Within Just One Year Natural Resources Council of Maine Achieves 6% Carbon Reduction
The Natural Resources Council of Maine has achieved, within just one year, a remarkable 6% reduction in carbon emissions while participating in the Governor’s Carbon Challenge. NRCM is moving well towards accomplishing their 10% reduction goal by 2010. A significant portion of their reduction comes from using cleaner forms of transportation. Employees are commuting to work by walking, bicycling, driving hybrid gas/electric cars, and some are living closer to their office location in Augusta. NRCM encourages their employees by providing interest-free loans for purchasing more fuel efficient vehicles, as well as loans for more energy efficient appliances. NRCM is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to protecting, restoring, and conserving Maine’s environment. They are pleased to announce that 2009 is their 50th anniversary year of working to protect the nature of Maine, now and for generations to come.
Additional practices that contribute to carbon reductions and sustainability at NRCM include:
- Purchasing 100% renewably-produced (generated by wind and low-impact hydropower sources) electricity through Maine Interfaith Power & Light;
- Minimizing their paper consumption, recycling their office paper, and using “top of the line” post-consumer, chlorine-free recycled paper;
- Improving building performance by implementing building renovations based upon recommendations by a green architect;
- Investigating ways to improve further their building’s performance by conducting a recent (2008) energy audit.
The Governor’s Carbon Challenge is operated from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Office of Innovation & Assistance. Nearly 80 businesses, municipalities and institutions participate in the program. For more information about this and other Environmental Leader programs, contact DEP’s Office of Innovation & Assistance toll-free at 1-800-789-9802 or by visiting our web site.
February, 2009
