Brighter Planet

We’d like to introduce Erica Martling, Brighter Planet’s latest ambassador. We are so pleased to have Erica join our community. She is a true environmental steward, an outdoor enthusiast (as you will find out), and a young leader in the push for a more sustainable future.

Without further ado, here are some words from Erica:

It is a pleasure to be joining the Brighter Planet team as an ambassador. Like many Brighter Planet folks, I’m a die-hard skier and active environmentalist. After almost two years of competing on the IFSA World Tour Big Mountain skiing circuit, I decided to use my MA in International Development and Environmental Policy to be the director of a sustainable development and environmental education organization in Mexico. So I currently reside just north of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and run the Punta de Mita Foundation.

Currently we are working on community garden and composting projects with a local non-profit called PEACE. We will also be working with real estate developers in the region to start green building and ecotourism initiatives. As Director, I’m hoping to reduce the carbon footprint of tourism in this area of Mexico and incorporate more green space into building plans for recreation and conservation. We will also be supporting local non-profits doing grass-roots environmental education projects.

I will be traveling back to the Rockies in March 2008 to compete in the US Freeskiing Open in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and the US Freeskiing Nationals in Snowbird, Utah. As a skier, climate change is of utmost concern. I have downsized my carbon footprint by trading in my 4Runner and driving a Jetta that gets 41 mpg, I take public transportation whenever possible, ride my bike whenever possible, buy local produce, wash all my clothes in cold water, and luckily in Mexico I can even shower in cold water! I have also been in contact with Mountain Sports International and their sponsors to purchase offsets for the big mountain ski and snowboard events. As an ambassador I hope to educate people around the world about Brighter Planet’s projects and the importance of sustainable development and making the switch to clean and renewable energy.

Best wishes and enjoy the snow this winter!

—Erica

We’ve just returned from the 2008 American Birkebeiner—and what a great event it was. Over 7,000 racers descended on the tiny Wisconsin towns of Cable and Hayward, to compete in the 50km Birkie.

Last year, the event was cut short due to lack of snow. No problems this year, however, with a two-foot base and fast, cold snow over the whole course. The winning time, posted by Ivan Babikov of Canada, was 2 hours and seven minutes… that’s 24 km/hr over rolling hills and flat fields!

Kate Whitcomb, a Brighter Planet ambassador, battled a head cold to finish fifth in the women’s Birkie. Through our event offsetting program and direct offset sales, over 48 tons of carbon dioxide were offset— supporting farmer-owned distributed wind projects in Minnesota and South Dakota.

A small recycling program was started, diverting countless bags of cardboard from the landfill. These represent Brighter Planet’s first steps in our Keep Winter White campaign. We hope to return next year, to make the event even greener.

Thanks to Ned Zuelsdorff, Executive Director of the American Birkebeiner and his entire team for pulling together such a fantastic event.

The Brighter Planet team is driving to Wisconsin today for the largest cross country skiing event of the year—The American Birkebeiner! Last year there were 8,000 racers and nearly 20,000 spectators to watch the great skiing marathon.

We will be taking Bessie, our veggie oil-powered van, as part of this year’s program to green the Birkie. Once we arrive, we’ll be meeting last year’s Birkie winner, Kate Whitcomb (big sister to Brighter Planet’s own Jake Whitcomb). Kate is one of our first Brighter Planet ambassadors—here’s what she’s got to say about doing her part to fight climate change:

I use cloth bags at the grocery store and take my bike 90% of the time in the snow-less seasons—at least 20% of the time during the winter. My car gets 45 mpg. I buy locally when possible, I recycle .I use energy-conserving light bulbs, heat with locally/sustainably cut firewood when possible and always launder my clothes in cold water…

I’m including a photo of my “town pony”—my old mountain bike, transformed! Bike fender is an old Fischer ski, basket on the front for groceries and things, studded tires for winter travel, bell for greetings… this pony gets ridden year-round!

—Kate

We’ll be traveling all the way out to Wisconsin to educate people about the Brighter Planet Visa® card and we are also the official event offsetter for this year’s race. The Birkie organizers have chosen to support the farmer distributed wind projects from our renewable energy portfolio. By conserving first, and then measuring and offsetting the impact of the event (emissions from staff travel, fuel usage, electricity consumption and waste disposal), the Birkie organizers are taking responsibility for the impact the ski race has on our environment.

Skiing and winter sports have been greatly affected by climate change over the last ten years and will continued to be threatened by climbing temperatures. Thanks to the Birkie for taking the initiative and helping Keep Winter White!