Earth Care News

March 2018

In this newsletter:
VTIPL Annual Conference: October 13, 2018 — Save the Date!
Faith Climate Action Week: April 14 – 22, 2018
Moving Toward Zero Energy — Workshop Series Begins Mar. 7
Merchants of Doubt Documentary Film Showing, Mar. 8, Jericho
George Lakey, Viking Economics’ Author, Speaks in Middlebury and Burlington
LEAP Energy Fair: Saturday, April 7, 9 am – 3 pm, Duxbury
No Fossil Fuel Money: Ask Vermont Candidates to Take the Pledge
Climate Communication Video with Katharine Hayhoe
The Last Decade – A New Climate Movement Manifesto
Half of Bering Sea’s Ice Lost in Two Weeks
Clean Energy Pioneers Earn Double Returns
Vermont Interfaith Power & Light’s Board Seeks New Members

VTIPL Annual Conference: October 13, 2018 — Save the Date!
VT Interfaith Power & Light’s annual conference will be on Sat., Oct. 13, 2018 at Faith United Methodist Church in South Burlington. Save the Date! More details will be in this newsletter in coming months.

Faith Climate Action Week: April 14 – 22, 2018
Take part in national Interfaith Power & Light’s Faith Climate Action Week! During this time in April, clergy and lay ministers across the country will preach about global climate change, give workshops, and lead activities to help people conserve energy and use it efficiently, and will take action in other ways, including advocating for renewable energy and getting off fossil fuels to help slow global warming. Please contact VTIPL to let us know if your congregation is participating in Faith Climate Action Week. Efficiency Vermont is partnering with VTIPL and offering services and materials. Also, the national IPL websitewill soon have 2018 materials available.

Moving Toward Zero Energy — Workshop Series Begins Mar. 7
This workshop series, The Path to Greater Home Comfort and Energy Savings: Moving Toward Zero Energy, is hosted by and will be held at NRG Systems, 110 Riggs Rd., Hinesburg, beginning March 7. The four workshops will be on Mar. 7, Mar. 21, Apr. 11, and May 2. Each workshop begins at 6:30 pm with networking; the presentations run from 7 – 9 pm. The series is free and all are welcome. The first workshop covers “How Energy Savings and a Healthy Home Can Get You on the Path to Zero Energy” and “What Zero Energy Looks Like: A Zero Energy Case Study.” The other three workshops cover air sealing and insulation; heat pumps for air and water heating; solar PV; wood heat; and financing options. The Hinesburg Energy Committee sponsors. Attendees are welcome to come to part or all of each session. For more information, contact Chuck Reiss: 802-482-3295.

Merchants of Doubt Documentary Film Showing, Mar. 8, Jericho
VTIPL has shown the excellent documentary Merchants of Doubt all around the state from South Hero and Plainfield to Springfield and Manchester — 18 showings so far. The next one will be at Deborah Rawson Memorial Library in Jericho on Thursday, Mar. 8 at 7 pm. The film is more relevant than ever. Contact VTIPL to schedule a showing in your community. Events are free and open to all. To find out more about it, watch the film trailer.

George Lakey, Viking Economics’ Author, Speaks in Middlebury and Burlington
George Lakey is an activist, sociologist, and author of many books including his recent one, Viking Economics: How the Scandinavians Got It Right and How We Can Too. He’ll speak at Dana Auditorium, Middlebury College, on Wed., Mar. 14, 7 pm, on “A Divided America: What Can We Learn from the Nordics?” and on Thur., Mar. 15, 7 pm, at Middlebury Congregational Church on “2018 as a Year of Crisis and Opportunity.” Next, he’ll speak at First Unitarian Universalist Society at the top of Church Street, Burlington, on Fri., Mar. 16, 7 pm, on “A Divided America…”. Admission is free, and donations are accepted at the door. Middlebury contact: Molly Anderson; Burlington contact: Ruah Swennerfelt

LEAP Energy Fair: Saturday, April 7, 9 am – 3 pm, Duxbury
Waterbury LEAP (Local Energy Action Partnership) sponsors this fair — the largest energy fair in Vermont. Held at Crossett Brook Middle School Gym, this free event has over 75 exhibits, break-out sessions, entertainment for kids, electric vehicles on display, refreshments and free ice cream! More information is here or contact Ned Houston at 802-244-7829.

No Fossil Fuel Money: Ask Vermont Candidates to Take the Pledge
Ask the candidates for elected office in Vermont to take the pledge not to accept campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies. From VPIRG, the page with the pledge for the candidates to sign is here(https://secure2.convio.net/vpirg/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=471). Vermont – and the world – need elected officials who will take bold action toward reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. Let’s elect leaders who will take this pledge!

Climate Communication Video with Katharine Hayhoe
In this 6-minute YouTube video, leading climatologist Katharine Hayhoe, speaks about talking with skeptics about climate change.

The Last Decade – A New Climate Movement Manifesto
Alex Steffen shares his perspective through his manifesto on the website.

Half of Bering Sea’s Ice Lost in Two Weeks
Alaskan climate scientists are calling the loss of roughly half of the ice in the Bering Sea in two weeks “unprecedented.” Read the story here.

Clean Energy Pioneers Earn Double Returns
This Forbes article by Mike Scott tells of clean energy pioneers earning double returns compared with fossil fuel firms.

Vermont Interfaith Power & Light’s Board Seeks New Members
Vermont Interfaith Power & Light’s Board is seeking new members. Contact usif you’re interested or would like more information.

VTIPL helps people of faith and spirit to better understand the climate crisis and to take action to care for Earth.

Vermont Interfaith Power and Light
P.O. Box 209, Richmond, VT 05477
info@vtipl.org 802-434-3397 www.vtipl.org