Carbon Challenge NEWS

April 7, 2009 - Winners are announced!

Governor Douglas announces winners of the Vermont School Carbon Challenge

April 7, 2009

Dear Vermont students, teachers, parents and communities,

Thank you for your participation in the Vermont School Carbon Challenge. Your efforts paid off, both for your schools and Vermont’s natural resources. Together, you saved more than 114 tons of carbon emissions. That’s the equivalent of not driving 250,000 miles a year or taking 15 passenger vehicles off the road!

The contest is over for this year and I am proud to announce the winning schools, which will each receive $5,000 for an energy efficiency project and the top team, which will receive $1,000 for an energy efficiency project.

The top high school is Hazen Union High School in Hardwick, whose STS team tallied up almost 23 tons of saved emissions.

The winning middle school, with 23 tons saved, is Richmond Middle School in Hanover, New Hampshire – home to Norwich middle-schoolers.

The No. 1 elementary school is Salisbury Community School, whose zipCO2 team reduced emissions by 5 tons.

The top team is the Essex High Tech Green Hornets, whose 244 members led the charge to reduce almost 37 tons of CO2 emissions.

The Environmental Assistance Office at the Agency of Natural Resources will also conduct an energy audit at each of the winning schools to help them plan for a sound investment in energy efficiency.

This contest wouldn’t be possible without the support of our sponsors: Beverage Association of Vermont, Biomass Energy Resource Center, Inc., Cabot Creamery, Casella Waste Management Systems, Inc., Central Vermont Public Service, Efficiency Vermont, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Green Mountain Power Co., VELCO, Vermont Country Store, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, and Vermont Energy Partnership.

We’ll be celebrating the winners at the Environmental Excellence and Pollution Prevention Awards on April 20, from 4 to 6 p.m., in the House Chamber at the Statehouse.

Once again, congratulations!

Jim Douglas
Governor
State of Vermont

Check out all the teams on the VSCC Teams page!

 

April 1, 2009 - the Vermont School Carbon Challenge deadline is April 1st!

January 9, 2009

ANR Press Release -
New Year’s resolution for Vermont schools: Take the Carbon Challenge
Three Vt. schools in top 10 nationally

WATERBURY, Vt. – Three schools competing in the Vermont School Carbon Challenge have leapfrogged into the top 10 schools nationally at www.Carbonrally.com, which hosts the statewide contest sponsored by the Agency of Natural Resources... Please click here to read the full press release >> (434 KB PDF)

January 9, 2009

New Year's Note sent to VSCC Schools
from ANR Secretary Wood and the folks at Carbonrally.com

Everyone,
CONGRATULATIONS! Though you may not yet know it you are an example of both the power of one – and the power of many. Those of you accepting the Vermont School Carbon Challenge have contributed -- each in your own way -- to a reduction of greenhouse gases…and taken together, everyone involved has helped generate some very impressive numbers. To learn more, please click here to open the New Year’s note (1495KB PDF) from the ANR Secretary and the folks at Carbonrally.com. Like a report card during the school year, we hope this note gives some idea of just how you’re all doing in the aggregate. Please share the note with teammates, celebrate your success, and keep up the good work – it’s still several months until April!

December 29, 2008

As of December 29, 2008 the Vermont School Carbon Challenge teams reduced CO2 emissions by 50.57 tons! On Dec. 29, 2008 there were 18 VSCC teams with 594 members who had taken 2313 challenges! Check the Vermont Rally Impact Map and the VSCC teams page!

December 8, 2008

As of December 8, 2008 the Vermont School Carbon Challenge teams reduced CO2 emissions by 34.19 tons! Check the Vermont Rally Impact Map and the VSCC teams page!

September 2008

The Agency of Natural Resources and Carbonrally.com have teamed up to launch the Vermont School Carbon Challenge, an educational effort to get students, schools and communities to reduce carbon emissions, save energy and perhaps win $5,000 for their local school.

Governor Jim Douglas kicked off the launch of the Carbon Challenge Tuesday by pledging to take two of Carbonrally’s popular challenges: “Green Ham and Cheese” and “Power Shower.”

“I hope to see all Vermont schools take the Carbon Challenge,” the Governor said. “Our youngest residents hold the key to our future success, where our quality of life and prosperity are entwined with environmental stewardship.”

Vermont is the first state to take the Carbon Challenge with Carbonrally.com, said founder Jason Karas, a 1989 graduate of the University of Vermont’s Environmental Studies program.

“Vermont is a truly green state that has a fantastic record of environmental innovation and action. We hope other states will follow their lead with similar programs for their students,” Karas said. “Empowering kids to have a collective impact is the central theme behind Carbonrally. The Vermont School Carbon Challenge will bring that theme to life through the ideas, leadership and actions of students across the state.”

The Governor made a challenge of his own. “As governor of the greenest state in the nation, I invite my fellow governors to follow Vermont’s lead and bring the Carbon Challenge to their state schools,” Douglas said. “Every pound of carbon saved is a win for all of us.”

Schools can sign up for the Carbon Challenge by visiting the Agency’s Web site: http://www.anr.state.vt.us/carbonchallenge/. There, students and teachers learn more about climate change, find useful links and educational aids and will be directed to Carbonrally.com where they will create their teams, take challenges or propose ideas for new challenges.

Carbonrally.com then tracks every pound of carbon saved on its “rally machine” and the results are tallied in real time on the website’s leader board.

The web-based contest allows students, teachers, schools and families to compete with each other to see who can rack up the biggest reductions in carbon emissions by making simple, but lasting, changes in their everyday activities.

The top elementary, middle and high school will win $5,000 to use for a future energy-efficiency project at the school. The school with the top team will also win another $1,000 to be used for energy efficiency.

Governor Douglas applauded the Carbon Challenge sponsors, saying “In true Vermont fashion, we work together to make our state a prized place to live and work. I thank these sponsors for their commitment to our schools.”

The Vermont School Carbon Challenge is being sponsored by the following Vermont businesses and organizations: Beverage Association of Vermont, Bio-mass Resource Center, Inc., Cabot Creamery, Casella Waste Management Systems, Inc., Central Vermont Public Service, Efficiency Vermont, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Green Mountain Power Co., Velco, Vermont Country Store, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, and Vermont Energy Partnership.

This fun, challenging experience, is designed to teach the importance of taking small, collective steps toward changing everyday actions in order to make a big difference in the world around them.

“Education is one of the key components of addressing climate change,” said ANR Secretary George Crombie. “The actions learned early in life are the foundation for a lifelong appreciation for the environment.”

Tom McKone, Principal of Northfield Middle & High School, says he’s eager to get going with the Vermont School Carbon Challenge.

“This is a great opportunity to bring our environmental curriculum into the real world and at the same time to reduce our carbon footprint and to save energy,” McKone said. “Northfield Middle and High School is looking forward to a friendly competition with other schools. This is a win-win for everyone who participates.”