CLIMATE MITIGATION

Seeking ways to reduce the effects of the Climate Crisis by making better use of our resources

In 2023 the Climate Group organized informative and fun outings, highlighting sustainability, environment, and place. Featured below are trips to two local resources, offering much in the way of understanding our bioregion.

LEONORA CURTIN WETLANDS 2023

SANTA FE BOTANICAL GARDEN 2023

"A land ethic expands the definition of 'community' to include not only humans but all of the other parts of the Earth as well—soils, waters, plants, and animals ... Care for people cannot be separated from care for the land."
​— Aldo Leopold
Picture
The raised-bed garden was noted as one of the initatives contributing to receiving the Associa Green Award.

ASSOCIA GREEN AWARD 2022

PictureThe Climate Mitigation Group was presented with the 2022 Associa Green Award by Amy Fairchild of Canyon Gate in early April of 2023. Pictured receiving the award are Pam Gilchrist, Angela Werneke, Karen Strickler Vinson, and Jill Joseph.
The 2022 Associa Green Award was granted to Sand River Cohousing for our commitment to sustainable living. This honor, which includes a $2500 stipend to be used for future green projects, is based on the following initiatives we have undertaken in the last two years:
  • Developed a research group (Climate Mitigation Group) for green innovations for the community
  • Held educational meetings on native plants, pollinators, and water conservation
  • Continuing participation in the Santa Fe Residential Pollinator Habitat Kit Program, which granted transplants of perennial wildflowers, with information to be provided to the Xerces Society about their survival
  • Converted our common house water heater from gas to electric to reduce the consumption of natural gas, thereby making use of surplus electricity generated by existing solar panels on the common house roof
  • Held a solar panel installation event for homeowners, received a discounted group price for those who wanted to participate (10 of 28 homes have solar panels)
  • Installed new rain gutters and a cistern, increasing rainwater collection by 25% and reducing reliance on city water
  • Installed a green screen of shrubs for bird habitat and pollinator forage, thereby reducing erosion along the arroyo bordering the community
  • Installed a vegetable garden next to the community orchard
  • Hosted cleanup days to collect leaves and vegetation, which are composted with food scraps to create fertilizer for the orchard, vegetable garden, and landscape
  • Installed a rain gauge in partnership with City Water Conservation Office, thereby helping to reduce water usage by 38% (59,000 gallons) compared to 2020–2021
Associa is the parent organization of Canyon Gate, Sand River's management company.
NEW COMMON HOUSE CISTERN 2022
In late September 2022, the Climate Mitigation Group, in collaboration with the Buildings, Grounds, and Security Team completed the tank installation phase of a project the Group conceived and researched for the purpose of increasing water capture from the common house roof. Two 1000-gallon cisterns were previously installed to harvest water from the common house south roof in 2017. The new 500-gallon tank adds 25% storage capacity to the overall system. Estrada Development LLC came in mid-October to gutter and downspout runoff from the north roof to the cisterns and plumb the receiving tank.

Thanks to Jill, Karen, Mary, along with the rest of the Climate Mitigation Group, Frank of the Buildings, Grounds, and Security Team, and our groundskeeper Jimmy.
“When people ask me where my roots are, I look down at my feet and see the roots of my soul grasping the Earth.”
— Rudolfo Anaya
GREEN
GARDEN
PV2EV
SOLAR