Energy “efficiency” has long been discussed in our town. Now it’s time to act.
Jun 19, 2024
Famed Clean Energy guru Amory Lovins came to Camden more than a dozen years ago — in February, no less — to address the 2012 Camden Conference. His words on what we could do “to make energy work for us without working our undoing” still resonate. Tragically, given the lost opportunity they represent.
Lovins’ emphasis was all on saving energy. It’s vital that we transform our energy system from fossil fuels to electricity, but that process works cheapest and quickest if we start by using less.
The organization he founded, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), remains a leading advisor to governments, businesses, and others on energy efficiency. This month it put out a report, “The Incredible Inefficiency of the Fossil Energy System,” that’s a must-read for wonks wanting to understand the big picture on energy efficiency and the transition to renewable electricity.
For those whose energy-efficiency focus is closer to home, CamdenCAN sponsored a Camden Talks Climate session June 13 on Planning Climate-Friendly Home Energy Upgrades. Not to worry if you missed this user-friendly rundown on the whys and wherefores of air-sealing, insulation, and other ways of cutting both monetary and emission costs of keeping your home cool in summer and warm in winter. It’s accessible on the Camden Public Library YouTube channel.
Despite having a stunningly beautiful, super energy-effiicient showcase home in Colorado, Lovins has spent a lot of time in Maine over summers past, including as a guide for forest hikers. That helps explain his willingness to come here on a February weekend all those years ago.
What a blessing it is for us who are lucky enough to live here in Midcoast Maine to have a string of the world’s best speakers, musicians, film-makers and other coming through to address or perform for our impressively varied community organizations.
Besides Camden Conference, that goes for the Jazz in June festival held just last weekend in our beautiful Opera House and other town venues. It goes for the summer concerts, culminating in the Screen Door Festival Aug. 14-18, that will be taking place at Bay Chamber’s new home in Camden, at 5 Mountain Street — also home to a wonderful music school for children and adults. It goes for the Camden International Film Festival, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary of showing world-class documentaries Sep. 12-15. The National Toboggan Championship, of course. And lots more.
The cultural riches of such varied sorts we enjoy here are extraordinary. As extraordinary as the beauty and outdoor opportunities the Camden Hills and surrounding Penobscot Bay offer. They go together. These natural endowments attract and inspire the people who imagine and organize the cultural events.
Let’s hope we don’t lose that and other bounties of our lives here. In fact, let’s not just hope, let’s work to make it so. In this time of climate crisis, that means joining in the work Camden is undertaking at many levels to address the threats climate change poses to our community. There are lots of ways to do that.
New ones will be opening up later this summer. Town planner Jeremy Martin expects to award contracts soon for resiliency planning on town properties lining our picture-perfect harbor, from Laite Beach, through the Yacht Club property and Public Landing, and around to Steam Boat Landing.
We’ll be telling you more in this newsletter as soon as there’s more to tell. We all know how vital such “adaptation” work is. What with the two wind- and tide-driven storms this January, their predecessor in December 2022, and the regular lapping of sea water around the benches at the foot of Harbor Park even at peaceful storm-free astronomic high tides.
Adaptation, to use UN jargon for adapting to climate changes that are now inevitable given the fossil fuel extravaganza that shaped humanity’s last two centuries, is important. But it shouldn’t be allowed to overshadow our obligation to fight to minimize that change. Renewable energy, EVs, and other forms of electrification are critical in that. But the most critical part of that “mitigation” effort is where we began this post — with using less energy.
Upcoming Local Climate Change Events
6/19/24, 5 pm Wednesday, and 6/20/24, 1 pm Thursday, Camden Public Library, CamdenCAN Climate Conversation Circles. These are held on the first and third Wednesdays and Thursdays of each month, at 5 and 1 pm respectively. See more here. There will be no circles on the July 4th weekend, however.
Camden CAN is planning a (free) “Camden Food Garden Tour” for early fall, with a tentative date of Sep. 12. The aim is to encourage growing local food at that most local of all places, our own homes, given the challenges facing farmers and likelihood of even pricier food as the weather becomes more extreme. If you have suggestions or might like to help, call Beedy Parker, on 207 236 8732.
CamdenCAN Newsletter Summer Schedule
We’re advocates of exploration and immersion in this living world. As such we’ll be reducing our publishing schedule over the next several months while we seek adventures—we hope you’ll also have the chance to recharge in all the ways you enjoy.