Congratulations to the recipients of Constellation Energy's 2010 EcoStar Grant awards!
A total of $300,000 was awarded to 62 EcoStar Grant winners in 14 states where Constellation Energy does business. Grants of up to $5,000 each will be used by nonprofit community organizations to engage in environmental stewardship projects.
Environmental stewardship is one of Constellation Energy's foundational values. The EcoStar Grant program was launched in January 2010 with a request for applications from nonprofit organizations seeking funds for environmental projects in their communities. These grants complement our overall environmental giving strategy and represent another step that we are taking to link our employees with the communities in which they live and work.
EcoStar Grants were awarded to projects that fit into one or more of five stewardship categories: pollution prevention, education and outreach, energy efficiency, conservation and community activism. The awards will support a variety of initiatives, ranging from urban gardens and wetland restoration projects to innovative programs promoting energy efficiency and improved air quality, among many others.
EcoStar Grant Award Winners
California
Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County - Youth Stewards of Sanger
Focus: Community Activism -- Fresno, CA
The Fresno County Boys and Girls Club will engage youth to clean up the King River, a major river that replenishes ground water in the heat of California's Central Valley agricultural region. Weekly training sessions on pollution and natural resources culminate in a monthly river clean up event, involving more than 170 youth and community members from May through September.
Tides Center/Marine Education Project - Community-Based Restoration and Education Program
Focus: Conservation - Newport Beach, CA
Volunteers protect and improve biodiversity and wetland ecosystems through restoration of native habitats in one of the largest preserved coastal wetlands in Southern California. The project will engage 2,000 volunteers over the course of a year to restore and maintain 13 acres. Activities will include growing 4,000 plants comprised of 21 species on an on-site nursery, removing invasive species, and maintaining riparian habitats.
Kids4Trees - Spring 2010 Program
Focus: Education - Glendora, CA
Educational planting under mentorship of the Forest Service, in partnership with the San Bernardino National Forest Association. Groups of 200-250 children per day will participate in planting events over four days, while learning about trees and inhabitants of the forest through nature walks and song.
Friends of the Urban Forests - Community Tree Planting Program
Focus: Pollution Prevention- SanFrancisco, CA
Community Tree Planting program will install an additional 200 trees this year. Neighborhood organizers and community members will engage in tree plantings, supported by field staff who will make site visits at critical intervals to ensure the overall health of the trees and work in partnership with Neighborhood Parks Council.
Connecticut
Common Ground Community Housing - Cedarwoods Housing for Formerly Homeless & Disabled Individuals
Focus: Energy Efficiency - Connecticut
Over the past 20 years, this organization has created 2,000 units of affordable and transitional housing, and has helped more than 4,000 people overcome homelessness. This project supports training and programs for over 50 diverse and underserved residents occupying new, affordable, LEED certified homes, emphasizing energy conservation.
District of Columbia
Spanish Catholic Center Inc. - Pre-Apprenticeship Green Construction Program
Focus: Education/Energy Efficiency - Washington, D.C.
The SCC's pre-apprenticeship program serves 80 low-income students per year in two 14-week cycles, which includes extensive and challenging classroom and on-site training. The training includes green construction and performance tests ranging from weatherization, lead abatement, insulation and solar installation. The job training and skills have a sustained positive energy efficiency and community impact.
Kentucky
Blackacre Conservancy Inc. - Blackacre Watershed Restoration
Focus: Conservation - Louisville, KY
At Blackacre Nature Preserve: 9,000 public and private school students study environmental education, 6,000 visitors attend community programs, universities water and wildlife, and volunteers maintain the preserve. The project is a partnership with local Indiana University Southeast students and community volunteers to conduct a baseline survey of pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrates and other aspects of water quality fluctuations with a goal of creating a conservation and management plan for the watershed.
