In this issue...

• Whet your appetite at the Local Food Forum
• Schooling for Sustainability scholarships available for local teachers
• New steps to strengthen Energy Star
• SNC Happenings
• Save the date

Whet your appetite at the Local Food Forum
On April 28th, the first Napa Local Food Forum will gather individuals, organizations and institutions for in-depth discussions about the opportunities and challenges involved in the development of a strong local food system. This event will help establish dialogue and enthusiasm in the community around local food issues and lay the groundwork for the next steps to carry out the community vision of a sustainable local food system. Dave Whitmer, Napa County Agricultural Commissioner, whose office is co-sponsoring the event, will be a guest on the Napa Chamber of Commerce - Sustainable Napa County KVON 1440 AM radio segment on Friday, April 23 at 9:30 so tune in to learn more about the event. Attendance is open to anyone and admission is just $20; and $10 for students and seniors.

Schooling for Sustainability scholarships available to teachers
The Center for Ecoliteracy is offering scholarships for California public school teachers to attend the Center's summer seminar, Schooling for Sustainability: Strategies That Make Teaching and Learning Come Alive. The seminar will be held June 23-25, 2010 at the David Brower Center in Berkeley, California. It will offer ideas, resources, and inspiration to make sustainability education more engaging, effective, and memorable. The seminar will build on the Center for Ecoliteracy's acclaimed book, Smart by Nature: Schooling for Sustainability, and includes presentations by sustainability education leaders, exposure to inspiring projects, hands-on practice with techniques that work, and reflective conversations with seminar faculty and fellow educators. Deadline is Friday, April 30.

New Steps to Strengthen ENERGY STAR®
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) outlined a series of steps to further strengthen the trusted ENERGY STAR® program. This action comes at a critical time for American consumers, many of whom struggle to keep up with their monthly energy bills. In addition to third-party testing already underway, EPA and DOE have launched a new two-step process to expand testing of ENERGY STAR qualified products. In March, DOE began testing of some of the most commonly used appliances, which account for more than 25% of a household's energy bill, and both agencies are now developing a system to test all products that earn the ENERGY STAR label.

SNC Happenings

• Napa Countywide Community Climate Action Framework. SNC joined other interested members of the community at the March 16 Napa County Board of Supervisors meeting to hear a report, and comment, on the recently released climate action framework. The draft Framework provides a consensus-based policy context for more detailed planning efforts on climate action and serves as the foundation for each jurisdiction as they develop their own implementation and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction plans. SNC is working with the Napa County Transportation and Planning Agency (NCTPA) on a series of community workshops taking place this month (see Save the Date section) so participants can learn more about how the climate action plan process is working and how individuals, businesses, and organizations can assist with the effort. Community participation is essential for a successful outcome.
  
• One step closer to high performance building. Representatives of SNC were part of a group of local stakeholders appointed by the Napa City Council to help develop the second phase of the city’s High Performance (aka “Green”) Building Ordinance which includes all new commercial and residential construction in the City of Napa. The process is nearly complete and informational workshops are planned in late April and May (see Save the Date section). The final draft of the High Performance Building Ordinance will be on the May 6 City of Napa Planning Commission agenda and will likely appear before the City Council in June.
  
• Reaching residents through Energy Partners. SNC continues to spread the word about energy efficiency through the Napa County Energy Watch program. In particular, we have been working closely local nonprofit partners including Aldea, COPE and the American Canyon, Calistoga, and St. Helena Family Resource Centers to reach customers and clients with more information about Energy Partners – a program that provides income qualified customers free energy education, weatherization measures and energy efficient appliances to reduce gas and electric use.

SAVE THE DATE

Get Growing! Gardening for Everyone
Saturday, April 10th, 8:30am - 4:30pm
Vintage High School, 1375 Trower Avenue, Napa
Join UC Master Gardeners of Napa County for a fun day of home gardening classes, exhibits and hands-on demonstrations highlighting sustainable gardening.

California Native Wildflower Show and Plant Sale
April 10th & 11th, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Skyline Park, 2201 Imola Avenue, Napa
Free admission to Skyline Park during sale
Presented by the California Native Plant Society – Napa Valley Chamber

Napa Countywide Community Climate Action Framework Community Workshops
- Wednesday, April 14, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
American Canyon Middle School Cafeteria 300 Benton Way
- Thursday, April 15, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
St. Helena Vintage Hall Board Room, 2nd floor, St. Helena High School 465 Main Street
- Wednesday, April 28, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Napa NVUSD Board Room - Lincoln at Jefferson

City of Napa High Performance Building Ordinance Stakeholder Workshops
- April 30th, 8:30am -1:00pm
Napa City Council Chambers, 955 School Street, Napa
Open to the public though more in-depth content is geared specifically for trade and industry such as builders, developers, contractors, architects, engineers
- Monday, May 10, 4:00 – 8:30pm
Napa City Council Chambers, 955 School Street, Napa
Open to the public though more in-depth content is geared specifically for trade and industry such as builders, developers, contractors, architects, engineers.
- Saturday, May 15, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Napa City-County Library, Community Room, 580 Coombs Street, Napa

Earth Day Celebrations in Calistoga
April 12 – 29
Various times and locations
Presented by the City of Calistoga

St. Helena Earth Day Clean-up
April 23-24, 8:00 – 10:00am
Meet at Lyman Park – to various locations around St. Helena
Organized by the St. Helena Chamber of Commerce

Earth Day Napa
April 24, 11:00am to 5:00pm
Downtown Napa at Veterans Park
Presented by the Environmental Education Coalition of Napa County