REEL GREEN SUSTAINABILITY MODEL LIBRARY

ReelGreen offers the most effective and successful sustainability models to replicate across America.

Examples of successful models that are thriving and changing communities around the world:

• 2000 Watt Project: The "2000 Watt Society" is a radical model of efficient, high-quality living being pushed by the Swiss Council of the Federal Institute of Technology. Worldwide average energy consumption per capita is about 17,500 kilowatt hours, working out to a continuous consumption of 2000 watts. More information
  
  
• ADOPT A WATERSHED: Adopt-A-Watershed (AAW) is a non-profit organization that promotes educational enhancement, environmental stewardship, and community development through Place-Based Learning. AAW works with schools, youth education programs, community groups, and environmental organizations, guiding them through The 5-Step Leadership to Place Based learning. The 5 Step develops leadership skills and strengthens organizational capacity to envision, create and successfully implement high quality Place-Based Learning. The 5-Step is a proven model for educational, environmental and community transformation. More information
  
  
• CLEAN ENERGY ACTION: The Clean Action Network has convinced several universities in the Appalachian and mid-Atlantic regions to convert to 100% renewable energy, reducing the use of coal, and minimizing the need for mountaintop removal mining. More information
  
  
• CLIMATE PROTECTION CAMPAIGN: Our mission is to create a positive future for our children and all life by inspiring action in response to the climate crisis. We advance practical, science-based solutions for achieving significant greenhouse gas reductions. More information
  
  
• COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE (CSA): CSA reflects an innovative and resourceful strategy to connect local farmers with local consumers; develop a regional food supply and strong local economy; maintain a sense of community; encourage land stewardship; and honor the knowledge and experience of growers and producers working with small to medium farms. CSA is a unique model of local agriculture whose roots reach back 30 years to Japan where a group of women concerned about the increase in food imports and the corresponding decrease in the farming population initiated a direct growing and purchasing relationship between their group and local farms. This arrangement, called "teikei" in Japanese, translates to "putting the farmers' face on food." This concept traveled to Europe and was adapted to the U.S. and given the name "Community Supported Agriculture" at Indian Line Farm, Massachusetts, in 1985. As of January 2005, there are over 1500 CSA farms across the US and Canada. More information
  
  
• COOL CITIES: These are cities that have made a commitment to stopping global warming by signing the U.S. Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement. Begun in 2005, the Cool Cities campaign empowers city residents and local leaders to join and encourage their cities to implement smart energy solutions to save money and build a cleaner, safer future. More information
  
  
• THE GREEN BELT MOVEMENT, Kenya, Africa: The Green Belt Movement is one of the most prominent women’s civil society organizations, based in Kenya, advocating for human rights and supporting good governance and peaceful democratic change through the protection of the environment. Its mission is to empower communities worldwide to protect the environment and to promote good governance and cultures of peace. Nobel Prize Winner, Wangari Muta Maatha founded the GBM and led the planting of more than 30 million trees to stop desertification in Kenya. More information
  
  
• GREEN INVESTMENT CIRCLES: The fastest way to kick-start the shift away from a centralized economy is to stop financing the big banks—and through them, the activities they are financing—and to switch your bank deposits to a well-managed, community bank or credit union. In fact, it's the single greatest point of leverage you have as a consumer. More information
  
  
• GREENSBURG GREEN TOWN: On the night of May 4, 2007, an EF-5 tornado, close to 2 miles wide, wiped out 95% of Greensburg, Kansas. After the cleanup started, the Greensburg City Council approved a resolution that all city building projects will be built to LEED Platinum level standards. This makes Greensburg, Kansas the first city in the United States to do this. Greensburg is being rebuilt as a Green Town.
  Greensburg Greentown is a non-profit organization created to help Greensburg residents, and others, learn about green building, and green living. We have lots of information, both on green issues and on the happenings and progress of Greensburg. I'd like to share our link with you all - http://www.greensburggreentown.org/. We'd appreciate any help we can get to get the word out about what Greensburg, Kansas is doing!
  NPR's "All things considered" did a 7 minute story on us, listen in here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.p...toryId=17643060

• GREEN POWER COOPS: 200 Michigan residents are purchasing a large windmill to power all of their homes, removing them from the power grid, and creating a possible for “feed in” for power purchasing.
  
  
• MENDOCINO GMO BAN: Mendocino County's successful ban of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms).
  
  
• PACIFICA GARDEN PROJECT: Pacifica, California - Community organic garden to provide local residents with fresh organic produce and to build community in maintaining and expanding organic gardens in this region.
  
  
• RESTORATION INITIATIVES, Earth Island Institute : Through the Small Grants Program, Earth Island Institute has been able to support locally based restoration efforts to do just that. Small grassroots efforts to restore the coastal habitats of Southern California, which have been depleted by an astounding 98%, have been slowly working to bring our wetlands back from the brink of extinction. By supporting and empowering the new restoration leaders, we ensure our collective success in restoring some of the earth’s most fragile ecosystems. More information
  
  
• SOLAR ROOFS: Berkeley, California recently sponsored a “solar roofs” program that helps home owners subsidize the purchase of solar panels for their homes through the support of municipal bonds.
• SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, Oaxaca, Mexico: Jesús León Santos leads an unprecedented land renewal and economic development program that employs ancient indigenous agricultural practices to transform this barren, highly eroded area into rich, arable land. With his organization, the Center for Integral Small Farmer Development in the Mixteca (CEDICAM), a democratic, farmer-led local environmental organization, León has united the area’s small farmers. Together, they have planted more than one million native-variety trees, built hundreds of miles of ditches to retain water and prevent soil from eroding, and adapted traditional Mixteca indigenous practices to restore the regional ecosystem. WATCH THE SHORT GOLDMAN FILM ON THIS PROJECT More information
  
  
• TRANSITION TOWNS: Towns all over Great Britain are becoming Transition Towns, using a model that dramatically reduces communities’ consumption and dependency on fossil fuels. More information
  
  

Model Library Guidelines

Model Repository items will be subject to the following procedures and guidelines:

• Nomination: Items for potential inclusion in the Model Library will be identified based on recommendations of Reel Green's staff, advisors and associates, and via a link on the Reel Green website inviting suggestions from visitors.
  
  
• Evaluation: Components included in the Model Repository will be selected based on three criteria:
  
  • Understandability - How approachable are the concepts and initiatives?
  • Usability - What is the relative ease of large-scale adoption of the program referenced?
  • Effectiveness - What is the potential for profound impact of a given project?
• Review: An annual review of the web links listed in the Repository will be conducted to determine current status.

It is expected that many events facilitated by Reel Green will result in meaningful positive change, and can serve as models for future actions on behalf of the planet. With this in mind, short films documenting a select number of events will be produced by RG for inclusion in the Model Repository. The production of these short documentaries will be overseen by our Media Director in consultation with the Executive Director and Director of Operations. Production of Solution Shorts will be subject to the following procedures and guidelines.