Offsetting your travel emissions, reducing carbon pollution, & helping families
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Thanks so very much Missoula Marathoners!
This is the second year that the Missoula Marathon is helping to support our Footprint Fund and we couldn't be more excited to partner again. The 2023 Marathon raised $6261 to support energy savings in low-income housing (details coming soon). Once again with your support: Your dollars will be pooled with all the contributing marathoners and with local donations to support home weatherization and energy efficiency efforts for some of our lowest income community members. At Climate Smart, we partner with our local Human Resource Council (HRC), the entity that conducts energy efficiency upgrades in Missoula and two neighboring counties. The HRC is limited in what they can do, based on federal guidance, utility regulations, and state policy. It's a bit complicated, but essentially when we give direct Footprint Fund financial support, the HRC can go the extra mile, and truly help a home-owner reduce energy and emissions. For example, the HRC might be able to replace windows and add wall insulation, but cannot add the ideal amount of attic insulation unless they have outside dollars (like ours!). We jump in and fund the extra, going the extra distance..... As Missoula Marathoners, whether 1/2 or full, you are going an even extra mile by helping us fund projects that are good for both low-income home-owners (even renters!) and our planet. A note for those familiar with brokered carbon offsets. We DO calculate the energy saved per dollar and stand by the fact that what we support does offset carbon pollution. But you are NOT actually purchasing a "verified, certified carbon offset". We don't know the exact $ amount at this time, so there's some trust involved. That's how we fly in Missoula - we trust each other to make our community better, especially those most vulnerable, and we have fun doing it. THANK YOU for trusting us and helping to be part of climate solutions. |
Footprint Funds from the 2023 marathon are presently helping our low-income neighbors, like Sandy. Thus summer the Fund helped Sandy, an aging Missoula neighbor by providing wall insulation in her 1930’s home. Our funds went to work and the R value of the walls went from 6.80 to 19.80 after the install. Sandy said that the HRC weatherization program is wonderful and something that will really help as we head into winter. “This is extremely important to have insulation in walls in an old house that did not have any to begin with.” The overall work completed included attic and crawlspace insulation, and venting in the bathroom and kitchen for health and safety. Without the Footprint Fund, there's be a whole lot less insulation! 
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When used correctly, carbon offsets are awesome. They are also just a small part of climate solutions and we encourage everyone to step it up. Look for ways to reduce your own carbon footprint and get involved in local efforts that build the systemic change to meet this moment. And please vote and work to elect leaders that will drive climate action and pace and scale. Visit missoulaclimate.org.