Partnerships for Sustainability
Partnerships for SustainabilityTwo Case Studies for
CommunicatorsChristina Ragsdale, MA, APRCommunications Office
ManagerSacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District
Communications SolutionsCommunications plays a key role in
building & leveraging partnerships (improved outcomes with
fewer resources)
District has a long history of entrepreneurial solutions
Incentive programs, Cleaner Air Partnership, etc.
Two NEW examples from SacramentoHome Energy Conservation
ProgramFarm to Fork to FuelHome Energy ConservationNEED: - 76,000
substandard homes high energy use- Low-income households spend 14%
of their income on energy vs. 3.5% by other households
SHARED INTERESTS:- Helping low-income homeowners (comfort/cost)-
Reduction of energy use/GHG emissions - Neighborhood
stabilizationHow we came togetherAir District wanted to find a way
to weatherize large numbers of homes Reduce energy use/GHG
All parties wanted to address homeowners who would not/could not
access programs offered by utilities
Other parties wanted to assist/protect at-risk residents or
prevent point-of-sale regulationsPartners:Sacramento Metropolitan
AQMDSacramento Association of REALTORSRebuilding Together
SacramentoSacramento Habitat for HumanityUC Davis Department of
Civil & Environmental EngineeringHow it works:Habitat developed
manual, training programTeams of volunteers install basic energy
efficiency materials in homes takes about two hoursHomeowners are
given instructions in energy-saving practices
Weather stripping doors, window caulking, gaskets around
electrical outlets, wrapping water heaters, switch out to CFL
bulbs, insulating hot water pipes, installing low-flow showerheads.
6Business Plan & FundraisingConducted focus groups
(customers/supporters)Drafted Business PlanSAR added to original
funding to a total of $100K(= 500 homes)
Outcomes & Next Steps:As of January 2014, over 200 homes
completedREALTORS doing outreach and fundraising campaign in Spring
2014District meeting with Sacramento Regional Foundation to present
business plan and request funds in 2014HEC Program received
Regional Clean Air Award in May 2013
How you can beginReach out in your region All of our partners
are national organizations
We are willing to share our Manual and Plan
Test with potential recipients donors and volunteersDevelop a
pilot program, then GROW!Farm to Fork to Fuel (to Farm!)Air
District Goals (shared by others)
Become a center for local fuel production (economy)Reduce VMT to
haul waste and import fuel Reduce Methane emissions from food waste
decomposing in landfills or compost operationsExpand already
healthy market for natural gas fuelDevelop broad public and
leadership support and demand for Farm to Fork to Fuel concept
Food Waste The 3rd Largest Carbon Emitter Food Wastage Footprint
2013 UN report estimated that the carbon footprint of wasted food
was equivalent to 3.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year
If it were a country, it would be the worlds third largest
emitter after China and the USPartnersClean Cities SacramentoClean
WorldAtlas Disposal/ReFuelGRAS (Green Restaurants Alliance of
Sacramento)Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau (Farm to
Fork Festival)
Atlas increasing from 25 tons/day to 100 tons/day.12
How it works:- Burns so clean it generates carbon credits-
Eliminates all GHG emissions from landfill- Replaces 1 million
gallons of diesel fuel/year- Significant cost-saving
Burns so cleanly it actually generates carbon credits.
Eliminates 100 percent of GHG from landfilling food waste. Replaces
nearly one million gallons of diesel fuel annually. Significant
cost savings
13Awards & RecognitionSucceeded in Farm to Fork Leadership
billing the first Festival Week in September 2013 as The Largest
Zero Waste Event in the CountryClean World and its partners won the
Energy Vision Leadership Award and named the International
Bioenergy Project of the Year (Renewable Energy World Power
Engineering Awards) November 2013Clean World received 2013
Governors Environmental & Economic Leadership Award (for Atlas
Digester)
Whats Next?Already implementing local food waste drop-offs Farm
to Fork to Fuel to Farm will grow in Year 2
Opportunities for youLook for partners who share business goals
and outcomes with youDont be afraid to reach outUse data from
others as support and benchmarksFunding can be available in
unexpected placesReport and celebrate successes
Questions?Christina Ragsdale, MA,
[email protected]
