When my husband and I purchased our residence right here in Missoula in the summertime of 2016, we knew we needed to go photo voltaic. We had loads of causes: the south-facing storage roof could be ultimate; we might benefit from the federal tax credit; it felt like a significant option to scale back our contribution to the local weather disaster; and we appreciated the thought of locking in our electrical energy prices (and to be completely sincere, we additionally simply thought having photo voltaic panels could be cool).
We spent almost each penny of our financial savings on our down cost, so we knew we’d want a mortgage – however funding wasn’t really the barrier that stored us from going photo voltaic as quickly as we’d needed.
Like thousands and thousands of American houses, our 1930 bungalow used methane fuel (nonetheless generally referred to as “pure” fuel – a deceptive time period) for area and water heating, and electrical energy for the remaining (together with our range/oven and garments dryer). In our small residence, with simply two of us at the moment, our electrical energy invoice was low sufficient that we couldn’t get photo voltaic to pencil out.
So we bought inventive – and tapped into sources by Local weather Good Missoula, the group I’d simply began working for. Our hardworking fuel boiler dates from 1960 (that’s not a typo – it’s over 60 years outdated) and after we moved in, our fuel water heater was almost 20 years outdated and on its final legs. We did some analysis and calculations and realized that, if we swapped out our fuel water heater for an environment friendly electrical one, the rise in electrical energy use would make photo voltaic viable. Bingo! Turns on the market have been incentives for the brand new water heater, too. And we had no concept we have been on the forefront of the motion to “electrify every little thing”.
As soon as we’d achieved that, the method of working with an area photo voltaic installer and mortgage officer was surprisingly simple. On a bluebird spring day in April 2019, NorthWestern Vitality lastly put in our web meter and we bought to flip the enormous swap on our photo voltaic panels and watch the meter run backwards. It felt actually good.
This week, I’ve been pondering lots about that feeling – how empowering it may be to do our half, nevertheless small it might appear, to construct a extra livable future. How, in these occasions, to carry on to that empowering feeling?
With each the IPCC’s newest, most devastating but local weather report and Russia’s violent invasion of Ukraine on the highest of my thoughts, the heaviness and ache of our world really feel paralyzing. And the timing of those two occasions is hanging, highlighting simply how interconnected they’re. As local weather journalist Eric Holthaus wrote, “The identical fossil fuels which can be weapons of the local weather emergency additionally assist fund the weapons of struggle that oligarchies use to colonize and extract lives and livelihoods in locations like Ukraine, Yemen, Nigeria, and Sudan.”
Local weather activist Invoice McKibben had an much more pointed take, arguing for quick actions to chop fossil gasoline use, resembling ramping up manufacturing of electrical warmth pumps for European markets which can be nonetheless depending on, and impacted by disruptions to, the circulation of Russian oil and fuel. McKibben wrote in a chunk within the Guardian,
“This isn’t a ‘struggle for oil and fuel’ within the sense that too lots of America’s Center East misadventures would possibly plausibly be described. However it’s a struggle underwritten by oil and fuel, a struggle whose most important weapon could also be oil and fuel, a struggle we will’t absolutely have interaction as a result of we stay depending on oil and fuel. If you wish to stand with the courageous individuals of Ukraine, you’ll want to discover a option to stand towards oil and fuel.”
In Missoula, we could not have the power to affect the availability of warmth pumps to Europe, however there’s lots we will do proper right here to get off oil and fuel, develop renewable power, and electrify our houses, buildings and transportation.
That’s what our Electrify Missoula marketing campaign is all about, and we’re excited to host a collection of instructional occasions this spring to assist our group be taught extra and be a part of the motion to electrify every little thing. Every occasion will supply each sensible sources for taking steps to impress, plus methods everybody may be an electrification advocate.
