Staunton Green 2020

Last week we urged you to contact Governor Kaine about light rail along Interstate 81. Thank you to those of you who took the time to make your voices heard. Happily, $62 million was earmarked for light rail in Virginia.

However…

There is still resistance to light rail along Interstate 81 by Virginia Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer. Forty-six (46) local and regional planning bodies agree that light rail would significantly benefit Virginia. It is never too late to show your support of light rail and other forms of transportation. Our officials won’t listen unless a lot of us make noise!

Please contact Governor Kaine by telephone (804) 786-2211 or email him from his website: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/AboutTheGovernor/contactGovernor.cfm.

Thank you for your support; we’ll be back to covering Staunton-specific environmental actions soon.

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We need your support today to support a light rail initiative on I-81!!

A light rail would reduce traffic congestion and emissions and increase our area’s economic connectivity to Northern Virginia and D.C. In short: A commuter rail would be an economic and environmental boon to Staunton!

DETAILS:

Virginia turned down the first request to include a high-way speed rail initiative for the I-81 corridor in the upcoming federal transportation bill, so RAIL Solution has arranged for volunteers and officials from the corridor to meet with Governor Kaine’s staff on Wednesday this week (July 15) to try to persuade his administration to change its mind.

******** This is a critical juncture for the I-81 initiative – the federal transportation bill is only reauthorized once every 6 years, and federal stimulus money is unlikely to ever be available again. **********

The key to success is very likely to be the amount of public support that is expressed for highway-speed rail service in the I-81 corridor – and this is where your personal action would truly help.

HOW TO HELP

Would you please e-mail, call, or fax the Governor’s office with your views before the meeting on Wednesday afternoon?

E-mail – Copy and paste your message in the web e-mail form at: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/AboutTheGovernor/contactGovernor.cfm.

Phone – Call the Governor’s office at (804) 786-2211  [or TTY/TDD (For the Hearing Impaired): 1-800-828-1120, or 711], and ask to speak to a staff member who can relay your comments on the need for highway-speed intermodal rail service in the I-81 corridor to the Governor.

FAX – Print and FAX, or “send as FAX” your message to 804-371-6351.

Mail – Print your message and mail it to: Office of the Governor, Patrick Henry Building , 3rd Floor, 1111 East Broad Street , Richmond , Virginia 23219

[Mail will arrive too late for this critical junction so please consider another alternative. Still, a letter will send a strong message!]

(A thanks to our Lexington neighbors involved with the Rockbridge Area Conservation Council for giving SG2020 this urgent news tip!)

Download sample letters here:

governor-kaine-letter-2

constituent-letter-1

Last week SG2020 member Gena Davis shared a list of things you can do around your home to be more environmentally-friendly. If you missed them, click here.

Building on Gena’s suggestions, here are some specific carbon-reducing measures for your kitchen:

These tips are based on those found at CRed, a U.K-based initiative to reduce carbon emissions. Check out their site for more great ideas.

Finally, here’s a chart showing carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. Double click it to enlarge. (Am I the only one who thinks it looks like a guy jumping over a hurdle?)

A big, hearty thanks to Staunton City Council! Last night they showed leadership and foresight by agreeing to establish a Green Task Force/Green Commission (name TBD).

This means our city will have one point person/group who will work with local grassroots organizations (such as SG2020 volunteers) to measure our carbon output, make recommendations on changes that can save the city and its residents energy and money, and look for green jobs and other opportunities ahead of the curve.

Below is a copy of our short presentation if you’d like to see what we shared.

A big thanks, too, to all the people here in Staunton who signed our online and paper petition. It was tangible proof there are many here who are committed to seeing positive environmental changes happen right here. Your support made the difference.

We have a lot of work ahead of us. Together with the city we need your minds, talents, and volunteering efforts. Now is a great time to get involved; please contact us at stauntongreen AT gmail.com to see what you can do to keep moving in a positive direction.

Thanks again, Staunton City Council!

An often overlooked but easy thing you can do to reduce energy consumption AND expense is proper management of your home’s electrical devices. SG2020 member Gena Adams adds to her series of action steps to take around your home:

Phone, Computers and Charging Devices

Thanks, Gena!

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More great tips from SG2020 member Gena Adams:

I’ll add a few more:

• Plant a bee and/or butterfly garden to assist natural pollinators
• Add wildflowers to your yard to retain native species
• Plant native plants since they use less water
• Reduce the overall size of your lawn
• Get your yard Wildlife Habitat Certified

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Take an inventory of your house and discover ways to increase energy efficiency, safety, and minimize cost. More helpful “how-to” tips from SG2020 member Gena Adams:

Attic

• Insulate.
• Install an Attic Fan to cool your house in the summer. (Here’s a solar-powered attic fan manufactured in the U.S.)

Basement

• When it is time to upgrade purchase an energy efficient furnace.
• Think about installing a solar water heater.

All Rooms

• Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs.
• Weatherstrip, caulk and seal around all windows and doors. This can save you up to 10% on your energy bill according to the Department of Energy.
• Use homemade or green cleaners in your home, which are safe for your children and pets.
• Use microfiber reusable cloths for cleaning.
• Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
• Install a ceiling fan to improve air circulation.
• Use VOC free paint.
• Use room-darkening blinds on the South and West sides of your house to keep the heat out.

NOTE:  Just how profitable are energy-efficient upgrades? Up to 16% return on your money, or more!

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More practical tips for the home from SG2020 member Gena Adams:

Bedrooms

• Consider purchasing a wool mattress.  New mattresses often have high levels of VOC’s. Do you want to breathe that in every night?
• Install ceiling fans to help keep you cool at night.
• Use soy candles over traditional petroleum based candles.

Laundry Room

• Wash clothes in cold water (this will cut down your electric bill).
• Purchase laundry detergents that are plant based, biodegradable and concentrated.
• Line dry your clothes.

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Come to the July 4 parade at Gypsy Hill Park this Saturday at 10am or, better yet, be in the parade representing SG2020! We’ll be driving a cool, brand new Ford Fusion Hybrid, courtesy of Paul Obaugh Ford, giving out red, white and blue popcorn and distributing info about SG2020. We need your assistance and this is a great opportunity to get the word out about our important work. Email us (StauntonGreen AT gmail.com) to be in the parade.

We have a lofty mission and ambitious goals and we hope you will get involved. Take a glance at our revised mission and goals then email us to let us know what interests you.