Team Co chairs: Terry Dorsey, Bob Wangsness

Team Members: Susan Hurm, Karen Sundal, Janet Farrell, Dorothy Owens, Dick Schindler & Dan Kane.

Mission

Inform, educate and assist by involving citizenry with implementing programs to encourage alternative energy use and conservation which will result in Austin / Mower County reaching State goals on greenhouse gas emission levels.

Goals

·      Educate and involve all citizens in meeting State greenhouse gas reduction goals.

·      Emphasize education, involvement and initiatives of students in meeting State greenhouse gas reduction goals.

·   Involve civic and environmental organizations in meeting state greenhouse gas reduction goals.

Action Plan

1.     Education initiatives.

a.     Produce a Be Cool…Go Green! column in local newspapers to inform the citizenry about efforts of all Green Teams, to promote Cool projects and to report on progress in reaching goals.

b.     Provide informational displays at county and energy fairs, and floats at parades.  Identify other events or venues to promote Austin Coalition for Environmental Sustainability (aces) i.e. Austin’s Home & Garden Show etc.

c.     Write and distribute Green news releases for papers, radio and TV stations.  Publish articles in city, county, school district newsletter, newspapers and the Chamber newsletter in conjunction with the Audubon Society and Isaac Walton League offering energy conservation tips and ideas for the home and business.

d.     Publish information about aces meetings and projects.

e.     Maintain aces web site and promotional brochure. Connect aces web site to relevant links.  i.e. Welcome Center, Convention and Visitor Bureau, County and Utilities websites.

2.     Involve students at all levels in Green efforts.

a.     Student Green Teams – organized student effort.  Involve teachers.

b.     Be Cool…Go Green! column in school newspapers to promote Cool Projects

c.     Encourage adoption of programs like:  Make your School Cool, Going Green is Cool, and Riding your Bike to School is Cool.

d.     Encourage students to be involved in energy conservation, recycling and in “Greening” school buildings and their homes.

3.     Encourage the involvement of the general public in Cool initiatives.

a.     Encourage involvement in Austin Utilities programs and rebates (i.e. energy audits, and energy efficient appliances and bulbs).

b.     Encourage citizen participation in programs and initiatives of the RENEWABLE ENERGY Green Team (i.e. ride the bus, carpool, bike or walk to work day).

c.     New arrivals education:  Provide recycling information and bins, energy-saving rebates, aces activities and ways to get involved.

d.     Develop a promotional site for aces that connects to the MN Energy Challenge web site that encourages individuals, nonprofit organizations, churches, large and small business to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

4.     Encourage civic and environmental organizations to actively participate in Be Cool…Go Green efforts! Work with organizations such as Senior Center, Welcome Center, Isaac Walton League, Audubon Society, Spruce Up Austin, Boys and Girls Scouts, League of Women Voters, P9 Union, Industries, Chamber of Commerce, Habitat for Humanities, KSMQ-TV, SMIG/Hormel Institute and many others:

a.     Encourage community groups to adopt Cool projects, initiatives and programs as identified by the RENEWABLE ENERGY Green Team.

b.     Educate local business and industry and encourage them to be involved in Be Cool… Go Green! activities such as a Paper Purge Day in connection with Earth Day.

c.     Assist businesses and industry participation in recycling and publicize how much is taken out of the waste stream. Review and clarify what forms of paper are recyclable.

5.     Work with the COORDINATION Green Team to fundraise by finding businesses to advertise in newspaper inserts educating the public about aces efforts, businesses efforts and what citizens can do.

Current Project Objectives