Phippsburg
The long-term goal is to identify and weatherize the low income housing stock in Phippsburg in order to reduce carbon emissions and thereby reduce climate change impacts resulting from excessive carbon emissions. We are concerned about ameliorating climate change in our fishing and tourism-dependent community, where clamming, mussel, lobster and fish harvests are being disrupted by ocean acidification and warming. Many local residents have low-paying seasonal employment in fishing trades, in resorts and campgrounds, and firewood businesses.
Our housing stock, like most of Maine’s, is very old, and we will be providing information on loans and grants available for additional work by homeowners after our air sealing work. 7 Rivers Habitat for Humanity and the CAT will collaborate to air seal homes in the Phippsburg area using Habitat’s professional free air sealing services and trained volunteers from Phippsburg. An energy auditor paid by Habitat will inspect the houses and develop an individualized list of most effective air sealing steps for each house. Habitat will also provide materials and equipment to do some, or all, of the air sealing work. Homeowners will be expected to volunteer in their own home’s weatherization, in Habitat’s ReStore facility or in making their own interior window inserts in Habitat’s shops and with Habitat staff assistance. Other volunteers will be recruited, trained, and supervised by a CAT leader to assist in completing air sealing services. We believe that we are developing a new model for delivery of Habitat’s experienced, effective weatherization program to income eligible homes.
The short-term goal is to identify and weatherize ten homes during the twelve calendar months beginning in the summer of 2015. We are not certain how many of the ten homes will be completed during 2015 but our goal is to complete the work on all ten homes by the summer of 2016. We will have a community celebration to show appreciation to the trained volunteers and to assess and set a strategy concerning the continuation of the weatherization program into 2017 and beyond.
“We are working with 7 Rivers Habitat for Humanity to identify and weatherize low-income homes in Phippsburg. We are developing a new model to deliver Habitat’s experienced, effective weatherization program to income eligible homes in Phippsburg. The CAT will recruit local volunteers interested in participating in training and weatherization activities. The CAT will also ask community members and organizations to assist with identification of homes that meet Habitat’s income guidelines. The CAT will then match trained volunteers with homes and conduct the weatherization of the selected homes.”
"Wicked Local CAT: MSAD 55 Sustainability Food, Farm, and Educational Initiative” for Porter Parsonsfield, Cornish, Hiram, and Baldwin
Our primary Goal: Grow organic food on MSAD55 school grounds to help address the food insecurity of the entire 5-town region. We will integrate an agricultural initiative in the school curriculum so our young adults have an opportunity to learn how to produce food, and will educate families thru cooking classes on how to make the best use of high nutrient content Organic vegetables. Interim Goal to set up a 12x13’ hoop greenhouse and start providing some food to cafeteria in the Middle School. “Provide locally grown food, educate the community on the importance of sustainability in the face of uncertainly, and educate young adults of tomorrow about the importance of locally grown foods while providing an important life skill and maybe a career as an organic farmer of tomorrow.”
Saco/Ossipee Rivers Heating Alliance (Porter, Cornish, Hiram, Brownfield, Parsonsfield, Baldwin (spanning parts of Oxford and York Counties)
The long-term goal is to help low-income people in the Sacopee region stay warm during Maine’s cold winters and secondarily, to reduce the use of fossil fuels. “Help us keep our neighbors Warm. Help them save money, save energy and cut the use of fossil fuels.”
For more information please contact Nancy Chandler.