Maine
Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory - A Community Effort to Restore Eelgrass Beds in Frenchman Bay
Focus: Community Activism - Salisbury Cove, ME
The Community Environmental Health Laboratory involves local students, teachers and community members working side-by-side with scientists to conduct hands-on initiatives. The project will involve 50 community members to conduct water quality tests, map current and former eelgrass beds, identify suitable areas for eelgrass restoration and educate the community about eelgrass beds and their value.
Maine Audubon Society - Beginning With Habitat
Focus: Conservation - Falmouth, ME
Beginning with Habitat is a public-private partnership that provides practical tools for communities to conserve wildlife habitat in their hometowns. Programs have been conducted for more than 250 towns and 140 areas of ecological significance have been mapped. The project will expand the GIS habitat maps, tools and resources available for local and regional land use planning, including open space, local ecological focus areas and road ecology/habitat connectivity.
Center for Wildlife Inc. - Assuring a Sustainable Future for Wildlife through Education and Outreach
Focus: Education - Cape Neddick, ME
As a result of regional growth, 50 local species are currently listed as threatened or endangered. Last year more than 1,605 animals representing 150 species were rehabilitated by the center. The project will develop an on-site program capability to maintain pace with increased demand for trails, interactive displays and boardwalks to increase communities' access to wildlife rehabilitation and awareness, reaching more than 4,000 individuals.
Housing Foundation - Energy Efficiency Enhancements
Focus: Energy Efficiency - Orono, ME
The project is designed to implement energy efficiency improvements for low-income residents. The organization has identified efficiency measures and an improvement plan, including public support through the Maine Public Utilities Commission Efficiency Maine Incentive.
Maryland
Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts - Maryland Envirothon
Focus: Education - Maryland
Maryland Envirothon is a competitive natural resource education program for high school students, which supplements the schools' science curriculum. More than 1,000 students participate from more than 80 high schools. The Maryland Department of Education, Maryland Department of Natural Resources and additional partner agencies work closely with student teams and teachers to prepare for the contests. Natural resources professionals mentor the students, who engage in problem solving and learn about current environmental issues as part of the competition.
Maryland - Anne Arundel County
Chesapeake Ecology Center - Demonstration Gardens and Site Enhancements
Focus: Conservation - Anne Arundel County, MD
Involves a 10-acre demonstration site, with more than 30 native auxiliary plant demonstration garden sites, including tours and educational programming. On-the-ground restoration projects and educational workshops will engage more than 300 volunteers and community members on conservation landscaping techniques.
Volunteer Center for Anne Arundel County - Youth Volunteer Corps of the Corridor Help Save the Bay Project
Focus: Conservation - Anne Arundel County, MD
Youth Volunteer Corps will further enhance Lake Waterford Park and other sites in the county in partnership with Anne Arundel Recreation and Parks. In total, the youth corps will plan and implement four distinct environmental service projects.
Chesapeake Riverkeeper Program - Saltworks Creek Watershed Action Plan Outreach Effort
Focus: Education - Anne Arundel County, MD
Outreach to educate community on 53 identified projects to improve water quality, including significant issue of storm water runoff.
Scenic Rivers Land Trust - South River Greenway
Focus: Education - Anne Arundel County, MD
This project involves educational programming, including family nature hike, BioBlitz to log species and highlight Biodiversity, as well as bee surveys.
Maryland - Baltimore City
Cherry Hill Development Corporation - Eat Healthy Live Healthy Community Gardens
Focus: Community Activism - Baltimore, MD
This organization will initiate a community garden and two school gardens in the Cherry Hill neighborhood, in partnership with schools, the Parks & People Foundation, master gardener volunteers, and students.
South Baltimore Neighborhood Association - Heath Street Community Garden
Focus: Community Activism - Baltimore, MD
This community garden will transform vacant space into a community garden with raised-bed plots available to community members, engaging City Farm and neighborhood volunteers.
