Wednesday, March 28, 2007
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ALLIANCE
For more information on SEA and its climate challenge program, visit: www.seachangehappen.org, call 294-2961 or write to SEA, P.O. Box 786, Kennebunk, ME 04043.
FOR MORE information on SEA and its climate challenge program, visit: www.seachange happen.org
OR WRITE to: SEA, P.O. Box 786, Kennebunk, ME 04043OR CALL 294-2961
Kennebunk's new Sustainable Energy Alliance is preparing to launch a monthly climate challenge program, appealing to area residents to get involved in the fight against climate change.
The organization, formed last summer to target global warming, has secured commitments from the town government and the school district to lower carbon emissions.
Last month, the Kennebunk Board of Selectmen signed the U.S. Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement, also signed by four other Maine communities.
The community pledges to reduce greenhouse gases to 7 percent less than 1990 levels by 2012.
School Administrative District 71, which includes Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, also has a team working on energy and environmental issues.
The alliance plans to kick off its climate challenge program Sunday. Individuals who sign up will receive e-mails each month detailing a new environmentally conscious task. The goal, said alliance President Rob Bartlett, is to educate and eventually change habits.
The local challenge is based on the nationwide Campaign Earth effort, founded by Sarah LaChance, also a member of the alliance. She created Campaign Earth five years ago and has accumulated a mailing list of more than 3,000 people who have committed to monthly tasks.
The monthly challenge approach, LaChance said, tends to be more manageable for participants. "It's not going to require major changes or take much out of your already busy day," she said.
Kennebunk's challenge program will involve such tasks as composting, washing clothes in cold water, purchasing renewable energy and using compact fluorescent light bulbs.
While individuals in the United States produce an average of 20 tons a year, those who undertake and continue with each of the 12 challenges can reduce carbon emissions by about a ton over the course of a year, according to the alliance.
Just setting the washing machine to warm or cold saves between 20 and 27 pounds of carbon dioxide a month, LaChance said.
The alliance has been encouraged by the response it has received from the public so far, Bartlett said. About 400 people showed up for a screening in Kennebunk last fall of "An Inconvenient Truth," Al Gore's Oscar-winning film addressing global warming.
Bartlett said this year's town meeting, which includes a few over-the-cap spending items to help the town achieve its new carbon-emissions goals, will be a "real test" of public support for the local environmental efforts.
Residents Terry and Bill Burrows are likely to join the challenge. Terry Burrows said she has long supported environmental efforts. Her mother taught her to compost.
"I'm happy to do whatever," Burrows said. "If nothing else, it's important to leave the world a better place for (my six grandchildren)."
LaChance said she would be thrilled to see 5 percent of the town join the challenge effort.
"Any lifestyle change doesn't typically come easily," she said.
Staff Writer Anne Gleason can be contacted at 282-8229 or at:
FOR MORE information on SEA and its climate challenge program, visit: www.seachange happen.orgOR WRITE to: SEA, P.O. Box 786, Kennebunk, ME 04043OR CALL 294-2961 -->
Reader comments
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Where do you get off making blanket statements about those of us who choose to live in Kennebunk? I am a founder and board member of SEA, and neither I nor any of my fellow board members are anything like you described. While you feel no compunction against making statements about others, I believe I can only speak about myself and those I know. We (SEA) do not tell people what to do. We educate those who want to learn about saving energy, composting, recycling, local food, solar energy, green building, choosing less environmentally damaging vehicles, how zoning and development patterns impact sustainability and quality of life, and myriad other subjects in this interconnected world. And many people do want to learn.
I choose to live in a modest home and own cars that are a bit too small at times, but which get 33 and 45 mpg, and most of the time fit fine. (No, they're not hybrids.) I patronize locally owned businesses almost exclusively, shunning all "big box" stores, buy meat and poultry from local farms only, five months each year most of my produce comes from a local organic farm from which I purchase a share (Community Supported Agriculture). I choose to vacation locally not only because it's better for the environment than flying somewhere but because we live in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
Each of SEA's founders and board members is balancing a full time job, a family, and community commitments, and still make the time to run and grow this organization. And we neither desire nor receive any compensation, I might add.
Let me give you a hint: we are the complete antithesis to the rampant consumers you describe in your post. What you wrote could be considered equivalent to shouting "Get a job!" at protesters rather than engaging them in a conversation. It's easier, though irrelevant, to shout at them.
I ask you, do you do anything positive for your community, or simply cast aspersions on others?
report abuse
Rod Wood of Red Hill, PA:
I ain't moving to PA unless you spring for the Shoo-Fly Pie and the Chow-Chow.
Deal?
Meet you at the Amish food hall.report abuse
This whole effort is a wonderful thing, as long as it doesn't become a partisan, political issue. The "People's Republic of Kennebunk" can chant, bang drums, protest, whatever. At the end of the day, they, like so many other n'er do well communities in York County, live life in such excess, they can't see the forest from the trees. What is excess? Huge homes beyond what is necessary, SUV's, exotic travel, free range beef and chicken. It is so easy to ask the little people to make sacrifices. But until the liberal elite start walking the walk, it's nothing more than talk.
We all should recycle, limit energy consumption, and save this planet. But please, don't blame GW on this. For God's sake, he's only been in office for 6 years. report abuse
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