Thunder Bay’s Community Environmental Action Plan co-ordinator says she wants the city to follow Sweden’s example to reduce its carbon footprint and take part in a year-long climate change challenge.
Earthwise Thunder Bay launched its first environmental challenge called Climate Idol on Monday. Four families from Thunder Bay and Duluth will spend a year going through a set of environmentally friendly challenges to reduce their energy output.
Sarah Kerton, co-ordinator with Earthwise, said they came up with the idea when they visited Sweden about a year ago. A climate change co-ordinator in Växjö, Sweden developed the idea where families were tasked to complete a series of challenges to reduce their carbon footprint.
"We’ll put them through a series of challenges over 2011 that will teach them how to live a more environmentally friendly," Kerton said on Tuesday. "For example, in the energy challenge they`ll have a home energy audit where they will learn how to sense their home or apartment’s energy efficiency and get some tips on how they could address that."
Kerton said she believes the challenge went over well in Sweden, which has lower energy output per capita than North America.
Earthwise is looking for a variety of families open to the idea of re-arranging their lifestyle and making the necessary changes. Though local stores will provide gifts, coupons and discounts on environmentally friendly products, the four chosen families will have to find creative ways within their own means to compete in the challenge, she said.
But families will receive some guidance through education sessions as well as opportunities to meet the families from Duluth.
Kerton said the goal is for the families to pass on what they have learned.
"The way we see it, everyone is a winner," she said. "It’s not a competition. Since we’re only having four families participating, the families that we choose to participate will be fully committed to the project over the year."
She added that they are looking for a variety of families to participate in the challenge and as of Monday, Dec. 21, nearly 20 families have expressed an interest.
The deadline for applications ends on Jan. 21 and the challenge is expected to start on Feb. 5.