Banner Neighborhoods Community Corporation - Madeira Garden
Focus: Community Activism - Baltimore, MD
Maderia Street Garden was established by residents to improve a formerly blighted vacant lot. Volunteers have painted a mural and neighborhood residents maintain the garden, committed to its improvement as a positive focal point for the community.
Civic Works - Real Food Farm
Focus: Community Activism - Baltimore, MD
The Real Food Farm in Clifton Park provides experienced-based learning for Baltimore students in an urban setting located near schools. Civic Works partners with various local community associations, farms and nonprofits. Crops are grown using hoop houses, manual pumps to cycle through the crop beds and a thoughtful environmental approach.
Baltimore Green Works - Baltimore Green Week
Focus: Education - Baltimore, MD
Baltimore Green Week is an annual, weeklong event in April, with programming, speakers and free events that are open the public, reaching thousands of city residents.
Living Classrooms Foundation - Masonville Cove Environmental Education
Focus: Education - Baltimore, MD
The only Baltimore City Living Classrooms center focused primarily on the environment, this project will plant three gardens surrounding the center.
Cylburn Arboretum - Environmental Education at Cylburn: Visitor Services
Focus: Education - Baltimore, MD
This volunteer training program serves volunteers and visitors through increased education on the Cylburn Arboretum natural environment and new center expansion, and will highlight green building techniques such as the green roof and geothermal heating. The initiative is expected to reach more than 5,000 visitors within the year.
Baltimore County Agriculture Center - Great Kids Farm Support, Phase II
Focus: Education - Baltimore, MD
Great Kids Farm has provided more than two dozen schoolyards with nearly 10,000 free student-grown organic seedlings. The Baltimore County Agricultural Resource Center is assisting the farm with the care and maintenance of its goat herd, which is one sustainability aspect of the farm.
Parks & People - Schoolyard Habitat Exploratory Learning, Franklin Square Elementary/ Middle School
Focus: Education - Baltimore, MD
This project involves Schoolyard Habitat Exploratory Learning Space at Franklin Elementary School in west Baltimore in partnership with the Parks and People Foundation. It will improve habitat for native animals and insects by installing 100 native plants and three bird houses, and provide more than 400 students and community members with an opportunity to connect with nature and environmental education after school programming.
Comprehensive Housing for the Aged Inc.- Weatherization and Energy Efficiency Modifications for Seniors
Focus: Energy Efficiency - Baltimore, MD
This Northwest Baltimore program supports 160 low-income seniors by providing home repairs, home modifications and energy efficiency modifications. The program has engaged 592 volunteers to work 3,000 hours. The organization's annual weatherization day serves 85 seniors, assists with Energy Assistance program applications and provides information on energy efficiency services.
Herring Run Watershed Association - Saving Streams through Downspout Disconnection
Focus: Pollution Prevention - Baltimore, MD
The Downspout Disconnection Program is a collaborative project and neighborhood organizing campaign to divert rainwater into yards, rain barrels and gardens as part of an effort to reduce nutrient and sediment runoff into the Chesapeake Bay. To date, HRWA and JFWA have disconnected 4,000 downspouts and facilitated 428 neighborhood rain barrels and gardens. This project plans to disconnect 500 downspouts, install 100 rain barrels and 13 rain gardens, resulting in 350,000 square feet of rooftop being disconnected from the municipal storm drain system and removing an estimated 10 million gallons of storm water from streams.
Maryland - Baltimore County
Jones Falls Watershed Association - Forest Conservation: Invasive Vine Management of Mature Trees
Focus: Conservation - Baltimore County, MD
This invasive vine growth management on mature trees project fills a programmatic gap to complement the TreeBaltimore city project and Growing Home Baltimore County campaigns. The Jones Falls watershed covers 58 square miles in Baltimore City and County and engages volunteer teams. This project will complete 40 sites within 12 months, demonstrating and tracking areas though an on-line interactive map, addressing the significant issue of invasive species control.
