Present: Aaron Choate, Cara Choate, Dolly Ensey, Dave Westenbarger, Mary Louise Lopwez, George Holcombe, Gordon Bennett, Terry Dyke, Marilyn Fenn, David Greene
- Why are we here? We introduced ourselves, touched on where we’re coming from, where we’d like to go with this. Three themes:
- Technical solutions: Around the table, we represented experience (and expertise) in carbon-reducing strategies: electric car conversions, solar hot water heating, solar PVs, greywater reuse, permaculture & gardening, green building, simple living.
- Community organizing: We bring experience in organizing – historical perspective on what has worked locally, what hasn’t. How to provide a model for others. How action at the local and household level feeds broader change.
- Logistics: How to publicize and raise awareness through repetition. Start with modest goals. Newsletter editor. Expertise with grant writing.
- What do we want to do? Brain stormed ideas. Four rough categories:
- Conduct or promote skills training & capital improvements
- Green building – at Asbury?
- Blue vinyl – film on vinyl siding& impacts of industry
- Catalog of local ‘greenbuilt’ projects – weekend tours/demos.
- Brick & mortar community center? Hangars? Asbury?
- Saturday monthly – invite contractors
- Transportation – survey, increase 21/22 frequency, yellow bike, cargo bike?
- Coordinate Bulk Purchasing
- Light bulbs – AE rebate
- Tree planting
- Bulk purchase of water heaters, low-flow toilets
- Soil tests?
- Share resources and take collective action
- Promote electric scooters
- Promote (share) electric mowers
- Idenitfy neighborhood open spaces as candidates for gardens
- Neighborhood co-op – shared tools, shared pickup
- Follow model of electric mower share group (6 families)
- Concrete mixer already owned by CNA.
- Food buying co-op (vegetables, meat?) – Community-supported agriculture tie-in?
- Recycling/reuse information
- Kill-a-watt meter or Energy detective (home speedometer)
- Canvas bags
- Transportation – survey, increase 21/22 frequency, yellow bike, cargo bike?
- Make it happen via Grant writing/political power/profile raising
- Greenbuilding – at Asbury?
- Work with mayor/council as pilot project
- Farmers market at Fiesta?
- Brick & mortar community center? Hangars? Asbury?
- City provides a shed building?
- Survey of neighborhood: resources, interests
- Collaborate with Maplewood Elem – Dr. Walker?
- We discussed three projects in particular detail:
- Conduct a neighborhood survey – via NeighborNet and/or Flea insert – to identify resources & interests and raise awareness. David, Cara, and Aaron to flesh out.
- Host neighborhood ‘green’ tours and/or barn-raisings to faciliate design & implementation of technical solutions. Invite contractors to participate. “Put the kibosh on carbon”
- Recruit neighborhood households to report on carbon indicators (kWh used, miles driven/gas consumed, water used, etc.) and report totals in Flea. Can we get neighborhood-level info from Austin Energy
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