Tamara Harbar
Going Green
Do you ever get the feeling you’re being followed? And not by some skulking international spy, but by an idea or a message? That’s what happened to me last week.
On his CBC Radio show, Vinyl Tap, I heard Randy Bachman playing songs about the sun: Here Comes the Sun, She Revolves Around the Sun, and so on. Then he signed off, saying, “Think about doing something green this week.”
The next day, my Green Living Online newsletter informed me June 19 is the second annual Solar Day, which celebrates solar energy, sustainability, and the protection of the planet. I smiled when I read the tagline on Solar Day’s website: “Our Energy Future: Five billion Years of Solar.”
So when Christy Bertrand, chairperson of Perth County GreenWorks, told me about the new solar water heating panels for Optimism Place, I took the hint. Cosmic forces – orchestrated by Randy Bachman, George Harrison, Green Living editors, GreenWorks and probably the stars themselves as they prepare for the summer solstice – all want me to write about solar energy this week.
Even the Maori are in on this, with a proverb that says, “Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.” And with that proverb for inspiration, GreenWorks is hosting an event called Turning to the Sun, on – when else? – June 21.
Over the last year, GreenWorks’s Board of Directors has been writing grant applications, raising funds and researching solar panels on behalf of Optimism Place. Hot water is in high demand at Perth County’s only shelter, which serves over 100 women and children each year. It’s hoped the new panels will save between $500 and $700 a year.
But GreenWorks is thinking beyond Optimism Place. “We want to create a template other organizations can use to go green,” Christy told me, “especially not-for-profits that don’t have a lot of money.”
Christy hopes opportunities to sell energy back to the grid will be available in the future, which would be another bonus for cash-strapped not-for-profit organizations.
“Let’s give them opportunities to sustain themselves and the environment at the same time,” said Christy.
When complete, the template will provide information, contacts and tips for other charitable organizations or non-profits interested in taking on similar projects, with GreenWorks available as a resource.
But the solar panels aren’t installed yet. GreenWorks has almost reached its goal of $18,000 (with taxes and a yearly maintenance fee). Another few thousand or so will put the project over the top. So far, government grants and donations from local businesses, community groups and individuals have been a huge help, including the Lion’s Club, Co-operators Insurance, The Gentle Rain and the Stratford and Perth County Community Foundation.
As Christy put it, “Good business people know a cost today is a savings tomorrow.”
Turning to the Sun will celebrate the project, the donors, the sun and the spirit of hope that fuels Optimism Place. Singer-songwriter Pam Gerrand and flautist Jan Searle will offer their musical talents. As a strong supporter of female artisans, Stratford’s Ten Thousand Villages store will supply Fair Trade coffee. The whole family can enjoy music, food, art, a silent auction – and help get those solar panels on the roof, too.
For more info, call 519-271-4545. For tickets, head over to The Gentle Rain, Anything Grows or the Stratford Gazette. It’s $20 in advance, $25 at the door, 163 King St., Factory 163, June 21, 7 p.m.
And in case you’re feeling like all things sunny and green are following you around these days, I highly recommend you just go with it. Or just take in Turning to the Sun. Same thing.
• Note: To regular (and irregular) readers of this column: In the spirit of energy conservation and sustainability in my own life, the Going Green column will now appear every second week, instead of every week. We’ll meet again on June 24. Happy solstice!
