 |
 |
|
| |
|
|
| |
In This Issue:
|
Help Ecology Action continue to provide innovative programs that benefit our environment by making a tax deductible donation now!
|
| |
|
CoolCalifornia Names
Ecology Action “Organization of the Year”
for Climate Change
Leadership
- Anna Hirst, Communications
Coordinator
Ecology Action has been named by CoolCalifornia as
“Organization of the Year” from a pool of over 100 applicants, judged by a panel
that included California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols and California
Small Business Association President Betty Jo Toccoli.
CoolCalifornia
recognizes small California enterprises (under 100 employees) that have
demonstrated exceptional leadership and made notable, voluntary achievements
towards reducing their climate impact. Ecology Action received the award for its
exceptional climate change management practices and climate change
communication.
“It is an honor for Ecology Action to be recognized at the
state level for its work on climate change,” said Virginia Johnson,
CEO/executive director of Ecology Action. “Addressing climate change is central
to our mission. While progress is being made in California, there is much to be
done. We believe that stronger partnerships between the public and private
sectors, and among state, regional and local governments are critical to further
progress on climate change.”
Ecology Action’s climate-related program
work in 2008 delivered significant positive outcomes:
• 100 million kWh
of energy saved
• GhG emissions impacted by reducing or avoiding more than
124 million pounds of CO2e,
equivalent to:
• Removing over 10,700 cars
from the road;
• Planting 17,000 acres of trees;
• Eliminating 23,000
individual transcontinental plane trips; or
• Powering 17,500 single family
homes
For more information about the CoolCalifornia awards, please visit www.coolcalifornia.org. |
|
| |
|
Ecology Action Honors Alumni Ron Fahl:
1942-2009
Gratitude for our former staff member who played a crucial
role
in creating the organization we are today
- Guest Author Christopher Williams, Former Ecology Action
Executive Director
Ron was
hired by Ecology Action of Santa Cruz in late 1984 as an Information and
Outreach Coordinator. It was a contentious time for the organization with
Ecology Action’s 17th Ave recycling facility scheduled to close and Ecology
Action transitioning in to an organization that sought to primarily educate and
advocate for recycling and waste prevention rather than physically accepting,
processing, and recycling a wide range of materials. Ron devoted his full time
and attention to the challenge. He fastidiously documented Ecology Action’s
activities throughout the transition, and became well known to the local media
and general public through the frequent publication of well-worded press
releases, notices, and articles.
Ron left Ecology Action in 1988 to work
with the City of Santa Cruz, first with the Department of Public Works and then
the Water Department where he continued to be instrumental there in promoting
residential and commercial recycling and composting until his
retirement.
Ron Fahl passed away on June 24th, 2009, with memorial
services at First Congregational United Church of Christ on July 1, where both
he and his wife Kathy had been active.
Please read the rest of this
article and see historical Ecology Action pictures here.
|
|
| |
|
Bay View Elementary 5th Graders Go on Bike
Smart! Pedal-Powered Field Trip -
A Community Ride and Bike Blender Fruit
Smoothies
- Saskia Lucas, Program Specialist, Transportation Group
On a sparkly
and crisp autumn day, 23 students accompanied by five adult ride leaders set out
on bike from Bay View Elementary. The route through the neighborhood was
peaceful, punctuated only by the enthusiastic calls of the young bicyclists as
they communicated with each other on the group ride: “stopping!”… “right turn!”…
“caaaarrrr!”, peppered with the occasional “hey, that’s my ‘uncle’s’ house”.
“This is what they’ll remember,” said Mr. B about his class’ recent
bicycle field trip to the Santa Cruz Lighthouse. Indeed, learning experiences
like this are unique in a child’s education. This November, Stu Branoff’s 5th
grade students participated in in-depth bicycle training by Ecology Action’s
Bike Smart! Youth Bicycle Safety Education Program, which culminated in this
community ride to West Cliff Drive.
Read the
rest of this article here.
For
more information about EA's Safe Routes to School programs, please visit www.SafeRoutesSantaCruz.org.
If you would
like to support EA's expanding Safe Routes to School effort,
please
make a donation today.
|
|
| |
|
Ecology Action’s Sherry Lee Bryan
is a United Way Community Hero!
