With the help of a little local generosity, Putnam County is raising the bar for community sustainability.
A 2011 Envision Grant from the Putnam County Community Foundation and a matching grant from the community-fostering Vectren Foundation have allowed Putnam RISE to begin an array of projects within the county area in the name of sustainability. Putnam RISE (Renewal, Investment, Savings, and Efficiency) describes itself as "a broad partnership bringing energy savings and investments to schools, homes and businesses across Putnam County, Ind."
The program has currently created partnerships among the four school corporations of Putnam County — North and South Putnam, Greencastle, and Cloverdale — the City of Greencastle Commission on Sustainability, and even some private organizations as well.
"We're in the process of exploring opportunities to share knowledge and improve the community as a whole," said Missy Orr '09, a member of the Greencastle Sustainability Commission and assistant director for sustainability at DePauw.
RISE is currently sponsoring an energy challenge among the four school communities. Sixteen schools will compete between March and April with two categories of winners. Cash prizes will be awarded to the school building that records the biggest cut in energy spending compared to the last year and the building that has the overall lowest use of energy.
The schools are also devoting time to collecting Energy Savings Pledges. The pledges "encourage households to select from a menu of energy conservation steps to secure financial savings and make homes more comfortable." Since Feb. 1, the four school corporations have collected 700 pledges.
"Students are really excited about it," said Steve Setchell, Chairman of the Greencastle Commission on Sustainability. "The young people of this community are really stepping up."
Currently North Putnam Community School District is in the lead, collecting 413 of the 700 pledges, a fact that Setchell made sure to credit to first-grade teacher at Bainbridge Elementary School Kristie Hankin.
"We've had a great deal of broad support and most importantly 700 households who have made commitments," Setchell said. The ultimate goal has been set at 2,011 by Dec. 1.
RISE is also providing in-home energy audits free to 100 homes in Putnam County. Energy auditor Todd Staples, a 20-year home construction veteran, has been certified to provide official Building Performance Institute (BPI) analysis. Houses at DePauw are eligible to apply for the audits.
"It is a great thing. It really has served DePauw, Greencastle, and Putnam, and connecting them in a way that other programs have not achieved," Orr said.
Additionally, 21 low-income households will be chosen to be weatherized with the intent of bringing energy savings to "those in the community who need them the most." Among the 21, one house will receive a total Green Home Makeover.
Students may have noticed the "Buy Local" banners around downtown Greencastle, another initiative designed to raise awareness and incentives to support local economies.
On Tuesday, March 16 at 6 p.m., Deer Meadow Primary School will host a Sustainable Greencastle Community event open to the public. Energy Savings Pledges are also still available online and can be found at http://www.putnamrise.org.