Archive for September, 2010
VSTF to meet 10/13/10
A Matter of Degrees – Is Anyone Listening?
Mesabi Range Community & Technical College will be hosting a FREE global warming presentation on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 starting at 7:00 P.M. and held in Room F-100 (Theatre) on the Virginia Campus.
Mesabi graduate and best-selling author George Erickson will present a PowerPoint program titled: A Matter of Degrees: Global Warming is Real!, which is based on his 38 journeys in the far north and on the science that has been warning us to “get serious” for more than 50 years.
He is a former president of the Minnesota Humanists, a past director of the American Humanist Association, a recent Vice-President of the Minnesota Seaplane Pilots’ Assoc. and a former chairman of the Worthington, MN Airport Commission and the Nobles County, MN Art Center. He has served on the New Brighton, MN Environmental Quality Commission. Since 1967 he has made 38 flights through Alaska, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, northern Quebec and Australia.
Dr. Erickson has published many articles on a variety of subjects and written four books: the best seller, True North: Exploring the Great Wilderness by Bush Plane, its sequel, Back to the Barrens: on the Wing with da Vinci & Friends, Time Traveling with Science and the Saints and Eyes Wide Open: Living, Laughing, Loving and Learning in a Religion-troubled World, which was published in May, 2010.
For more information on Dr. Erickson, please visit his website: w.tundracub.com.
This event is being co-sponsored by Mesabi Range College Continuing Education, Mesabi Range College Sustainability Team and the Virginia Sustainability Task Force.
For more information, please contact Toby Anderson at Mesabi College, 218-749-0319.
VSTF Meeting 9.8.10
The Virginia Sustainability Task Force is meeting today, Wednesday 9/8/10, at 5 p.m. in the conference room of the Northland Building (Room 118). We will be discussioning new Energy Incentive Programs, DEEP, MN GreenStep Cities Program, the Recycle More Minnesota campaign and upcoming Sustainable Events. Everyone is welcome to attend!
Minnesota, we’re here to help you recycle more!
The Recycle More Minnesota campaign is a joint effort between the Recycling Association of Minnesota (RAM) and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), designed to increase recycling in Minnesota through increased awareness about the benefits of recycling and the opportunities available. We are working with our partners across the state to promote recycling at home, at work, at school and on-the-go. There are opportunities for everyone, every day, to make a big difference by doing just a little bit more! To learn more, visit the newly updated website at
http://www.recyclemoreminnesota.org/
or go directly to the St. Louis County Environmental Services Department site at www.stlouiscounty.org/recycle
In Minnesota, the total tonnage of recycled material has increased as population has increased; however, the overall increase in waste generation continues to grow and outpace recycling. According to state officials, the recycling rate in the state of Minnesota, while one of the best in the country at 41%, has remained largely unchanged for the last ten years. Because recycling reduces pollution, saves energy, reduces solid waste and improves both Minnesota’s environment and economy, we need to find new ways to recycle more in Minnesota. Recycle More Minnesota’s educational efforts will make Minnesotans think differently about recyclables.
Established in 2008, Recycle More Minnesota is an ongoing campaign with several phases: residential, commercial, schools and public entities, and away-from-home recycling. These phases have been instituted across the state with the goal of increasing Minnesota’s recycling rate to 50% by 2011.
Come Home to Comfort and Energy Savings!
CERTs (Clean Energy Resource Teams) and Honeywell have teamed up and are offering an exclusive rebate for programmable thermostats until November 30, 2010.
Honeywell is offering a $10 rebate off a programmable thermostat valued at $50 or more; or a $5 rebate for a programmable thermostat under $50. To print off your own rebate go to:
http://thermostat.mncerts.org
or to receive a rebate send an email with your full address to CERTs Campaign Coordinator, Michelle Vigen, at rebates@cleanenergyresourceteams.org
With the winter heating season fast approaching this is a great opportunity to save on your energy bill! A programmable thermostat helps you to ensure efficient operation of your heating and cooling system, resulting in a real energy saving and lower energy bills.
A programmable thermostat allows you to pre-set your home’s heating and cooling system to work around your schedule, providing ultimate comfort for your household.
