About Us
From its beginnings, Linden Hills Power & Light has been a local effort with origins in a few informal gatherings attended by a few concerned neighbors. And as we’ve grown, our core objective continues to be to engage and mobilize more and more members of our community, no matter what their ages, skills or prior levels of community participation.
LHP&L is a 501c3 non profit. We rely on donations from families in the community to create our programs and support our initiatives. You can support us by becoming a member or making a tax deductible contribution. Click here to donate. Donations offset the cost of our one part-time staff member to oversee programs such as the following. Less than 15% of funds are spend on administration (insurance, bookkeeping, accountants, Council of Non Profits membership, website, email program, etc) more than 85% goes directly to program expenses. We are not raising funds to build an anaerobic digester, we're raising funds to keep the organization running to bring you these great opportunities.
The Source Separated Organics (SSO or curbside composting collection) Pilot: LHP&L has spearheaded the Linden Hills compost pilot in conjunction with the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County - we now have over 1400 people participating (50% of eligible homes) and on average divert 5 tons of organics per week to be recycled into environmentally valuable compost. The average home is recycling 9.5 pounds of SSO per week, or 50% of their garbage. LHP&L works with residents, businesses and schools to compost waste, and works with LHINC and LHBA to ensure the May festival and events like Woofstock and Linden Hills Live are zero waste events. We are pleased to offer free compost to neighborhood residents at the Linden Hills Festival in May.
As part of our Energy Efficiency focus, LHP&L partner with MN CEE to bring Community Energy Services to the neighborhood. Community Energy Services offers home visits with installation of up to $400 worth of energy products and services for a co-pay of $40. LHP&L also enlisted a number of experts to present for our speaker series. We welcome suggestions from the neighborhood of other interesting topics. In addition LHP&L has provided free window weatherization for members of the community facing difficulty with heating bills, and distributed almost 2000 CFL light bulbs.
CLICK HERE for an overview of awards and testimonials. Click here to join us as part of a committee or as a supporter. Click HERE for our annual reports.
LHP&L is a 501c3 non profit. We rely on donations from families in the community to create our programs and support our initiatives. You can support us by becoming a member or making a tax deductible contribution. Click here to donate. Donations offset the cost of our one part-time staff member to oversee programs such as the following. Less than 15% of funds are spend on administration (insurance, bookkeeping, accountants, Council of Non Profits membership, website, email program, etc) more than 85% goes directly to program expenses. We are not raising funds to build an anaerobic digester, we're raising funds to keep the organization running to bring you these great opportunities.
The Source Separated Organics (SSO or curbside composting collection) Pilot: LHP&L has spearheaded the Linden Hills compost pilot in conjunction with the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County - we now have over 1400 people participating (50% of eligible homes) and on average divert 5 tons of organics per week to be recycled into environmentally valuable compost. The average home is recycling 9.5 pounds of SSO per week, or 50% of their garbage. LHP&L works with residents, businesses and schools to compost waste, and works with LHINC and LHBA to ensure the May festival and events like Woofstock and Linden Hills Live are zero waste events. We are pleased to offer free compost to neighborhood residents at the Linden Hills Festival in May.
As part of our Energy Efficiency focus, LHP&L partner with MN CEE to bring Community Energy Services to the neighborhood. Community Energy Services offers home visits with installation of up to $400 worth of energy products and services for a co-pay of $40. LHP&L also enlisted a number of experts to present for our speaker series. We welcome suggestions from the neighborhood of other interesting topics. In addition LHP&L has provided free window weatherization for members of the community facing difficulty with heating bills, and distributed almost 2000 CFL light bulbs.
CLICK HERE for an overview of awards and testimonials. Click here to join us as part of a committee or as a supporter. Click HERE for our annual reports.
LHP&L : 2720 W 43rd St, Suite 101, Minneapolis MN 55410
Ph (612) 925-4249
Fax: 612-920-7804
Email: info@lhpowerandlight.org
Ph (612) 925-4249
Fax: 612-920-7804
Email: info@lhpowerandlight.org
Accomplishments
- LINDEN HILLS COMPOST PILOT: LHP&L spearheaded the Linden Hills compost pilot in conjunction with the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County - over 50% of eligible homes (over 1,260 households!) in Linden Hills are now composting their organic material, diverting on average 5 tons a week!
- REUSE RODEO: LHP&L launched the first ever ReUse Rodeo in Linden Hills helping homeowners declutter and get useful items in the hands of people who could use them. Over 16,000 pounds of material found new homes and were kept out of landfills or the incinerator.
- ONE STOP ENERGY SERVICES: LHP&L partnered with CEE to promote One Stop Community Energy Services. Over 232 households participated with 73 going on to either get insulation work completed or a new heating system, reducing carbon emission by over 175,000 lbs.
- SCHOOLS: LHP&L supported Minneapolis Public Schools in introducing organics recycling to 21 schools. All our neighborhood schools, including Southwest High, Lake Harriet Upper & Lower, and Carondelet Upper & Lower are now composting.