- - Anna
Hirst, Communications Coordinator
The United Way of Santa
Cruz County released its annual list of Community Heroes on Monday, November
23rd, honoring 21 residents who served the county in various ways in 2009. The
United Way’s Community Assessment Project honors community heroes whose efforts
help move Santa Cruz County toward the achievement of previously established
community goals.
Sherry Lee Bryan and members of Surfrider's Santa Cruz
chapter won this award for improving ocean and river health by reducing waterway
erosion and pollution, and increasing summer stream flows.
Sherry Lee
Bryan is a Senior Program Specialist here and currently manages the County of
Santa Cruz Home Composting Program, the Our Water Our World Program, the
Monterey Bay Green Gardener Certification Program, and chairs the Clean Beaches
Coalition and the Greywater Study Group.
For more information about the
Community Assessment Project, please visit the United Way of Santa Cruz's website. |
|
| |
“Spotlight” on Energy Savings!
- Deborah Kranefuss, Sales Manager, Energy Group
The RightLights
and Energy Watch Programs would like to “Shine the Spotlight” on the quarter’s
top performing Energy Efficiency Specialists and the savings they achieved for
their customers. The portfolio of savings offered for commercial businesses in
the RightLights Program and to municipal, special districts and non-profit
businesses in the AMBAG, San Mateo and Silicon Valley Energy Watch Programs
includes rebates for upgraded lighting, refrigeration controls, gasket and strip
curtain replacement, and vending machine sensors.
 October’s Star
was John Holden, in the RightLights program, with a total of 1,018,845 KWh of
energy saved for commercial businesses. John demonstrates care and concern
for his customers and serves the mid-peninsula area of San Mateo
County.
 November’s Star was Paul Leow, in the San Mateo Energy Watch
Program. Paul serves municipalities, special districts and non-profits
for all of San Mateo County, providing retrofits and new technology in
lighting for many of his customers. He saved over 300,000 KWh of energy in
November.
 December’s
Star is Karl Gee, in the RightLights Program saving 1,072,085 KWh of energy. Karl’s technical skills combined with his vast experience have led him to
cutting edge energy savings projects for his customers. We will miss him
as he moves on to exciting opportunities after the new year, but have
several rising stars ready to take his place! Look for their names in the next quarterly newsletter!
For more information about all Ecology
Action's Energy Efficiency programs and to see if your business qualifies for a
free energy audit, please visit the Ecology Action website.
|
|
|
|
2010 Master
Composter Training Program Now Accepting
Applications
- Sherry Lee Bryan, Senior Program Specialist, Pollution
Prevention/Zero Waste Group
The
County of Santa Cruz is now accepting applications for the 2010 Master Composter
Training Program. Master Composter training provides hands-on experience
managing compost piles and worm bins and exposes participants to Santa Cruz
County recycling, composting, and landfill facilities. In exchange for the
training, Master Composters volunteer to teach others about composting and
recycling at community events.
When: The training includes five
weekday evening classes and four Saturday field trips,
February 3-March 24, 2010. Application deadline is February 2,
2010.
Where: Weekday evening classes take place at The Live
Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave.
in Santa Cruz. Field trip
locations vary.
Contact: To request a class agenda and application, call
the Rotline at 423-HEAP
or apply online at www.compostsantacruzcounty.org. |
|
|
|
Earth Day 2010 Accepting Vendor
Applications
It is with great pleasure
that the Earth Day Committee would like to invite you to participate in the 2010
Earth Day festival for the greater Santa Cruz community. There are limited booth
spaces available for education, food, retail, and home goods (with an
environmental message) vendors. Spaces will be issued on a first-come,
first-served basis so it is recommended that you apply as soon as possible but
no later than March 15th.
Earth Day Santa Cruz will be held on Saturday,
April 17th, 2010 in San Lorenzo Park. The event will be open from 11 am to 4 pm.
Set up time will begin at 8 am. In keeping with a strong environmental
commitment, Earth Day Santa Cruz will be zero waste and solar powered and will
have a strong focus on kids’ activities and families.
Download the Vendor
Informational Letter and Application by visiting EcoCruz.org
|
|
|
|
