25% by 2025 - Prospect Park's Home Energy Initiative

 

 Hi, all - I'm excited to announce that the PPA Environment Committee is kicking off our "25% by '25" initiative!  Our goal is to work with residents to bring natural gas use down by 25% by 2025.    

 Why focus on natural gas?  

1) It's the number one contributer to Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Minneapolis:

2) There are alternatives for electricity and on road transportation.  You can sign up for wind energy at Xcel Energy and you can bike, bus or take the light rail throughout the Twin Cities.  There aren't easy conversions with natural gas.  The best place to start is to make sure your home is properly insulated and energy efficient.

3) The average home in Prospect Park used almost 25% more natural gas than the state average and 14% more than the Minneapolis average in 2019:

    Note:  Data is from CenterPoint Energy and is for 1-4 unit residences only.

 If you are curious how your home measured in 2019, go to CenterPoint Energy , sign into your account and look under 'usage' for the last 2 years of data.  

What can you do?

1) Get an energy audit!  Go to MNCEE and sign up for an audit.  They will start you with a free virtual audit and then if you are comfortable with it, have a home energy audit.  It's free for households with less than a $100,000 annual income.

2) Seal around windows and doors - Visit CenterPoint Energy - DIY Home Efficiency  for free supplies!    Insulate your walls and attic - Visit CenterPoint Energy - Insulation Rebates to find out about rebates.  Get your furnace tuned up!  Have to replace your hot water heater?  Switch to an electric, tankless hot water heater!  

3) Check back  or sign up (at left) to receive information on neighborhood events and presentations.

4) Post in the comments any ideas I missed or questions you have!  

Would you like one of our groovy 25% by 25' lawn signs to show your households commitment to natural gas reduction?  Email environment@prospectparkmpls.org for information on where to pick one up.  We are asking for a $9 donation to offset the cost of the sign.

Thanks, everyone!  This is just the beginning!   

Sincerely, 

Mary K. Britton - PPA Environment Committee Chair

April is Earth Month! Check out all the wonderful activities going on!

  It's our favorite month again!  Here is a list of events happening in and around Prospect Park.  Please post in the comments if I missed anything.

Thursday, April 8th 7 pm - Land Use and Planning Committee

I will be giving a short presentation on our ‘25% by 2025 initiative, which aims to bring down the natural gas usage in Prospect Park.   RSVP here and complete the form to receive the Zoom invite. 

Saturday, April 10 – April 24:  Neighborhood Cleanup:

The PPA Environment Committee is pleased to announce a neighborhood wide Earth Day Clean up beginning on Saturday, April 10th, and running through Saturday, April 24th. Help keep the storm water drains clear of litter and leaves, pick up the parks, or clean up your section of the neighborhood. We'll have 4 locations where you can pick up supplies (bags for litter & recycling, gloves, and a reusable water bottle) on Saturday, April 10 between 9AM and noon. When you register, you can let us know where you'll be working. Our goal is to cover the neighborhood. Prizes of a $25 gift card will be awarded after a drawing to a lucky person in each of 5 categories (grades 1-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12, and adult).  Please complete this quick form to let us know which of the 4 areas you will stop by on Saturday, April 10, 9AM - 12PM for supplies (Tower Hill Park, Luxton Park, East River Road, (near the Franklin Ave. bridge, or Towerside Park at 4th St and 29th Ave.). If you can't make it on the 10th but want to be involved, complete the form for ways to be involved. 

April 17 – April 25 – National Park Week

The week-long celebration encourages people to explore the vast network of national parks, sacred sites and historical landmarks in the country's national parks, as well as the shared heritage contained within them. Co-ordinated by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, every national park will have a free admission day on April 17, known as Park Rx Day.

 

Saturday, April 24, 10 am – 12 noon – Fundraiser for Community Driven

Community Driven’s Foodshare Program has been rescuing large amounts of surplus food from local groceries & restaurants and delivering that food to local food shelves & soup kitchens since May 1, 2019.

Please join us outside of 118 Arthur Ave SE for coffee and treats and a chance to learn more about this great organization that prevents food waste and helps so many people.  For more information on the organization, please visit community-driven.org.