Gwynns Falls Watershed Association - Downspout Disconnection
Focus: Pollution Prevention - Baltimore County, MD
Gwynns Falls Watershed Association will partner with the Villa Nova Community Association for the downspout disconnection program. The mission of the Downspout Disconnection Program is to reduce flooding and pollution in streams by diverting rainwater from rooftops into yards, water collection containers or rain gardens.
University of Maryland Baltimore County - UMBC Biodiesel Project
Focus: Pollution Prevention - Baltimore County, MD
A student led group -- winners of the "Dream It, Do It" sustainability challenge for youth -- are collecting methane (a potent Greenhouse Gas (GHG)) at a local farm and converting it to methanol. They have arranged with the university transit system to use biodiesel in two of the buses, with the innovative pollution prevention strategy resulting in a capacity upgrade and sustainable impact.
Maryland - Calvert County
American Chestnut Land Trust - ACLT Community Farm and Garden
Focus: Community Activism - Calvert County, MD
This project involves a partnership with Calverton School to develop Community Supported Agriculture. Students will visit the farm as part of their curriculum to learn about food quality, local sources of food and organic farming. Students will participate on the farm twice during growing season and will start seeds in a greenhouse located at the school.
Orphaned Wildlife Rescue Center - Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release
Focus: Conservation - Calvert County, MD
This project involves rehabilitating and releasing injured wildlife. During the year, they respond to nearly 2,000 requests for help with wildlife injuries.
Maryland - Carroll County
Boys and Girls Club of Westminster - 'Just Think Green' Campaign
Focus: Pollution Prevention - Carroll County, MD
Boys and Girls Club "Just think green"-- recycling imitative. Youth will go on a landfill field trip, create posters and promotional items, and interview community residents about the project.
Carroll County Public Schools Education Foundation - Chestnut Restoration Project
Focus: Education - Carroll County, MD
This project involves mapping chestnut trees at Camp Hashawha Outdoor School using GIS technology, integrated into chestnut tree curriculum lessons and in partnership with various partners, including local schools and colleges for specific and scientifically strong forest mapping outcomes.
Maryland - Howard County
Friends of Patapsco Valley & Heritage Greenway - Stream Watch Program
Focus: Community Activism - Howard County, MD
The Friends of Patapsco has removed more than 131 tons of trash, planted 241 trees, removed more than four tons of invasive garlic mustard and monitored 63 streams with volunteers. This project will remove invasive species, organize 20 stream cleanups and facilitate the planting of 150 new trees.
The Howard County Conservancy - Turning Heads of Howard County Students
Focus: Education - Howard County, MD
This project will support owl station, educational outreach and on-site programming around the rare barred owl.
Green Building Institute - Green Building Institute Virtual Classroom
Focus: Education - Howard County, MD
The Green Building Institute offers Home Energy Rating System (HERS) training and similar topics. This project will expand the audience of 2,000 participants via web broadcast training.
Maryland - Prince George's County
Alice Ferguson Foundation - Schoolyards as Classrooms Project for Cesar Chavez Elementary School
Focus: Education - Prince George's County, MD
This Schoolyards as Classrooms program at a Title I school will create an outdoor garden and vegetable space with solar lights. Students will participate in seeding plants.
Maryland - St. Mary's County
St. Mary's River Watershed Association - Demonstration Oyster Bar Sanctuary
Focus: Conservation - Howard County, MD
Oysters' ability to cleanse water is well documented; historically, oysters filtered the entire Bay once every 3 1/2 days. This collaborative project will identify five acres of suitable river bottom for an oyster sanctuary, acquire permits, oversee volunteers, prepare and seed the bottom, as well as follow with a research phase and education. The project site is located at the Chancellor's Point Project community center and partners include St. Mary's College, DNR. Target is to provide a thriving demonstration oyster bar for research and education, and to increase oyster population for further restoration of clean water.
