Massachusetts Delegation to the Democratic National Convention Offsets With CFLs

Source: http://carbonneutraldigest.com/?p=384

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Massachusetts delegation to the Democratic National Convention offset their carbon footprint with Massachusetts’ based carbon offset provider LiveCooler.com. LiveCooler.com uses a non-traditional carbon offset program, they replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. CFLs use less energy to produce the same amount of light, hence produce less carbon. You can read more about this as an offset project here and here.

100% of LiveCooler.com CFLs are given to low income individuals, all of the CFLs to balance out the convention goers were given out at MissionWorks residence halls. MissionWorks provides affordable housing, job training, youth and elder services.

LiveCooler.com provided the MA delegation with special page they can use to offset their carbon with, here. Even if you are not attending the convention LiveCooler.com is encouraging you to offset carbon in the name of your favorite delegate. According to their press release your offset is 100% tax deductable (read more about that here and here)

You can click the more button to read the Press Release.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT

Reuben Kantor (617) 372-2936

Reuben.kantor@comcast.net

(Photos available at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27543727@N04/sets/72157606142309826/)

BOSTON - In the Mission Hill section of Boston today at the MissionWorks, an affordable and market-rate housing development, Massachusetts delegates to the Democratic National Convention and others celebrated the first 350 tons of carbon dioxide emissions offset, and the project just started three weeks ago.

As part of the MA delegation’s “Green Challenge,” designed by Boston City Councilor Mike Ross and others, compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) were offered to and installed in two MissionWorks residents’ homes. The DNC estimates each delegate will, on average, contribute one ton of carbon dioxide through their activities such as flights, local transportation, lighting, food preparation, etc. The delegation is undertaking the program to offset the carbon emissions. The program they designed will also help low-income people statewide by reducing their energy bills an estimated $300 over five years.

Teaming up with the Democratic Party and local non-profit LiveCooler (www.LiveCooler.org), he created a program where delegates and supporters can purchase offsets by installing energy efficient compact fluorescent

(CFL) bulbs in low-income homes across the state. Each ton of CO2 offsets donated, at a cost of $15, installs enough CFL bulbs to reduce an estimated

454 pounds of CO2 emissions annually and saves $68 in energy costs per year.

Over five years, assuming that some bulbs will be removed or are lit more than the average (2.7 hours/day), the $15 offset will prevent the emission of 1,998 pounds of CO2, saving families $299.50.

“This is just the beginning,” said Boston City Councilor Mike Ross. “I’m planning to spend a good portion of this summer installing CFL bulbs in my district with area youth programs. Offsetting my travel to the DNC is the right thing to do and people in my district will see a direct benefit in reduced energy bills.”

Helping install bulbs and celebrate the milestone were:

Senator Marc Pacheco, Chair of the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change Stacey Monahan, Executive Director, MA Democratic Party Boston City Councilor Mike Ross Boston City Councilor John Connolly Jim Hunt, Chief for Boston’s Energy and Environmental Services Bill McGonagle, Boston Housing Authority Ben Schwartz, member of the New England Steering Committee of Obama for America, and an elected Obama delegate from the 1st congressional district Jay Barnes, Executive Director of LiveCooler Dan Ruben, Executive Director of Boston Green Tourism and led the effort to “green” the Democratic 2004 convention in Boston Leonard Lee, the in-coming Executive Director, MissionWorks Lucious Murcheson, MissionWorks Resident Services Coordinator, along with YouthWorkers Amanda Poverchuk, Veolia ES Technical Solutions, L.L.C.

Deidre McGovern, Winn/Peabody Management Company

The event started when they received a $5000 check from MissionWorks that will go toward installing more than 1800 energy efficient bulbs in the complex, prevent the emission of more than 330 tons of carbon dioxide and help families save more than $100,000. The group will then go into several homes to replace incandescent bulbs with energy efficient bulbs.

This is the beginning of the “Greening” of the MA delegation, which will be working towards putting in similar programs around Massachusetts. The program has already received donations from across the state to offset more than 23 tons of carbon dioxide. The program has also been endorsed by Senator John Kerry and Governor Deval Patrick. Veolia ES Technical Solutions

(www.veoliaes.com) also announced that they have generously offered to recycle all the incandescent bulbs replaced as part of the program.

Delegates can work with LiveCooler to start programs in their local communities. Friends, family and supporters of the delegates can make tax deductible donations in honor of their favorite delegate or the MA delegation as a whole. Delegates are still encouraged to take part in the DNC offset challenge (www.demconvention.com/green-delegate-challenge), but to take part in this local challenge as well.

How it works:

MA Delegates and supporters can go to www.LiveCooler.org/massdems, a MA based non-profit to purchase offsets. For $15 delegates and supporters can purchase a one-ton offset equal to 5.5 CFL bulbs installed.

In addition, delegates can encourage supporters and friends to offset a larger amount of CO2 through tax deductible contributions in honor of a specific delegate or the MA delegation as a whole. Delegates who live in locations in which LiveCooler does not operate can request that a program start in their municipality.

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