Clean Air-Cool Planet's Community Catalyst Fund

Why We've Created the Community Catalyst Fund A new grassroots movement is upon us. Tired of waiting to be told what to do, people are taking environmental sustainability into their own hands, initiating new local projects and coalitions all across the country. Many local groups share the common goal of improving the environment, health and economic well-being of their communities by reducing wasteful energy and resource consumption. Like us, they also believe that local action makes a real difference; that inspiration often comes from the bottom up; and that the best way to lead is by example. But resources to support this burgeoning new movement are very scarce indeed. With the Community Catalyst Fund, we hope to equip and empower community organizations and volunteer groups not only to achieve their goals, but to plan beyond what they once thought achievable. ROUND ONE GRANTS: Thanks to the generous support of the Overbrook Foundation we are now accepting grant applications to the Community Catalyst Fund. Round 1 grants will support groups in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey focused on local sustainability and energy action. We are actively seeking support to increase the size of the Community Catalyst Fund and hope to be able to expand the states covered when we announce Round 2.  In order to keep the application process fair and administrative costs to a minimum, we regret that we cannot answer phone enquiries about individual applications to the Catalyst Fund.  However, administrative questions can be directed to amuise@cleanair-coolplanet.org and we will certainly contact you directly if we have questions about an application you have submitted via our online process. More information and application forms are posted here. If you have a saved application, retrieve it here.

OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAM

CA-CP works with communities to find solutions to climate change and build constituencies for effective climate policies and actions. We advise and partner with citizens, educators, small businesses, municipal governments, and other local leaders. Cost-effective opportunities exist for communities to reduce their emissions as well as their vulnerability to climate impacts, and we are here to help!

We organize events and training opportunities, advise on mitigation and adaptation strategies, document and publicize the benefits of local climate action, and offer information to support community-based initiatives. More info...

Our online COMMUNITY TOOLKIT, created in partnership with Jeffrey H. Taylor and Associates, offers free project guidance, sample ordinances, financing information and relevant contacts to help local officials plan and implement GHG mitigation strategies. See the Table of Contents here.

New Guide for Historic District Commissions

Seal Up Those Drafty Old Buildings:
CA-CP Releases Historic District Commissions Guide to Energy Efficiency

Clean Air-Cool Planet is pleased to announce the release of its Historic District Commissions (HDC) guide.

This is a guide to energy retrofits and renewable energy siting for historic structures for use by historic preservation groups, community organizations, municipal governments, preservation and building officials, individual property owners, and others interested in historic preservation. It establishes a common ground for the historic preservation and energy-efficiency and renewable energy communities.

Download the Guide here. (pdf, 4 MB)

Setting Up a Local Energy Committee?

If you need assistance with your town or municipality LEC, please use our energy committee resources page. We also have guides to help energy committees here.

Tips for Greening Your Organization

Want to learn more about what you can do to reduce the "climate footprint" of your organization? We have tips...