Climate Change and Energy Conservation
Just because Sitka is a small town, the Sitka Conservation Society does not believe that means it can’t be a national leader in taking on climate change. The idea is that if little Sitka can take progressive steps, why can’t any other community? To help address climate change in Sitka, SCS has advocated for increasing the city’s hydroelectric capacity and organized energy conservation programs to help individuals improve the energy efficiency of their homes. This has been done through traditional advocacy as well as new partnerships with the City of Sitka and other entities. We also are striving to increase the amount of local foods being consumed in Sitka to both lower individual carbon footprints and decrease dependency on the outside world. In the last few years, great progress has been made in Sitka, and SCS is now spreading the word of Sitka’s successes to leaders in other communities.
Energize! Sitka
Energize! Sitka is a partnership between the Southeast Alaska Career Center and Sitka Conservation Society. Its aim is to make Sitka more energy efficient by providing residents with extensive professional training and certifications for “green” jobs in the areas of construction, carpentry, and weatherization techniques, and provides community-wide outreach for home weatherization and energy efficiency.
Kids’ Energy Awareness
Educating young people about energy issues is the best way to ensure an energy independent future for Sitka. The Sitka Conservation Society has begun visiting school classes to talk about energy. Lessons in the classroom visits include Sitka’s energy situation and conservation, fossil fuels in Alaska, home weatherization, and home and building energy audits.
Energy Conservation Outreach
To help the community of Sitka rely less on supplemental diesel energy and to lower Sitka’s carbon footprint, the Sitka Conservation Society has worked to keep year-round messages of energy conservation and efficiency in local and regional media to inform residents about state weatherization programs, local energy updates and utility changes, and simple home weatherization projects.
Climate Change in the Tongass
SCS is keeping a close watch on how climate change affects the Tongass through annual summer field work. This research, which supplements that being done by the Forest Service and other agencies, includes monitoring changes in ice packs, glaciers, and plant and animal population. While we hate to see the Tongass negatively impacted by global warming, having good data on these changes is crucial for climate change advocacy work that could ultimately prevent future harm.
Rain Power Film
The Sitka Conservation Society and Pundit Productions produced the short film “Rain Power” in 2010 with the primary goal of encouraging policy makers to support a hydroelectric expansion in Sitka. The film shows that a small community like Sitka can be a leader in renewable energy, and that hydropower can be set up in a way not to damage fish runs.
History of Renewable Energy and Climate Action in Sitka
The efforts that SCS has helped catalyze locally have helped Sitka become a vanguard for Alaska communities in looking beyond an oil-dependent economy to a renewable energy future with investments and policy that helps local communities. We have a long ways to go, but we have built a strong foundation and we are showing how small communities are finding solutions for global challenges.
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Energy Star Rebate Program Makes Dent in Electric Consumption
The Energy Star Rebate Program kicked off in late February and provided electric users with the opportunity to upgrade to an Energy Star appliance and receive a rebate ranging from $165-$1,500. The program was well received by residents in the first few months and is already showing great potential to make a dent [...]
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Weatherization 101: Programming You Heater
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May is National Bike to Work Month!
All of us here at SCS hope that you will join us in riding our bikes to work during the month of May in honor of National Bike Month! Our friends at SEARHC, Yellow Jersey Cycles, UAS, Rotary, and Sitka Community Hospital have a load of events that will knock your sprockets off! Be sure [...]
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Weatherization 101: Home Breaker Panels
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Weatherization 101 at Blatchley Middle School
Energy education classes in Blatchley Middle School are back by popular demand. Sixth grade social studies teacher, Tom Henshaw, welcomed a lesson on hydroelectricity and Sitka’s energy thresholds last semester and was so pleased with it, he requested another lesson focusing on energy this semester. The lesson that all 115 students received was Weatherization 101. [...]
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Girl Scout Troop #4140 Presents: Earth Hour
Saturday, March 31st was a day to remember for the girls in troop #4140. In order to earn the final award in the Get Moving Journey, the Innovate Award, the troop had planned an event that would allow them to showcase everything they learned about energy over the last seven months. The troop decided to [...]
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Weatherization 101: Caulking with Troop 4140
Girl Scout Troop 4140 has been learning all about energy during their Get Moving Energy Journey project as they work towards completing the requirements for their badge. Part of their project was to share what they learn with the community. In this video, join Girl Scouts from troop 4140 as they demonstrate the proper techniques [...]
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Weatherization 101: Choosing the Right Type of Caulking for SE Alaska
The videos this week will deal with caulking. Making sure that windows, doors, and seams are caulked and sealed will help save energy and money on home heating. This video will teach how to choose the right type of caulk. Weatherization 101: Choosing Caulk from Sitka Conservation Society on Vimeo. Weatherization 101 is a six [...]
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Weatherization 101: Lightbulbs
Girl Scout Troop 4140 has been learning all about energy during their Get Moving Journey, which focuses on energy. The journey consists of three prestigious Girl Scout awards, each containing several projects within itself. In addition to the regular Journey requirements, Junior troop 4140 took an additional task of recording weatherization videos to promote energy [...]
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The Future of Energy In Sitka
The Sitka Conservation Society released a report today on the Future of Energy in Sitka that calculates how much energy Sitka uses in a year, how much energy will be needed to sustain the community over the next 20 years, and how much money will be spent on oil if there is not an investment [...]
