Here in Reno, we are thrilled to announce that Envirolution is seeking applicants for two new full-time AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer positions! Both of these positions will start on April 16, 2012 and run through April 19, 2013. We will be accepting applications through March 4th.

The positions are:

• Green Service-Learning Program Coordinator that will focus on developing service-learning programs centered on green industries like energy efficiency, renewable energy, recycling, and water conservation.
• Elementary School Sustainability Educator that will be responsible for developing and scaling sustainability curriculum for Kindergarten through 6^th grade (K-6), with a focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) subjects.

To learn more, or to apply, please contact David Gibson of Envirolution at david.gibson@envirolution.org and also please apply on-line via the AmeriCorps Office.

*Please Note: You will need to create a “My AmeriCorps” account first (if you do not already have one) and then you will need to link back in and select the appropriate position for which you would like to apply.

Envirolution has big plans for the coming year, and is very excited for the opportunity to bring on two more AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers. Change your life, help your community, and bring the Three Spheres into balance today: become an AmeriCorps Volunteer. Join Envirolution in our mission to empower and inspire the next generation of leaders and workers who will drive the growth of a green economy and a sustainable world.

To learn more about life as an AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer for Envirolution, check out our volunteer Testimonials!

Urban Roots is a nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the way kids eat and learn through place-based gardening and seed-to-table education.

The Renewable Energy Accelerator at 250 Bell Street (REA 250) in Reno, Nevada brings together talented Nevadans to accelerate the state’s transformation to renewable energy.

These installations also offer a unique learning opportunity.  To introduce students to their new solar powered systems, Envirolution™ will be partnering with Hamilton Solar this spring to provide energy efficiency and solar energy curriculum to the environmental science classes at Reed and North Valleys.  The goal of this curriculum is to engage students in the fundamentals of energy and building science, enabling them to understand how a combination of efficiency upgrades and solar power can reduce utility costs, cut carbon emissions, and revitalize the local economy.  Over the course of the unit, students will be experimenting with solar cells, learning the ins and outs of solar design, and competing with their classmates to build the best solar oven.

Nine years ago I could have hardly imagined my school being affiliated with renewable energy technology, but today that is fast becoming a reality for many of our local schools.  High Desert Montessori School has a solar project in development, and the Sustainable Resources Academy at Wooster High School will be offering a program of study in Renewable Energy next fall.  A lot has changed in the Washoe County School District and in these cases, change is good.

First, there are some simple facts you should know, or find out, about your residence: When was it built, how is the interior space heated, and how is the water heated? Basically, the newer it is the more likely it was built to satisfy more stringent codes. For space heating, using a high efficiency gas furnace is a good choice, solar thermal heated hydronics is even better; while older electric wall units and high draw portable heaters can be expensive. For water heating, on demand systems—gas or electric—are a solid choice.

Four Quick Tips

1.)   When it is dark outside, stand inside your home and take a look at your swinging doors. Have another person who is outside go around the edge of the door frame with a flashlight held close to the door’s edge. Look for any light leaks and note them. Fix leaks along the edge and top with some weather-stripping, and address the bottom of the door with a door sweep. Don’t let that expensive conditioned air escape like the picture shows.

2.)   Now take a look at the edges of the windows where the frame meets the wall and look for separation and or water damage. There should be a solid layer of caulking or sealant around the frame. If there are gaps, get a caulking gun and a tube of caulking or appropriate sealant, like in the picture. First scrape out old caulking and wipe clean the

rim, then apply a thin, yet covering, layer around the whole rim of the frame. Do this for all windows; keep an eye on this seal over the years. If a seal begins showing wear, you may need to further address the external seal, siding, or replace the window. Notice the cold creeping in through the gap from frame to wall.
3.)   If you have cold or unused rooms, such as an office, or extra bedroom, grab a thick blanket from the thrift store and cut to fit three inches larger than the window(s) in the room and install hooks, or nails, on the outer corners of the wall two inches outside the corners. Either clip in eyelets or just hook the corners over the edges, being sure to get blanket flush with the wall. This will reduce heat loss and increase privacy. Just remove the covering when the room is in use.