Half 1 of this collection, Rising Photo voltaic: Clear Electrical energy for All – begins Thursday March 10, at 5:15pm through Zoom. The Local weather Good workforce might be joined by Andrew Valainis of the Montana Renewable Vitality Affiliation, Orion Thornton of OnSite Photo voltaic, and Paul Herendeen of Clearwater Credit score Union, for an off-the-cuff dialog (with loads of time for Q&A) about:
- How photo voltaic suits in to the electrification equation, on the residence and group ranges
- The nuts and bolts of putting in photo voltaic on your own home or enterprise
- The most recent coverage updates and financing choices, and what’s coming down the pike
- How you can be a photo voltaic advocate in help of Missoula’s quest to achieve 100% Clear Electrical energy by 2030 (and a livable, clean-energy future)
Half 2, on April 7 at 5:15pm through Zoom, is all about Getting off Fuel: Why – and How – to Electrify Our Properties and Buildings. Local weather Good might be joined by the Montana Environmental Data Middle (MEIC) and native building-industry professionals to debate the harms of methane fuel and steps you possibly can take to Electrify at residence. And Half 3 (tentatively – Might 5) will cowl Electrifying Transportation – from EVs, to electrical buses and bikes, and extra.
This three-part collection is a chance to become involved and act domestically, the place and the way we will.
Over the past a number of years, tough world and nationwide occasions have captured our consideration. The COVID-19 pandemic, George Floyd’s homicide and the motion for Black Lives, threats to democracy, too many local weather disasters to depend, and now the struggle in Ukraine. Wrestling with these occasions, we at Local weather Good all the time discover ourselves asking: Does what we do right here in Missoula, Montana nonetheless matter? Can we, as people and as a group, make a distinction?
Every time, we come again to the identical fact: taking motion right here in our personal group is crucial. In actual fact, it’s how we maintain constructing momentum for the broader international transformations we want. Step-by-step. Dwelling by residence, neighborhood by neighborhood, group by group. Once we determine what we will do, after which do it, that sense of empowerment can gasoline us to maintain going even when hope appears distant.
Abby Huseth is the Outreach Director for Local weather Good Missoula; this Sustainable Missoula column is delivered to you – through the Missoula Present – most weeks by Local weather Good Missoula and Dwelling ReSource.
Sustainability Happenings
Right here we provide concepts about sustainable methods to remain concerned in our group. For extra, contemplate signing up for Local weather Good’s eNewsletter through their homepage right here. And join the Dwelling ReSource eNews through their homepage right here.
Missoula’s WINTER Farmers Market continues in Southgate Mall, Saturdays 9am to 2pm. Till April 23.
March 10. Electrify Missoula collection half 1 – Rising Photo voltaic: Clear Electrical energy for All. 5:15-6:15pm through Zoom. Learn to go photo voltaic, how photo voltaic is essential to electrification and reaching Missoula’s 100% Clear Electrical energy purpose, hear about coverage updates and what’s coming down the pike, and find out how to be a photo voltaic advocate. Electrify Sequence particulars and zoom hyperlink right here.
March 12. (Sat)– Fixit Clinic Missoula on the College of Montana UC. Come discover ways to restore the one that you love damaged objects and torn clothes! 12 pm – 3 pm. Register Right here.
March 15. UMAA Group Lecture Sequence – It Impacts All of Us: Local weather Change, Wildfires and Human Well being. 7-8pm through Zoom. Study extra in regards to the collection and register right here.
April 7. Electrify Sequence Half 2 – Getting off Fuel: Why – and How – to Electrify our Properties and Buildings. 5:15 – 6:15pm through Zoom. Study in regards to the local weather and well being risks of methane fuel & Montana’s present power panorama; why now we have to impress every little thing, particularly buildings; widespread boundaries to electrification; and what steps we will take to impress, as people and communities. Electrify Sequence particulars and zoom hyperlink right here.
April 22 – 23. The 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow. On the College of Montana Adam’s Middle. Particulars are right here.
April 22. Mission Earth. Save the date for a novel efficiency, a fusion of artwork, science and group engagement centered across the local weather disaster. 7pm on the Dennison Theater on the College of Montana.
April 23. MUD’s Earth Day Celebration. 12-4pm on the MUD/HomeResource website. This annual group favourite occasion is again – The competition will characteristic an environmental expo, actions and workshops for youngsters and adults, and academic packages, in addition to meals, drinks, and native music. Particulars right here: mudproject.org/occasions/earth-day/
Don’t overlook – Supplies donations to Dwelling Useful resource maintain the wheels of reuse spinning in our group; and keep in mind that every little thing you’ll want to learn about what to do together with your undesirable stuff is at www.zerobyfiftymissoula.com.
Discover extra native actions and occasions at Missoulaevents.web and on Montana Environmental Data Middle’s Conservation Calendar.