December 2018
Dear Friends:
Another busy holiday season is upon us, and we find ourselves singing along to holiday jingles on the radio and in the grocery store. Did you know Abby and Anna could be professional singers? (Amy, sadly, no!) Luckily all three of us have foregone more lucrative careers to work on climate, humming our way through the days. We got to thinking about all the songs we’ve been singing here at Climate Smart Missoula over the last year, plus those tunes of hope, fear, and inspiration we plan to hum in 2019.
Please consider a donation today!
Solar and Clean Energy for All. You know that one song you never get tired of? Well, that’s how we feel about clean energy!
This year, we organized the first annual Missoula Clean Energy Expo, which drew over 250 attendees to Caras Park to talk to solar installers and green businesses & organizations, and learn about clean energy, zero waste, and sustainable transportation. We can’t wait to do it again next fall—we already have a date—September 29!
With partners, we held several Solar-Ease workshops and pop-ups, created two solar how-to videos, and are even pursuing avenues for adding solar energy to our transportation grid. (And yes – this is THE time to go solar – feel free to ask us why.)
With the release of the latest IPCC report and the 4th National Climate Assessment, the urgent need for bold climate action couldn’t be clearer. That’s why we are lead authors (with the City of Missoula) on an Options Report for Transitioning Missoula to 100% Clean Electricity, and are working with partners on strategies to achieve that bold 100% goal, while inspiring other communities across Montana, too.
Health, Equity, and Community Resiliency. Some of our songs are quieter and less familiar, but we think they’re due for more air time.
Last year, we partnered with NeighborWorks Montana and others on a pilot home improvement and weatherization program for manufactured home residents, providing energy savings and weatherization info and materials to those in need (think LED lights or window insulation kits). Targeting the critical nexus of affordable housing, energy efficiency, and health of some of our most vulnerable community members, we are working to grow this project and other energy savings efforts in 2019.
We’re working to build resiliency in the face of changing climate conditions that are both already here and coming. Along with Missoula County and the City of Missoula, we’ve just launched a comprehensive Climate Ready Communities adaptation planning process which will, over the next year and with stakeholders from diverse sectors, identify climate-related vulnerabilities and then develop inclusive adaptation strategies for all. A huge effort!
And though our wildfire smoke season was mild last year, our Summer Smart program expanded to create clean indoor air for our youngest Missoulians, distributing over 100 HEPA air filters to daycares and preschool centers (with our Health Department) so they are wildfire smoke ready. We also completed a clean air assessment for public schools in Missoula County and launched MontanaWildfireSmoke.org – a new website for the state.
Perhaps a donation today?
Looking ahead to 2019, we’ll sing the praises of clean energy even louder, with tangible efforts towards the bold and necessary community-wide goals of 100% clean electricity, 50% sustainable trips, and zero waste. And we’ll keep working to build a more equitable and resilient Missoula for all of us, no matter what the future brings.
We are not immune to the darkness around us, and the challenges posed by climate change are real and sobering. But the choir is growing, and that gives us immense hope. Whether you prefer to sing loudly or hum along to the chorus, we need voices of all kinds advocating and creating solutions. Will you add yours?
Your year-end donation—whether $25 or $250— will give us the momentum to go all in for 2019, helping us grow our capacity so we can stay in tune to our mission, sing louder and GO BOLD. (Okay, enough with the over-played metaphor.)
Thank you for supporting Climate Smart Missoula. All the best for the holidays.
Sincerely,
Amy Cilimburg, Executive Director, Climate Smart Missoula
Abby Huseth, Energy Program Coordinator
Anna Weinberg and
Our whole Climate Smart Team!
Donate today!
Dear Friends:
Another busy holiday season is upon us, and we find ourselves singing along to holiday jingles on the radio and in the grocery store. Did you know Abby and Anna could be professional singers? (Amy, sadly, no!) Luckily all three of us have foregone more lucrative careers to work on climate, humming our way through the days. We got to thinking about all the songs we’ve been singing here at Climate Smart Missoula over the last year, plus those tunes of hope, fear, and inspiration we plan to hum in 2019.
Please consider a donation today!
Solar and Clean Energy for All. You know that one song you never get tired of? Well, that’s how we feel about clean energy!
This year, we organized the first annual Missoula Clean Energy Expo, which drew over 250 attendees to Caras Park to talk to solar installers and green businesses & organizations, and learn about clean energy, zero waste, and sustainable transportation. We can’t wait to do it again next fall—we already have a date—September 29!
With partners, we held several Solar-Ease workshops and pop-ups, created two solar how-to videos, and are even pursuing avenues for adding solar energy to our transportation grid. (And yes – this is THE time to go solar – feel free to ask us why.)
With the release of the latest IPCC report and the 4th National Climate Assessment, the urgent need for bold climate action couldn’t be clearer. That’s why we are lead authors (with the City of Missoula) on an Options Report for Transitioning Missoula to 100% Clean Electricity, and are working with partners on strategies to achieve that bold 100% goal, while inspiring other communities across Montana, too.
Health, Equity, and Community Resiliency. Some of our songs are quieter and less familiar, but we think they’re due for more air time.
Last year, we partnered with NeighborWorks Montana and others on a pilot home improvement and weatherization program for manufactured home residents, providing energy savings and weatherization info and materials to those in need (think LED lights or window insulation kits). Targeting the critical nexus of affordable housing, energy efficiency, and health of some of our most vulnerable community members, we are working to grow this project and other energy savings efforts in 2019.
We’re working to build resiliency in the face of changing climate conditions that are both already here and coming. Along with Missoula County and the City of Missoula, we’ve just launched a comprehensive Climate Ready Communities adaptation planning process which will, over the next year and with stakeholders from diverse sectors, identify climate-related vulnerabilities and then develop inclusive adaptation strategies for all. A huge effort!
And though our wildfire smoke season was mild last year, our Summer Smart program expanded to create clean indoor air for our youngest Missoulians, distributing over 100 HEPA air filters to daycares and preschool centers (with our Health Department) so they are wildfire smoke ready. We also completed a clean air assessment for public schools in Missoula County and launched MontanaWildfireSmoke.org – a new website for the state.
Perhaps a donation today?
Looking ahead to 2019, we’ll sing the praises of clean energy even louder, with tangible efforts towards the bold and necessary community-wide goals of 100% clean electricity, 50% sustainable trips, and zero waste. And we’ll keep working to build a more equitable and resilient Missoula for all of us, no matter what the future brings.
We are not immune to the darkness around us, and the challenges posed by climate change are real and sobering. But the choir is growing, and that gives us immense hope. Whether you prefer to sing loudly or hum along to the chorus, we need voices of all kinds advocating and creating solutions. Will you add yours?
Your year-end donation—whether $25 or $250— will give us the momentum to go all in for 2019, helping us grow our capacity so we can stay in tune to our mission, sing louder and GO BOLD. (Okay, enough with the over-played metaphor.)
Thank you for supporting Climate Smart Missoula. All the best for the holidays.
Sincerely,
Amy Cilimburg, Executive Director, Climate Smart Missoula
Abby Huseth, Energy Program Coordinator
Anna Weinberg and
Our whole Climate Smart Team!
Donate today!
