Offsetting your travel emissions, reducing carbon pollution, & helping families
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Thanks so very much Missoula Marathoners!
This will be the fourth year that the Missoula Marathon is helping to support our Footprint Fund and we are thrilled to continue this partnership. The 2025 Marathon raised $5810 to support energy savings in low-income housing. Your dollars will be pooled with all the contributing marathoners and with local donations to support home weatherization and energy efficiency efforts for community members. At Climate Smart, we partner with the Human Resource Council (HRC), the local 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 you support this Footprint Fund, the HRC can go the extra mile, and help a home-owner reduce energy and emissions. With these funds, the HRC can replace windows and doors or add wall insulation - measures they couldn't do without us. Together we fund the extra mile, going the 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 residents and our planet. A note for those familiar with 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". 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 2024 marathon are presently helping our low-income neighbors, like Glenda. This winter (2025) the Fund helped Glenda, a low-income resident from a nearby community. In the midst of our late January cold-snap her aging and highly polluting oil furnace went out. Instead of replacing this ancient beast, the HRC was able to provide her with a new efficient heat pump. However, they did not have the funds for upgrading the home wiring or breaker box. Luckily we did, and she now has a new, more efficient and healthier heating and cooling system. Wahoo!! |
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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. |
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