Massachusetts
Groundwork Lawrence - Green It Up!
Focus: Community Activism - Lawrence, MA
The youth Green Team started the "Green It Up" campaign to address litter and trash on city streets, in parks, rivers and alleys. The summer 2010 project focuses on the Spicket River Greenway clean up, followed by press materials and letters to the editor written by the youth. The project extends one year and includes education on city budget trash and litter costs, as well as recycling.
Massachusetts Oyster Project for Clean Water Inc. - Restoring Oysters to Fort Point Channel
Focus: Conservation - Charlestown, MA
This oyster project is an extension of the effort to restore the first system in almost 80 years to Boston Harbor. The organization seeks to place and maintain additional oysters to filter water and determine locations that work best for their survival rate.
Chelmsford Friends of the Library - Clean and Green
Focus: Education - Chelmsford, MA
The library provides various programs for adults and children. "Clean and Green" programs focus on clean and green technologies and reducing carbon footprint. An informational kiosk in the library features real-time information on recently installed solar panels, including how much energy the panels are producing, the temperature on the roof and other statistics. This project will fund promotional and educational materials to publicize the monthly series.
Massachusetts Watershed Coalition - Community Guide to Growing Greener
Focus: Education - Massachusetts
The project will help create a "Growing Greener" guide to educate homeowners, builders, municipalities, businesses and the greater community about storm-water runoff.
Paraclete Foundation - Our Garden
Focus: Education, Boston MA
This after school education program service learning class planted a community garden, which grew from seven beds in spring 2009 to 102 beds by that fall. Gardening is done every day with primarily fourth- through sixth-graders, representing 13 countries and broad economic backgrounds.
Groundwork Somerville - Green Team
Focus: Energy Efficiency, Somerville MA
This initiative is a 10-week door-to-door energy efficiency campaign led by GroundWork Somerville High School Green Team. The team will join with key community partners and the city of Sommerville for "Energy Education Fairs." The fairs will be filmed and aired on Sommerville's public access television station.
Home Energy Efficiency Team - Youth Audit Partners
Focus: Energy Efficiency, Somerville MA
The Home Energy Efficiency Team - Youth Audit Partners will become "efficiency ambassadors" and complete audit forms. The teams (one adult and two students) will inform tenants and homeowners about the available rebates, tax incentives and programs they can access through MassSave and CEA for more extensive audits and professional services. The teams will also install low-cost energy saving devices, such as programmable thermostats, CFLs and other items.
New Jersey
New Jersey Tree Foundation - Urban Airshed Reforestation Program (UARP)
Focus: Conservation - New Jersey
The New Jersey Tree Foundation has planted more than 137,000 trees in 12 years. The Urban Airshed Reforestation Program in Camden City New Jersey has planted 3,735 trees with 122 community groups and 7,055 volunteers since 2002; the TreeKeepers program has trained more than 500 adults and 50 youth in basic tree care. Funding will be used to plant 10 of more than 200 new trees in Camden neighborhoods.
New York
City Parks Foundation - Partnerships for Parks
Focus: Community Activism - New York, NY
The City Parks Foundation partners with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation to focus on under-resourced or high-needs city parks in low-income neighborhoods. Partnership for Parks program engages the community by creating "friends of park" stewards to care for local parks. The program offers free programming and organizes park clean-ups, supporting an emerging trend in rejuvenating parks - through the creation of community ownership and stewardship.
Radix Ecological Sustainability Center - Urban Ecological Literacy Youth Workshops
Focus: Education- Albany, NY
The center promotes ecological literacy and environmental stewardship among students and the community, employing an ecological systems and problem-solving approach.
Housatonic Valley Association - Swamp River Public Education
Focus: Education - New York
Educational outreach will raise public awareness about the environmental health of the fragile Swamp River and watershed, as well as take the appropriate steps to protect it, including a Swamp River Watershed Management Plan. A scientific assessment of the river's health is underway, with engagement from an advisory board and key local agencies. The project will provide education on land and water protection issues.
