Just Eat It Movie Screening, Electronics Recycling Day, Earth Hour, and more!

March 2016

Environment, Economy, Equity

If I could find a new word for sustainability, I would do it in a heartbeat. The term sustainability has become so political, sometimes with the misperception that it is a luxury of the rich, taking a lot of time and money to accomplish. YVSC is working hard to change this misperception through our education, outreach, and on-the-ground programming.

Equity is one of the three pillars of sustainability and the triple bottom line. It's important because the challenge of climate change is going to take all of us working TOGETHER to reduce our impact on the environment. We can't afford to exclude anyone from this effort.

I'm proud of the work that YVSC is doing, especially over the last six months, to incorporate equity into our programs. With our work on Food Waste , we are hoping to increase the amount of food going to people who need it and decrease the amount of food waste going into landfills. Through our Energy program, we are working with income-qualified families to reduce their utility costs through energy efficiency upgrades. And, through all of our outreach and events, we provide free education and training for people of all ages to live and work more sustainably.

Stay Warm,

Sarah Jones

Executive Director

Just Eat It Movie Screening

Thursday, March 24

6:30 pm

Library Hall

In partnership with Bud Werner Memorial Library and the Community Agriculture Alliance, we are screening the film Just Eat It. This food documentary dives into the issue of food waste and our culture's obsession with expiration dates, perfect produce, and portion sizes. Read a full synopsis and watch the trailer here.

Save the Date: Electronics & CFL Recycling Day

Saturday, April 30

9:00 am-12:00 pm

Alpine Bank Parking Lot

View a full list of electronics accepted and prices here. Alpine Bank will offer a discount on recycling fees for their customers. CFL recycling is for residential collection only!

Green Building Program Trainings

Free Building Envelope Hands-on Workshop

Wednesday, March 23

3:00-5:00 pm

Library Hall

Steamboat Springs, CO

Dan Berteletti will discuss the building envelope components and functions for residential and commercial construction and remodels as it relates to the IECC 2015 building codes and local climate zone 7. For more information, visit our website . RSVP to [email protected] by March 21.

Home Energy Score Free Training for Realtors

Thursday, April 7

11:00 am-1:30 pm

Centennial Hall

Steamboat Springs, CO

Join the Colorado Energy Office for a free lunch-n-learn about the U.S. Department of Energy's Home Energy Score, a great way for homeowners to learn the "MPG" for their homes.

RSVP on our website

Sponsor a YVSC Program in 2016

A winning strategy for your business!

YVSC is seeking sponsors for 2016 programs. Sponsoring a YVSC Prog ram is a great way to show customers your commitment to our community and provides a great return on investment! When you partner with us, we'll help you connect with locals and visitors AND accomplish your business objectives.

Sponsorship levels for YVSC programs, such as Zero Waste, Talking Green, Energy and Green Building, range from $250 - $5,000. Learn more here.

Please contact Sarah Jones at [email protected] for more information.

Calling all cars--electric that is!

Electric vehicles needed for our Ride and Drive event

YVSC will host an Electric Vehicle Ride and Drive mini-expo on Saturday, June 18 during the well-attended 28th Annual Rocky Mountain Mustang Roundup. We are seeking drivers of electric cars who would be willing to share their experience of owning one of these highly efficient vehicles to inspire others to get on board. We are especially looking for a driver/owner of a Chevy Volt and a Nissan Leaf. If you (and your EV) would like to participate, please contact Suzie Romig at [email protected]. Or, if you know someone who drives an EV in town who might be interested, please let us know.

Welcome Winn to the YVSC Board!

We are excited to announce the addition of our newest board member, Winn Cowman. From the Mississippi Delta, she developed a passion for environmental sustainability at an early age. She has worked for over 20 years as an environmental professional, primarily with energy and waste companies. Read her full bio here.

Earth Hour: Climate Action Starts With You

Saturday, March 19

8:30-9:30 pm

Worldwide

Earth Hour is a global initiative to raise awareness of energy use and unite people to protect the planet. It was famously started as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia in 2007. Since then it has grown to engage people in more than 172 countries and territories worldwide.

Since 2010, YVSC has led our community's observance of Earth Hour and encouraged people to go "beyond the hour" to make changes in their daily lives to conserve energy. Students at Soda Creek, Strawberry Park and Emerald Mountain will participate in the annual school Earth Hour observation as part of the 2016 Take Charge Challenge. You can join people around the globe in this inspiring event by turning off your lights and powering down your devices from 8:30-9:30pm on Saturday, March 19 . Come on, when was the last time you ate dinner by candlelight?

Spare the Air

Did you know idling a car is an inefficient way to warm it up? Remove snow and ice as necessary, start the car, and drive gently for a few miles. If there's no snow and ice, then idling 30 seconds should do it before driving. Visit our website for more facts about idling.

Join Friends of YVSC

Set up an automatic monthly donation today!

If you donated to YVSC in 2015 but would like to spread out your 2016 tax-deductible contribution, please consider joining Friends of YVSC. A recurring donation is simple to set up, is convenient and secure, and sustains YVSC's triple bottom line work all year long. It's also easier on the wallet than giving one lump sum at year-end. For just $10 or more per month, you can ensure that all members of our community can learn how to live more sustainably and join in our efforts to reduce our collective impact on the climate. Click here to start giving today.