GPCAN
Garrett Park Conservation Action Network

 

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HISTORY of ACTIVITIES & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
(updated March 2011)

In March 2007, five concerned citizens met to form a group to help residents of Garrett Park and environs move toward more sustainable ways of living. Garrett Park is an incorporated municipality of about 1,000 residents with a Town Government, website (www.garrettpark-md.gov) and newsletter. The Town Council unanimously passed a Resolution endorsing this nomination.

GPCAN does not elect officers, have by-laws or other formal organizational structures. One member takes minutes at the meetings and distributes them on the group list serve. There are 27 members; generally, a half-dozen people attend monthly meetings. GPCAN focuses on one project at a time and just “gets things done” through its member volunteers.

GREEN POWER COMMUNITY CHALLENGE (Spring, 2011)
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is sponsoring this community challenge, to help communities across the country to identify where they can reduce their energy usage, and also switch to sustainable energy sources. GP will join the challenge, since we are already well on our way with all the Town buildings on wind power, and over 25 houses on wind power already. More information is here: http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/documents/gpc_factsheet.pdf

THERMOMETER HANGING AT POST OFFICE (Jan, 2011)
We celebrated the public display of our energy thermometer in the town Post Office. The mercury is represented by red-colored popsicle sticks, and as each house goes to sustainable energy sources we switch a popsicle stick from red to green, thus bringing down the mercury and making the town that much ‘cooler’. The goal is to have all the town houses on sustainable power, have an energy audit conducted, and then have implemented some of the energy-saving recommendations from the energy audit. The information about how to do this is all on our website.

‘TAKING OUR TEMPERATURE’ RECEPTION, TOWN HALL (Jan, 2011)
We hosted an excellent presentation by Chevy Chase (Judy McGuire) to let us know the excellent energy-saving initiatives that they have taken. Musical entertainment by David Meridith was enjoyed by all, and included some environmental songs. We were very pleased to have in attendance the GP Mayor Keller, GP Town Council members, Rep Chris Van Hollen’s office, and the Montgomery County Gazette. The Gazette did a lovely story on the event.

CLEAN CURRENTS NEIGHBORHOOD CHALLENGE
Already over 25 of the 365 homes (6%) in Garrett Park have converted to sustainable energy through the Clean Currents neighborhood challenge program. There will be a “Green Thermometer” at the Post Office to track progress. More information is here: http://www.cleancurrents.com/

HOME ENERGY AUDITS (Spring 2010)
Vetted energy audit firms, distributed tax incentive and Pepco program highlights to local residents. Established a mentoring program to encourage audits and retrofitting. At least
12 homes have had energy audits, and nine of those have done or committed to do the improvements recommended in the audit.

RAINSCAPES (March, 2010)
Organized a presentation on methods to reduce stormwater runoff, attended by about 30 people. Since then at least seven homes have committed to installing raingardens working with the County program.

CONSERVATION IN ACTION TOUR (Oct. 2009)
This tour of Garrett Park and White Flint Estates residences showcased eighteen homes as local examples of sustainable living. The host homes gave out information on how they have made their homes more sustainable, ranging from novel energy saving initiatives such as making biodiesel fuel to beautiful rainscape gardens. Over fifty people attended and toured the sites, making it a wonderful success.

WEBSITE (May 2009)
Launched website to document activities and provide information resources: www.gpcan.org

GREEN DAY with TOWN OF KENSINGTON (May 2009)
Collaborated by organizing a compost bin giveaway, a scrap metal collection for recycling, highlighted locavore food sources, advertised the Garrett Park Conservation Trust, and distributed pamphlets with home energy saving ideas. Hundreds attended.

GARRETT PARK CONSERVATION TRUST ALLIANCE (Feb. 2009)
GPCAN established an ongoing partnership with the Garrett Park Conservation Trust (www.GPCTrust.net), thus blending our efforts to educate, motivate, and advocate for the protection and preservation of a verdant, sustainable community. The websites were linked and joint programs organized.

GPCAN REUSABLE SHOPPING BAGS (2008)
Designed and sold 500 reusable cloth shopping bags with GPCAN logo.

EARTH DAY FAIR (May 2008)
Organized a wildly successful Earth Day celebration at our community Town Hall. Events included teen-agers, middle-schoolers, and adults working together to sign up people for home energy audits, making jewelry, conducting an earth-themed poster contest, promoting rainscapes gardens, distributing compost bins, displaying the energy costs of electronics, promoting reusable bottles, and selling GPCAN bags. Several hundred people participated. As a result, the Town Government signed up its two buildings to participate in a green electricity program.

FIRST MEETING (March 2007) AND YEAR
Arranged for several speakers to come to our Town Hall for presentations on energy conservation, climate change, and related topics. Over 50 people attended each event.

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Conservation: the Quickest Route to Sustainability