Rochester Institute of Technology - Sustainable Habitat for Humanity Build
Focus: Energy Efficiency - Rochester, NY
This Habitat for Humanity club project features a student-built home incorporating sustainable design. The project promotes experiential student learning, and the Habitat for Humanity families are also committed to improvement by building their own home alongside volunteers. The sustainable features of the RIT team home include a tankless water heater, sealed housing envelope, efficient material use, natural lighting, recycling of organic waste, air lock entry, solar panels and additional insulation techniques.
Nysarc - Kindling: Reducing waste in Onondaga County
Focus: Education - Syracuse, NY
Arc's Employment Services division operates four work centers that provide skills training and employment to people with developmental disabilities. The project will take materials normally considered waste and bundle them into fire kindling, rather than sending the material to a landfill. Storage capacity will be increased to facilitate the project. The recycling of materials and skills training provide a mutually beneficial human and environmental impact.
Friends of Camp Hollis - Camp Hollis Environmental Enhancement Project
Focus: Education - Oswego, NY
Camp Hollis serves 800 local children each year, as well as many additional community members. This project will enhance nature and wilderness programming through upgrades to existing trails, new pond and reptile stations, an experimentation center and water bird-feeding area, as well as other educational enhancements.
Pennsylvania
Penn State Mont Alto - West Antietam Streamside Restoration Project
Focus: Conservation - Mont Alto, PA
This project will provide erosion control to the west branch of Antietam Creek, and ultimately the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay. In addition, it will expand Penn State Mont Alto Arboretum and provide hands-on experience for 40 Forestry students.
Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania - Watershed Monitoring Program
Focus: Conservation - Pittsburgh, PA
The 134-acre sanctuary is open six days a week, both to the community and 300 teachers who participate in accreditation classes. The project focus will be watershed monitoring to include avian, vegetation and water quality monitoring.
The Village of Arts and Humanities - Blueing!
Focus: Education - Philadelphia, PA
This community storm water management plan reaches residents through artistic rain barrels, rain gardens and an environmental mosaic mural.
U C Green - Green Corps
Focus: Education - Philadelphia, PA
This project will support greening in University City of Philadelphia through an employed team of high school students who will care for 500 young trees per week.
Natural Lands Trust Incorporated - Municipal Land Protection and Stewardship Workshops
Focus: Education - Media, PA
The region's largest land conservation organization will reach out to municipalities struggling with development to educate them on Growing Greener: Development by Design, a nationally recognized approach to reduce the footprint of new development by 62 percent. Local officials will be engaged through local site visits and an on-site workshop.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Association of School Committees - Environmental Policy Development and Dissemination
Focus: Energy Efficiency - Providence, RI
This organization is dedicated to improving schools by working with Rhode Island's 36 school districts. The project will disseminate policies on environmental awareness, energy conservation, building operations, maintenance and sustainable practices to local school districts.
Tennessee
Kilowatt Ours - Good Energy Stewards
Focus: Energy Efficiency - Nashville, TX
The Good Energy Stewards program with an energy reducing goals checklist and worksheet helps reduce energy use up to 50 percent. The outreach will be complemented by a screening of Kilowatt Ours, and through the engagement of local providers.
Texas
YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas - Creating Eco Stars
Focus: Education - Dallas, TX
The project will provide support for Green Team Ambassadors, who will document environmentally focused camp activities with video.
Utah
Utah Clean Cities - Turn your Key be Idle Free
Focus: Education - Utah
This statewide initiative is a partnership with a broad coalition of government, schools and nonprofit organizations to implement "Turn Your Key be Idle Free" at school loading zones throughout Utah. The project will distribute 10,000 decals and fact sheets, put up 100 signs and work with students, parents, teachers, school administrators, vendors and other partners to improve air quality by a targeted amount.
