Applications for the new Energy Navigator <http://www.getyourgreenbacktompkins.org/navigators/> program have been extended through Monday, 4/4 in order to fill three remaining slots (of a total of 15) for the volunteer training program. Applications can be found at www.getyourgreenbacktompkins.org/navigators/.
Residents in Ulysses, Groton, Enfield, and Newfield, people of color, and people with limited incomes are especially encouraged to apply. More about the new volunteer program below. Karim * Energy Navigators are concerned and capable residents who help their friends, neighbors and other community members make environmentally and financially sound energy decisions by providing them with useful, locally relevant, unbiased, research-based information and resources. Energy Navigators participate in a ten-week training that helps them understand their own energy use and make progress towards their goals, and prepares them to help others in the community with their goals. Energy Navigator trainee selection is based on an applicant’s ability to attend the training sessions, and their capacity and interest in helping others. The 10-session Energy Navigator Training will be held Tuesdays, 9-11 am, beginning April 19th, 2016, at Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, 615 Willow Ave. in Ithaca, NY. A list of training topics is pasted below: TRAINING OVERVIEW 1. *Introductions & Overview* - Tompkins County’s energy use and carbon emission reduction goals, climate change and the importance of residential behaviors 2. *Your Energy Use* - interpreting energy bills; Is my home “efficient”? Calculating your carbon footprint 3. *Home as System/Energy Audit* - Building envelope basics and energy audits; DIY vs contractor 4. *Electricity, Lighting & Appliances*; Electricity basics; Lighting Choices; Appliances and vampire load 5. *Heating *- Heating systems (furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, wood and pellet stoves), fuel sources and costs; Heat load and BTUs--how many do you need? Fossil fuel vs Renewable heating systems; Importance of efficiency first 6. *Solar & Renewables *- Efficiency first! Solar hot water and PV; cost comparison solar vs. conventional electricity 7. *Transportation alternatives *- Electric vehicles and fuel-efficient cars; Active transportation--walk, bike and bus; carpooling; The real cost of driving 8. *Local food *- Carbon FOODprint; Simple ways to growing food; CSAs 9. *Waste reduction *- Reducing carbon footprint, energy use and waste by recycling, composting, reusing and repairing 10. *Outreach & Community Building *- Supporting friends and neighbors along a path towards reducing their energy use and becoming carbon neutral using approaches that build trust and community -- Karim Beers, Coordinator *Get Your GreenBack Tompkins* <http://getyourgreenbacktompkins.org/> *everyone taking a step to save energy and money* - Stay in touch via *Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/GetYourGreenBackTompkins/>* and the monthly *Community Newsletter <http://getyourgreenbacktompkins.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=7b633c9d0c01dcfb62a882694&id=a9a2585110>* - Become an *Energy Navigator* <http://www.getyourgreenbacktompkins.org/navigators/> - Get *Green & Cozy* <http://www.getyourgreenbacktompkins.org/green-cozy/>: Presentations on Pellet Heat and Energy Efficiency - Ask, Respond, & Contribute in the *Online Community Forums <http://forum.getyourgreenback.org/> *on Net-zero homes, hunting & fishing, home gardening, and Fuel-efficiency vehicles - Come out for *Streets Alive! <http://streetsaliveithaca.com/>*: Sunday, May 1, 1-5pm For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ If you have questions about this list please contact the list manager, Tom Shelley, at [email protected].
