C3 in the Community

Our first foray into the community after launching the Charlottesville Climate Collaborative in fall 2017 was the Tom Tom Founders Festival in spring 2018! This annual celebration of ideas and culture – now a spring tradition in our region – highlights the innovators, visionaries, entrepreneurs, creatives, and artists who are inspiring “small city excellence everywhere,” especially in Charlottesville.
 
At the festival, Grey McLean, Charlottesville Climate Collaborative founder, participated in a panel moderated by Delegate David Toscano entitled, “A Vision for Charlottesville Climate Leadership.” The discussion, presented by Sun Tribe Solar and including panelists Charity Pennock, Executive Director of CvilleREA, and Wes Bellamy, Charlottesville City Council Member, focused on what the city could do to galvanize community-wide change aimed at reducing energy use and combating climate pollution.
 
During the panel discussion, McLean emphasized why everyone, from businesses to residences, need to transition to renewable energy sources to more effectively reduce our collective carbon footprint. “Ultimately, we want to focus on convening all the sectors,” he said. “If we’re going to make progress, we all have to take action. Our businesses have to take action. Our houses have to take action.”

In addition to the Tom Tom Founders Fest, the Charlottesville Climate Collaborative participated in “A Climate Conversation,” a community event held at Carver Recreation Center in April focusing on what Virginia and the Charlottesville community are doing to address climate change. In June, we also previewed the Better Business Challenge at the Blue Ridge Rotary Club, and we have more community engagement events planned for the rest of 2018, which we’ll announce on social media and our website.

In early May, we officially launched the aforementioned third annual Better Business Challenge, a friendly competition designed to help businesses and organizations in the Charlottesville area – including Albemarle, Nelson, Green, Louisa, Madison and Fluvanna County. Already 65 businesses and nonprofits have joined this community-wide initiative to cut energy costs and save money while making a positive impact on the community. And it’s not too late to do your part and join! 

Finally, stay tuned for the launch of C3's next effort: the Home Energy Challenge — more details coming soon.