Going carbon neutral – What does it mean? How does a community “go carbon neutral?”
So You Want to Go Carbon Neutral? will be launched at the 2010 Eden Mills Writers’ Festival on Sept. 19, at 2pm. The handbook describes how Eden Mills is proceeding towards its goal of carbon neutrality.
It is written by Linda Sword, illustrated by Linda Hendry, and designed by John Cripton, all active participants in the Eden Mills “going car-bon neutral” project.
Thomas Homer-Dixon, auth-or of the Up Side of Down, wrote, “Many community groups are at a loss when it comes to climate change. They don’t even know where to start. So, You Want to Go Carbon Neutral? fills a critical gap.
“Lively, beautifully organ-iz–ed, easy to read, and full of entertaining illustrations, this book is by far the best how-to guide for local climate action I’ve seen.”
The Eden Mills Going Car-bon Neutral project was laun-ched in 2007. The minute that first North American ini-tiative was underway it was clear that writing it down was crucial, given the high level of interest it generated.
The handbook (and accom-panying DVD) walk the reader through the steps the residents of Eden Mills took in devel-oping its grassroots, com-mu-nity-based, voluntary and com-prehensive approach to re-ducing carbon dioxide emis-sions.
From the first gathering of concerned neighbours to the installation of photovoltaic sol-ar panels on a village house-hold roof; from the rousing Carbon Neutral Anthem to the wood pellet barbecue; from the workshops on geo-thermal heat-ing to the demonstration of a solar-dryer for vegetables; from the annual village tree-planting organized by the Youth Group to the first green classrooms, the Handbook offers ideas and is clear about the process of building and main-taining participation.
What makes this going carbon neutral project unique is its insistence on measuring progress related both to reducing and replacing fossil fuel energies and to building up the natural offsets of CO2 ab-sorbed and sequestered in trees, vegetation, and soils. Eden Mills Going Carbon Neutral was a finalist in the national 2010 Hometown Heroes competition.
Visit www.goingcarbon-neutral.ca for more information.
The handbook will be launched at the Writers’ Festival stage situated beside the Old Mill in Eden Mills. That is the home of Charles Simon, architect and planner, and award-winning pioneer of green building and planning. He and his wife, Anna Simon, were key founders of the Eden Mills Going Carbon Neutral project.
The launch will also feature a second inspiring book ori-ginating in Eden Mills: Our Earth, How kids are saving the planet by author and artist Janet Wilson.
It includes portraits and profiles of children from around the world who have taken dramatic action to save the environment. It is published by Second Story Press.
The Eden Mills Writers’ Festival is in its 22nd year. Founded by Leon and Connie Rooke, it is a weekend for book lovers. The Festival is also “going carbon neutral.”
So, You Want to Go Carbon Neutral? is the second handbook published by Eden Mills Going Carbon Neutral. Empowering Your Home: An Intro-duction to Renewable En-ergy and Energy Efficiency was written by Rheanna Leckie and Michael Conboy and is available on the Going Carbon Neutral website under Education.
For further information about the Eden Mills Writers’ Festival (Sept. 17 to 19), visit www.edenmillswritersfestival.ca.
