UNITING THE VOICE OF THE GRASSROOTS ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT

aug. - sept. 2011

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How many ligHt bulbs does it take to cHange tHe world?

By Jenita McGowan, Mayors office of sustainaBility

In August 2009, Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson convened the first Sustainable Cleveland 2019 Summit to bring together hundreds of people interested in applying the principles of sustainability to the design of the local economy. The goalenvision a 10-year campaign for building an economic engine to empower a green city on a blue lake by 2019, the 50th anniversary of the infamous Cuyahoga River fire. On September 22 and 23, the City of Cleveland will host the third annual Sustainable Cleveland 2019 (SC2019) Summit at Cleveland Public Auditorium, 500 Lakeside Ave., Cleveland, Ohio. The purpose of the summit is to engage people from all walks of

life, to work together to design and develop a thriving and resilient region that leverages its wealth of assets to build economic, social and environmental well-being for all. Every year leading up to 2019, Cleveland will focus on one of the key areasENERGY EFFICIENCY, LOCAL FOODS, RENEWABLE & ADVANCED ENERGY, ZERO WASTE, CLEAN WATER, SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY, VIBRANT GREEN SPACE, VITAL NEIGHBORHOODSfundamental to a sustainable economy. The focus for the 2011 summit is two-foldthe current years celebration topic
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how many LiGht buLbS doeS it take to chanGe the worLd?

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The Year of Energy Efficiencyand the upcoming Year of Local Food in 2012. The summit will highlight local and regional accomplishments relating to energy efficiency and will accelerate momentum for current initiatives. Additionally, participants will create goals and action steps for the Year of Local Food. The community is continuing to align and support our collective effort to transform into a bright green city on a blue lake. At this years summit we will celebrate our progress in the realm of energy efficiency, refocus our efforts and start to shape 2012, the year of local food, Andrew Watterson, Chief of Sustainability at the City of Cleveland said. Since 2009, working groups comprised of community volunteers, organizations and individuals have been engaged in a variety of sustainable economic initiatives toward this goal. The working groups and other stakeholders will also be invited to share their progress since the 2010 Summit. Jon J. Reidy and his wife moved to Cleveland in late 2010. Reidy is an architect with a keen interest in responsible building practices because of the high demand the built environment places on natural resources. Upon arrival in Cleveland I was greeted by a profoundly struggling job market, and I used my involuntary sabbatical as an opportunity to reflect on how sustainability relates to my personal and professional goals, he said. After a bit of research I was quite surprised to learn about Sustainable Cleveland 2019. Reidy found working groups which were already hard at work in his interest areas, net zero energy buildings and green building retrofit. There has been great progress in many aspects of sustainability since last years summit and notable action around Energy Efficiency working group in particular. In January, 500 people attended the Cleveland Conserves Energy Efficiency Fair hosted by the City of Cleveland as a kick-off event for the Year of Energy Efficiency. In March, the Energy Efficiency Celebration Committee organized a CSU Levin College Forum, How Many Light Bulbs Does it Take to Change the World, to introduce the public to the Northeast Ohio Energy Alliance, the Energy $aver Pilot program and the Advanced Energy and Energy Efficiency Special Improvement District. Each of these new initiatives is re-shaping the way we think about energy efficiency. The Green Building Retrofit working group will be collecting case studies to detail and identify building performance efforts that not only offer sustainable and environmental benefits but also present compelling return-on-investment and economic success stories. This resource will be a public access portal that will highlight local success stories and data that informs the market on best practices of our region. The Vital Neighborhoods working group is planning to launch a residential contest to boost household participation in energy efficiency beginning in September and concluding before the end of 2011. There have been numerous institutions and corporations that have taken an initiative to employ conservation and efficiency in the Year of Energy Efficiency. COSE was awarded two grants from the Ohio Depart-

Photo by Brad Masi

ment of Development to provide energy efficiency assistance to small businesses throughout Ohio. To date, 67 businesses have received grants for energy assessments, and 25 of these businesses secured additional grants worth $3,000 each to finance energy efficient upgrades. The Cleveland Clinic received Energy Star partner of the year award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for reducing their energy consumption by more than 20 percent over the past three years. Finally RPM, Building Solutions Group completed renovations of their headquarters in Beachwood which is achieving more than 40 percent energy efficiency savings in their operations. This is just a sampling of activities and achievements in implementing energy efficiency in our region. Cleveland has created tremendous momentum around the local food movement. Since last years Summit, the Northeast Ohio Local Food Assessment was released showing the impact on the regional economy if it were to buy 25 percent of its food

locally. With more than 20 farmers markets, 150 community gardens, and dozens of urban farms and market gardens, Northeast Ohio is well positioned to bring national attention to its Year of Local Food. Cleveland will also celebrate the centennial of the public West Side Market as it hosts the 2012 International Public Markets Conference. During the summit, participants will honor the individuals who have been working in local food and urban gardening for decades in Cleveland and learn how they paved the way for the recent surge in interest and action around local foods. Summit participants will take part in creating the goals and action steps for the local food economy in 2012 and beyond. Participation in the SC2019 Summit is by application only. To be considered for a summit appointment, fill out the online application located at www.summit2011app.eventbrite.com. Summit appointments are based on the stakeholder mix needed to accurately represent the Greater Cleveland community.

Free curricuLum materiaLS to accompany on coaL riVer

Makers of the award-winning documentary film ON COAL RIVER announced the release of a 59-page Educators Guide to accompany the film, which follows the story of a former miner and his neighbors working to protect their homes, drinking water and children from the destructive practice of mountaintop removal coal mining and its toxic impacts. With accompanying video clips and handouts, a glossary and detailed lesson plans on civic participation, environmental science, and the importance of weighing many community perspectives, the study guide will support junior high school, high school and college level educators to bring a critical and balanced inquiry to the highly controversial issue of mountaintop removal coal mining. Lauded by Variety magazine as Respectful, thorough and relevant, ON COAL RIVER was shot over five years on location in West Virginia. ON COAL RIVER will make its broadcast premiere this October on Outside Television, a growing cable network from the publishers of Outside Magazine. Filmmakers Francine Cavanaugh and Adams Wood worked with a talented team including writer Faith Rogow and Producer Daven Gee to design the materials for use with the film in its entirety (81 minutes) or with specially edited educational clips, including footage not

used in the final cut of the film. The Guides release follows a controversy earlier this year over Scholastics promotion of coal industry-funded materials to fourth grade teachers. We created this Guide as a tool for educators who want to help their students to think critically about our nations energy supply. Because ON COAL RIVER focuses on a school, it does a particularly good job of engaging students on the pressing issue of mountaintop removal coal mining, said Francine Cavanaugh, director of the film. For more information or to access the Educators Guide and other applicable material, visit www.oncoalriver.com.
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ecowatch journaL auGuSt - September 2011