4.)   If you want to take weatherizing to the next level, have a Building Envelope Test and or a Forced Air Unit Distribution Test done. These tests check for leakage out of your house and out of the duct system. There are usually some rebates offered by your utility district or power provider to offset the costs of these tests and the information you get. Seeing where the heat is leaving your home with an infrared camera can be an eye opening experience.

Stay tuned for future articles including more energy and water saving do-it-yourself techniques to use!

2011 has turned out to be a year of strong growth for Envirolution. Given the economic difficulties and the reduced amount of giving for most organizations, Envirolution has actually experienced an increase in revenue over 30% compared to 2010. However, our most impressive area of growth has come programmatically and in our true impact in our communities. In New York City, we doubled the amount of Win-Win programs, increased the number of graduates and we placed 75% of the job eligible graduates in actual green jobs! Our Pathways to Prosperity Partnership (P3) program also saw considerable growth as we completed over 30 weeks of energy auditing training for at-risk populations, reaching over 550 individuals. In Nevada, our focus on K-12 sustainability and green energy education grew significantly. With the addition of several AmeriCorps VISTA members, we quadrupled the amount of school programs we delivered, we reached over 1,000 students directly, and we administered professional development workshops to over 100 teachers. We formed a coalition called GREENevada, administered a high school sustainability plan competition in which nine schools participated, and gave $28,000 in prize money back to the students to help implement their sustainability initiatives at their schools. Lastly, we partnered with HomeFree Nevada to run the Home Performance with Energy Star program for Northern Nevada, with the goal of helping to expand the residential energy efficiency market for our area and help create more green jobs while reducing the emissions from our homes. We are also excited to announce the launch of our new website (www.envirolution.org)!

Envirolution’s success is opening up many opportunities. Contracts with business, universities, and government, as well as foundation grants are rewarding our efforts.  Yet even as our exciting programs are ready for expansion and replication, our small staff is stretched to the limit, and resources for executing are in short supply. You can help us take the next steps.

We are in the midst of our Annual Give Campaign and we are looking to raise $20,000 in the next month. We reach out to you in the hopes that you will consider a contribution to this Annual Give Campaign. Your contributions will go a long way to help our organization take the next steps of growth and increased green education, leadership and career advancement opportunities. Below we  have included  an explanation of the ways in which you can contribute. Thanks in advance for your generosity!

We are extremely proud of our efforts this year and we hope you enjoy reading this 2011 Review as well as the other articles in our newsletter. However, the more impact we have, the more we see the need for our work to reach more people. We are beginning to expand our capacity and we are highly optimistic for continued triple bottom line impacts in the communities we serve. Please stay tuned to our website and  newsletter for more information about our efforts to empower the new generation of green business leaders!

To Donate:

There are two ways to donate to Envirolution: either via a check or through PayPal on our website.

1. To Donate with a check, send a check made out to Envirolution to 1301 Cordone Ave. Suite 200 Reno, NV 89502
2. To Donate via PayPal: Visit our website at www.envirolution.org and click on the Get Involved section in the header. Click the Donate Here button. Fill in your information and make a donation. If requested, please put 2011 Annual Give under Purpose section.

Envirolution is 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization, which means that your full donation amount is tax deductible. Upon receiving your substantial donation, Envirolution will write you a letter confirming your donation amount for your records. Thanks in advance for your generosity!

The Workshop included a panel of EEM experts and a local homeowner who is taking advantage of the EEM program. Shayla Gifford, a lender with the Guild Mortgage Firm who has conducted the most EEMs in the Reno-Sparks area, moderated the panel. The purpose of the workshop—which was attended by 40 real estate agents, five Energy Efficiency contractors and auditors, and several lenders—was to demystify and promote residential Energy Efficiency upgrades and Energy Efficiency Mortgages by familiarizing local professionals to the merits of HUD’s EEM program and HomeFree Nevada’s work in promoting EE upgrades and providing rebates to homeowners.

