C3 Celebrates Earth Month
April is one of our favorite and busiest months of the year here at C3, and it’s not just because springtime is beautiful in central Virginia. It’s Earth Month, which of course we love! Here’s April’s highlight reel.
We’ve Moved!
In early April, we moved to a new office! You can find us now at 306-B East Jefferson Street, right across from BB&T and Court Square. To celebrate, we’re holding an office-warming party on April 30 (4PM-6PM), so come see us. And in case you missed it, check out Claire Habel’s (our Residential Program Manager) blog on “Moving with Minimal Impact!
Climate Makes the Front Page
Around mid-April, C-Ville Weekly published a comprehensive story on local climate solutions, featuring Susan Kruse, C3’s Executive Director. C-Ville Weekly also put the spotlight on our Home Energy Challenge, highlighting how this fun and social community-based program empowers local residents to make "little shifts in personal habits that add up to a larger impact."
Earth Week-at-a-Glance
Not surprisingly, Earth Week itself was jam-packed. Teri Kent, a.k.a. Better World Betty, and Mike Kruse of Evergreen Recycling joined the Health Systems Marketing and IT department for their April Lunch n’ Learn on Earth Day to discuss how to be a eco-conscious consumer. Then Teri stopped by to see the University of Virginia’s Write Climate, Right Climate Public Art Opening over on Grounds.
On Tuesday, we facilitated a burgeoning group of sustainable schools. Then on Wednesday, while the Board of Directors was hearing from Susan, Claire and Eliza Fisher, one of our Better Business Challenge volunteers, helped out Miller School with their “garbology” (a study of their waste stream). Teri also visited Ms. Robinson’s 2nd grade Meriwether Lewis students to talk about the three R’s, then we finished it off with a windy but engaging Fridays after Five!
Community Collaborators
This month, we were excited to welcome LEAP’s new Executive Director Chris Meyer and read about his experience hosting a Home Energy Challenge Power Party, and to learn about the bold goals he has set for his household. His family aims to save 5,000+ lbs of CO2 this year in the Challenge with simple yet impactful lifestyle changes!
We also featured Andy Lowe, Environmental Compliance Manager for Albemarle County, in our Climate Leader spotlight. Andy has been with the County since 2007, but in the environmental field for much longer. Read about his early experience working with AmeriCorps teaching kids about the natural world, his love of our National Parks, and why he’s hopeful the current “wave of public attention on environmental issues” will lead to meaningful change.
Participants on their Final Lap
Our 93 Better Business Challenge participants have just two weeks before crossing the finish line. We had the chance to feature the inspiring work several of our participants are doing to save energy and money and make a difference on climate in the community, like Building Goodness Foundation, Peace Lutheran Church, and CFA Institute.
Fridays After Five
To wrap up Earth Month, on April 26, the C3 team joined in on the Friday’s After Five fun with a booth near the Sprint Pavilion, where revelers got to play a spirited game of “Guess Your Carbon Weight” and learn ways they can lower their carbon footprint. If you missed us, we’ll be back this Friday.
PHEW! We’ve been busy.
Check out tomorrow’s blog for our May happenings.