project leader
Johannah B
location
Mount Desert Island, Maine
latest update rss
Thank you to our donors!

the project

A Climate to Thrive's (ACTT) goal is energy independence for Mount Desert Island, Maine by 2030. ACTT was started by MDI citizens concerned about climate change and eager to engage in solutions. We envision MDI as a leader in energy efficiency and sustainability. This vision is strongly based in the belief that moving towards energy independence will improve the quality of our communities, economies, environment and health. Working towards decentralized, alternative and local energy solutions will reduce pollution, create new businesses, generate year-round jobs that pay a living wage, and generally bring the community together around the shared goal of preserving our environment. 

the steps

To take this community effort to the next level, we need to raise $5,000 now. By donating, you help make these projects happen on Mount Desert Island:

  • Solarize MDI: Doubling the number and capacity of photovoltaic systems in the next 12 months.
  • Building Efficiency: Energy assessments for every home and financing energy conservation measures in all four towns.
  • Zero Waste: Doubling the amount we recycle by 2018.
  • Local Foods: Making connections between farms and schools, homes, and commercial kitchens.
  • Transportation: Instituting ride share programs and alternatives to conventional road trips this year.
  • Public Policy: working with elected officials in all four towns and facilitating advocacy in Augusta to develop rational plans for a better future.

Be part of the solution! Every gift brings us that much closer to our goal. Thank you; your support transforms our vision for the future into a reality. 

why we're doing it

Arguably the most significant issue of our time, climate change is linked to food and economic insecurity, vector-borne diseases, and waste of precious natural resources. 

We seek to give hope to residents who feel powerless in confronting a problem as big as climate change.  Through a systematic series of sensible action steps, we will show that each of us can make a difference, and that, working together, we can change the world.

 

ACTT is designed to protect some of the most important things we love about our island home: its clean air and water, its coastline and fisheries, the natural splendor of its forests, meadows and wildlife. All these are threatened by our strange and increasingly severe weather.

 

Investing in clean energy means investing in our own communities and taking charge of our own future. Instead of subsidizing big oil, we invest in schools that use less energy, growing food on local farms, and solar on our roofs – creating local jobs, stronger communities, and a more stable climate.

 

budget

Original Budget

This funding will support Solarize MDI, our initiative to bring photovoltaic systems to municipalities, schools, businesses and homeowners;
Zero Waste education and outreach; energy conservation; and alternative transportation projects. We need part-time staffing to support dozens of volunteers, and to stage a major event in July at MDI High School to reach even more members of the community. The first $2,000 raised in this campaign are matched by a donation from the New England Grassroots Environment Fund. This match is reflected in the total raised towards the goal.



RAISED = $5,692.00
ioby Platform Fee  $35.00
 Payment Processing Fee (3%) $164.77
TOTAL TO DISBURSE = $5,492.23

 

Original Budget



SUBTOTAL = $5,000
ioby Platform Fee  $35
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%) $150
TOTAL TO RAISE = $5,185

This funding will support Solarize MDI, our initiative to bring

photovoltaic systems to municipalities, schools, businesses and homeowners;

Zero Waste education and outreach; energy conservation; and alternative

transportation projects. We need part-time staffing to support dozens of

volunteers, and to stage a major event in July at MDI High School to reach

even more members of the community.

The first $2,000 raised in this campaign are matched by a donation from the New England

Grassroots Environment Fund. This match is reflected in the total raised

towards the goal.

 

updates

Thank you to our donors!

Home Weatherization Partnerships

Did you know inexpensive, reusable window inserts can save up to 20% of your home heating costs in the winter? While summer is just around the corner, it's time to get your windows measured for inserts by WindowDressers! This is one of the least-expensive and most impactful things you can do on your own home. Volunteers build the inserts in October and you can pop them in just in time for the heating season. Go to the following link to sign up: http://windowdressers.org/contact-us/

A Climate to Thrive is helping connect building-owners with local resources such as WindowDressers to help MDIers address the "low-hanging fruit" of energy independence.  These projects save building-owners money, help keep greenhouse gases in the ground, and build community through information- and resource-sharing.  Please help support our efforts by donating today!

One Compost Bin at a Time

One of the many current projects that we are pursuing at A Climate to Thrive this month is a bulk order of compost bins for anyone on the island.  The purchase program is an annual opportunity through the Maine Resource Recovery Association and the goal is to reduce the cost of bins by buying in bulk, but a local sponsor (ACTT, in this case), needs to organize the purchase by coordinating outreach, communicating with perspective buyers, collating orders, and handling bin pick-up.  

This project presents a perfect microcosm of what A Climate to Thrive is all about; connecting resources and opportunities that already exist in Maine with residents of MDI to improve not only our collective climate impact, but also our quality of life, local economy, and our community.  Composting removes 40% of the material in the average American trash can and creates excellent soil amendments that improve our gardens.  Every dollar saved on more expensive bins or store-bought compost made in distant states is another dollar that can be spent at a local business.  Orchestrating this project has been an exercise in creating community, as we educate ourselves about home composting and build excitment about bringing the bins home on June 4th.  

As you consider donating to ACTT, please know that every dollar that you contribute supports this sort of project - the kind that gives back to the community in a multitude of ways and supports a thriving island for many years to come.

Giving is Investing

"Giving should be entered into in just the same way as investing. Giving is investing."  - John D. Rockefeller

I stumbled on this quote recently, and it fits perfectly with our attitude at A Climate to Thrive. We all give of our time, energy, ideas, knowledge, and funds. These gifts are an investment in the future of Mount Desert Island, in local solutions to climate change, in creating an inspiring example for communities around the world, and in our children's future. At our Advisory Board meeting last night, the room was charged with excitement about upcoming projects and events. We are grateful for your investment, making all of that work possible!

photos

This is where photos will go once we build flickr integration

donors

  • James Gillespie Blaine
  • Eleanor Andrews
  • Ken & Jacquie Colburn
  • Milja Brecher-DeMuro
  • Anonymous
  • Bill and Cookie Horner
  • Anonymous
  • Elizabeth C S.
  • Karen G.
  • Anonymous
  • J. Meltzer
  • Rose Avenia
  • MDI Imported Car Service
  • Anonymous
  • sheila eddison
  • Caroline Pryor & David MacDonald
  • Steven Katona and Susan Lerner
  • Dennis and Johannah
  • Anonymous
  • Rose Iuro-Damon
  • Anonymous
  • Daniel Williams
  • Anonymous
  • Karen Greenberg
  • Anonymous
  • Dick Atlee
  • Jenn & Don Brandt
  • Debbie Kiley
  • Anne W.
  • Sue Whitby & Eric Johnson
  • MDI Imported Car Service
  • John Craigo
  • Anonymous
  • Richard and Susan Sassaman
  • Anonymous
  • lisa B.
  • Emily Beck & Geoff Young
  • Anonymous
  • Gary & Glenon Friedmann
  • Ken Colburn

nearby projects

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