Baltimore launching grass-roots campaign to save energy

[sfc_oliver]

A grass roots movement does not begin at city hall. This is a city that wants to shame or force their citizens into spending money to be a little bit greener. When we all understand that it really won't make much difference since for every energy efficient light we install, China and India plug in 50 new bulbs of the old type.

By the way I do have energy efficient bulbs in almost the entire house and solar lights outside, And I did order 4 more low e windows.....But this is my own choice not because City Hall started a fake grass roots movement.

[irishbobcat]

Baltimore launching grass-roots campaign to save energy
   Aug 12, 2009   The Baltimore Sun   
   Timothy B. Wheeler Aug. 12, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- With free gadgets and tips, Baltimore is launching a campaign to get residents to save money and fight climate change by switching to energy-saving light bulbs, putting low-flow nozzles on showers and making other simple, relatively inexpensive changes in their homes. Mayor Sheila Dixon is scheduled to kick off the Baltimore Neighborhood Energy Challenge today at the West Baltimore home of one of the campaign's volunteer "captains." Leaders are being lined up in nine neighborhoods to sign up participants in what officials say is City Hall's first major initiative to fulfill the city's "sustainability plan" adopted this year. The plan commits Baltimore to reducing energy use and the release of climate-warming greenhouse gases by 15 percent by 2015. The aim of the grass-roots campaign is "for neighbors to empower neighbors to save energy, save money and reduce their carbon footprint at home," said Sarah Zaleski, the city's sustainability coordinator. Officials hope the effort will spur demand for weatherization and other environmental products and services, boosting creation of "green jobs" in the city. Residents who sign pledges to join the effort will be given "energy-saver kits." Besides compact fluorescent bulbs and tips, the kits will include carbon monoxide detectors to improve home safety. City officials hope to get 1,500 households to sign up. After evaluating the effort through next spring, they want to expand the campaign citywide. The campaign is being launched in partnership with Baltimore Gas and Electric Co., which will provide home energy checkups to participants, with the $40 fee easily waived, said Ruth Kiselewich of BGE. The initial effort will cost about $300,000, Zaleski said, with funding provided by BGE parent Constellation Energy (NYSE:CEG) , by foundations and by the federal government, through an economic stimulus grant. The effort follows similar energy-saving drives in other states, but Zaleski said Baltimore's will attempt to document reductions in electricity use by monitoring participants' bills. The door-to-door approach piggybacks on an energy-conservation project by Civic Works, Baltimore's branch of the Americorps job-training program. Civic Works members will train the neighborhood captains after visiting their homes to provide energy-saving gadgets and pointers. Rodney Bowie and Shalkima Jenkins of Civic Works screwed in new light bulbs yesterday at Jackie White's home in Park Heights, put low-flow nozzles on her kitchen faucet and shower, and wrapped her water heater with a fiberglass insulating blanket. White, 60, a retired state worker, was eager to get started in telling others how they could help themselves and the environment at the same time. "I already have neighbors in mind," she said. Targeted neighborhoods are: Park Heights Renaissance, Fulton Avenue in Sandtown, Reservoir Hill, Baybrook, Banner/Middle East, Greater Lauraville, Ten Hills, Mount Washington and Roland Park.