction of climate - the levees of New Orleans, the melting glaciers of Mt. Rainier, and the coral reefs off of Key West.
A carbon reduction of 80% by 2050 represents less than a 2% reduction per year. While many individual Americans are making personal choices that reduce their own ecological footprint, we require bold leadership from our legislators in order to ensure lasting, widespread and sustainable change in carbon emissions.
CARBON EMISSIONS IN VERMONT AND THE 10% Challenge
A recent report by VPIRG reveals that Vermont’s carbon emissions have actually increased nearly 30% since 1990. Vermont had the second highest increase in emissions in the New England region, and the 15th highest nationwide. Vermont organizations concerned about climate change have called on legislators to enact state and federal laws to make the necessary cuts in carbon emissions. Vermont’s full Congressional delegation, made up of Senator Pat Leahy, Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Peter Welch, have pledged their support of these efforts.
The Vermont House also recently passed a bill aimed at reducing carbon emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy in the state. The Senate is expected to pass the bill as well, although several organizations have criticized the bill that passed as too weak compared to the original.
The 10% Challenge is a Burlington-based non-profit organization that operates as a voluntary program to raise public awareness about global climate change and to encourage households and businesses to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10%. Their website offers a great calculator where individuals and businesses can calculate their emissions and get specialized tips for reducing them.
ENERGY STAR LIGHT BULBS
The Burlington Electrical Department generously donated the Energy Star light bulbs we distributed in this project. Energy Star light bulbs use innovative technology to produce light more efficiently through a chemical reaction in a glass tube, making them about three times more efficient than regular light bulbs.
Lighting accounts for about 20% of total annual household electricity bills. By changing five bulbs from incandescent bulbs to Energy Star bulbs, the average consumer can save about $150 per year in lighting costs, and reduce the electricity used by an even greater margin, cutting down on the fossil fuel burned to create the electricity for incandescent bulbs.
Over 30 individuals came out for the first service-politics project, helping to outfit a nearby affordable housing community with the bulbs as well as spread the word about climate change initiatives around Burlington.
But we're not stopping here - check out our Action Tank page to learn about the ideas that were shared at the project as well as the next steps forward.
A carbon reduction of 80% by 2050 represents less than a 2% reduction per year. While many individual Americans are making personal choices that reduce their own ecological footprint, we require bold leadership from our legislators in order to ensure lasting, widespread and sustainable change in carbon emissions.
CARBON EMISSIONS IN VERMONT AND THE 10% Challenge
A recent report by VPIRG reveals that Vermont’s carbon emissions have actually increased nearly 30% since 1990. Vermont had the second highest increase in emissions in the New England region, and the 15th highest nationwide. Vermont organizations concerned about climate change have called on legislators to enact state and federal laws to make the necessary cuts in carbon emissions. Vermont’s full Congressional delegation, made up of Senator Pat Leahy, Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Peter Welch, have pledged their support of these efforts.
The Vermont House also recently passed a bill aimed at reducing carbon emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy in the state. The Senate is expected to pass the bill as well, although several organizations have criticized the bill that passed as too weak compared to the original.
The 10% Challenge is a Burlington-based non-profit organization that operates as a voluntary program to raise public awareness about global climate change and to encourage households and businesses to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10%. Their website offers a great calculator where individuals and businesses can calculate their emissions and get specialized tips for reducing them.
ENERGY STAR LIGHT BULBS
The Burlington Electrical Department generously donated the Energy Star light bulbs we distributed in this project. Energy Star light bulbs use innovative technology to produce light more efficiently through a chemical reaction in a glass tube, making them about three times more efficient than regular light bulbs.
Lighting accounts for about 20% of total annual household electricity bills. By changing five bulbs from incandescent bulbs to Energy Star bulbs, the average consumer can save about $150 per year in lighting costs, and reduce the electricity used by an even greater margin, cutting down on the fossil fuel burned to create the electricity for incandescent bulbs.
Over 30 individuals came out for the first service-politics project, helping to outfit a nearby affordable housing community with the bulbs as well as spread the word about climate change initiatives around Burlington.
But we're not stopping here - check out our Action Tank page to learn about the ideas that were shared at the project as well as the next steps forward.
posted by The Service Politics Crew at
12:38 PM
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