City awards energy, climate change grants
As part of the its commitment to reduce its carbon dioxide footprint by 12 percent by 2012, the City of Minneapolis has awarded grants of up to $1,000 to 20 groups for projects to reduce energy use and address the causes and effects of climate change.
Some groups’ efforts work in concert with the Minnesota Energy Challenge (MEC), through which participants can calculate their “carbon footprint” and work to reduce energy use and Minnesota’s carbon dioxide emissions. For more information about the MEC, visit www.mnenergychallenge.org.
Six grant awardees are in The Bridge’s coverage area.
The Bedlam Theatre, 504 Cedar Ave. S, will expand its “How did you get HERE?” program, which gives a $2 bill to every patron who arrives at the theater by walking, biking or using mass transit and purchases a ticket.
Grace University Lutheran Church, 324 Harvard St. SE, will conduct an energy fair at the church, as well as an educational forum focusing on the importance of “taking care of Creation.” Those who sign up for the MEC will be entered into a drawing for a free energy audit.
Luxton Recreation Center, 112 Williams Ave. SE, will hold a “good energy” fair to provide residents with simple ideas for reducing their carbon output. Compact florescent bulbs will be given to each person who signs up for the MEC.
The Southeast Como Improvement Association (SECIA) will discuss the advantages of using clotheslines and distribute retractable clotheslines at its annual Como Cookout in September.
Trinity Lutheran Church, 2001 Riverside Ave., will conduct outreach to the East African community to implement a global warming education program.
University Baptist Church, 1219 University Ave. SE. The church will replace its incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescents — and encourage church members to do the same at home — as well as maintain a thermometer display showing how much they reduce their carbon output.
In addition to these micro grants, the city also awarded five Climate Change Innovation grants of up to $10,000 each to “help local neighborhoods and organizations fund creative ways to engage residents to fight global warming,” according to the city’s website.
One of the five grants went to the Seward and Longfellow Neighborhoods to fund an “Inconvenient Truth” kickoff event, compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) distribution, Minneapolis Energy Challenge (MEC) promotion, “Ask me what I am doing about Climate Change” lawn signs, an electric lawn mower sharing program, and a programmable thermostat swap. Partners include the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs, Welna II Hardware and the Riverview Theater.
For more information about the city’s sustainability programs and a complete list of micro grant winners, visit www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/sustainability.
last revised: August 15, 2007