According to EnergySTAR, “An Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) is a mortgage that credits a home’s energy efficiency in the mortgage itself. EEMs give borrowers the opportunity to finance cost-effective, energy-saving measures as part of a single mortgage and stretch debt-to-income qualifying ratios on loans thereby allowing borrowers to qualify for a larger loan amount and a better, more energy-efficient home.”

Because the best time to begin an EEM is during the time of purchase, this workshop specifically targeted realtors and lenders—the professionals who would most powerfully connect with home buyers. Gifford explained her success with EEMs to the realtors and lenders in attendance during the workshop, and Paul Taylor of Sierra Green Builders explained the basic procedure of Energy Efficiency upgrades.

The EEM process is easy, readily accessible, and provides exceptional benefits to homes, communities, homeowners, the environment, and families. By participating in the EEM program, you can save money on your mortgage, reduce your energy costs, decrease your environmental footprint, and add value to your home over the long-term. Energy Efficiency upgrades also improve the comfort, health, and safety of your home.

This winter, consider getting an EEM to help warm and safeguard your home, and to warm your pockets by lining them with savings!

The EEM workshop series began in October and will continue over the course of the next year. Stay tuned for more updates and details!

It is that time of the year and our most recent grant proposal has been lucky enough to be entered into the voting stage of the Pepsi Refresh Challenge. Our proposed project for the $50,000 prize will help local youth develop sustainable team building & leadership skills. Winning this grant will help solidify the future of the Three Spheres Leadership Academy.  Last November, Envirolution™ and the rest of the GREENevada coalition won the Pepsi Refresh grant and was able to successfully complete the High School Sustainability Competition in the Washoe County School District.

What is the Three Spheres Leadership Academy (TSLA)?

As a result of its Project Recharge and GREENevada programs—which work with K-12 schools in Washoe County to promote energy efficiency and sustainability through school projects and integrated curriculum—Envirolution has determined a specific need to continue the education of those outstanding students and student leaders who demonstrate excellence, passion, and leadership in sustainability and green business.  We aim to empower and cultivate these outstanding students and student leaders to be the future green business and community leaders through a program that gives them a stronger foundation in the integration of environmental, economic, and social (the “three spheres”) aspects for a sustainable future.  The TSLA project will encourage participation of the most energetic, enthusiastic and talented high school students or professionally minded young adults to explore energy efficiency, sustainability, and business and economic integrations, while considering social impacts of the program outcomes. The ultimate aim is to empower them to be the green business and community leaders of our region’s future.

Who: Graduation-inclined high school students or professional minded young adults, ages 16-20, who have shown interest in sustainability, green technologies, or green businesses.

What: A program that creates opportunities for youth leaders to learn how to  implement sustainable solutions in their community while training them how to build, work, and live in this new, ever-growing green economy. These youth leaders will identify issues in their communities, create action plans for sustainable solutions, and work to implement these solutions.

Why: To empower youth with the skills and experiences necessary to become the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs of the green economy. We are developing youth leaders and educating them in the overlap of environmental, social, and economic lenses known as the triple bottom line.

Where: The program starts with a week-long immersive on-site experience at the Grizzly Creek Ranch in Portola, CA. This is followed by a week focusing on education within the Reno green economy and community, gaining exposure to a variety of sustainable businesses. The rest of the program takes place in Reno with additional on-site experiences to aid in researching, identifying and creating complete action plans for the youth leaders’ chosen sustainability projects and will focus on the initial stages or complete implementation of their projects.

When: Summer of 2012, slated to be a 5-week program: 06/18/12 to 07/20/12

We need all the help we can get to win this and every vote counts.

Please visit our page on Pepsi’s Website to register a profile with Pepsi Refresh and start voting for us every day. You will get five votes per day so feel free to check out some of the other great causes also running and support your choices, us especially  :-).

If you need some guidance in how to use your extra daily votes, then follow this link and say Envirolution™ referred you to receive the Progressive Slate newsletter with more great causes and ours.

Additionally you can vote from your Facebook account or by texting 110888 to PEPSI 73774