- NEW LEGISLATION PASSED: LHP&L worked with State Representative Frank Hornstein and Senator Scott Dibble to change legislative language and move the composting of source separated organics material up the waste hierarchy.
- TRANSIT GRANT – LHP&L encouraged residents to take the bus. 661 riders took the bus for a total of 3,762 rides during the first 2 months of the grant period. In the following five months 5,883 riders took 9,645 rides. Metro Transit used the model developed with LHP&L as the template for all their subsequent neighborhood initiatives. They even won a state wide prize for the direct ail piece we created together.
- ECO BLEND AWARD: in 2012 we launched the ECoBLEND Award - designed to reward and encourage green initiatives in home building and remodeling.
- ZERO WASTE EVENTS: LHP&L works with various organizations such as neighborhoods, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, YWCA, Team Ortho and the Uptown Art Fair to reduce waste at their events.
- WORKING WITH OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS: Worked with Morningside Neighborhood Group to encourage their compost pilot, provided assistance to the East Calhoun neighborhood to start their curbside collection.
- SCHOOL WASTE SORT: Sorted 6000 lbs of school waste to determine percentages of recyclables and compost in school waste.
- CFL DISTRIBUTION: Distributed 1800 free CFLs to the neighborhood to educate residents on how easy it is to take small steps that have big impact on climate change.
- GREEN CARPET FILM FEST: Hosted a great community building event where Minneapolis residents submitted 2 minute movies about reducing energy and food waste and screened them at a film festival
Plans
Just a few ideas on our drawing board :
- Community Shredding Event - get all the old tax returns and other paperwork out of the attic and shredded and recycled.
- Recycled Fabric Bag co-op - Volunteers sew reusable fabric bags to replace plastic and paper bags. Bags are distributed free of charge to local merchants.
- Continue and Expand the Green Cart, Curbside Composting Program
- Winter Coat Exchange - instead of buying new coats for your kids - come to the Noble Warming Event -and swap your outgrown sizes for new sizes.
- Leverage Hennepin County's Apartment Recycling efforts.
LHP&L are:
- Nancy Lo –Chair -A 10-year Fulton resident, Nancy worked as a copy editor at the Star Tribune for 16 years. She is an activist for waste reduction, and is making progress one person at a time. She also volunteers for the Minnesota Valley Humane Society and Pet Crossing Animal Hospital. Because she doens't live in Linden Hills, Nancy couldn't be a treasure, instead she is the Fulton equivalent of a LH Teasure "A Friend of Fulton."
- Lisa Bigaouette - Treasurer - Lisa is a fundraising professional with proven experience in securing large-scale project and operating support. She's a leader skilled at guiding the project design process, developing funds to support project, and following-up with efficient and effective project management. She's also an advocate knowledgeable in issues of sustainable development, green communities, smart growth, regional planning and development, affordable housing and homelessness.
- Tom Braun –Secretary - Tom is a thirty year resident of Linden Hills and the founder and owner of Wild Rumpus Books for Young Readers. A former president of the Linden Hills Business Association, Tom's ceativity and sense of humor is key to why LHP&L is fun as well as sucessful. Tom received a Linden Hills Treasure award in 2005.
- Felicity Britton –executive director- A 15 year resident of Linden Hills, Felicity served for three years on the Linden Hills Neighborhood Council as Chair of the Outreach Committee. She serves as coordinator of the local non-profit People for Parks, and holds the position of Executive Director for LHP&L. Felicity was awarded a Linden Hills Treasure title in 2006.
- Aaron Issacs - yet another Linden Hills Treasure - yes, that's right, we collect the smartest and most talented talent in Linden Hills. The author of several books and publications, Aaron was the new ideas guy for Metro Transit for 30 years. In addition to being a human GPS, Aaron dedicates many, many volunteer hours to the Minnesota Streetcar Musuem.
- Keiko Veasey - Keiko holds a masters in Public Policy from the Humphrey Institute and comes from a family dedicated to public service. Her dad is a Wisconsin state senator, as was his father before him. Keiko founded LInden Hills Eco parents, a group dedicated to reducing waste and toxicity in the home. Keiko has lived in Linden Hills for 11 years and makes world famous marinated mushrooms. She was reconized as a Linden Hills Treasure in 2010.
- Tricia Cornell - Tricia is a freelance writer and editor and author of Eat More Vegetables, a guide to eating fresh, healthy produce from Farmer's Markets. Tricia was Editor of Minnesota Parent for 5 years. Tricia is a long time resident of Linden Hills and has two children.
- Tom Harlan -Tom is an attorney with Madigan, Dahl & Harlan (mdh-law.com) and his practice includes Business/Corporate/ Commercial Law, Commercial Litigation, Construction Law and Litigation, and Real Estate Law and Litigation. Tom has been working in the renewable energy area, with a little wind energy but mostly nuclear. He is a Linden Hills resident with a son, Devan at Southwest High School.
- Sarah Sponheim - the second chair of Linden Hills Power & Light, Sarah was instrumental in transforming LHP&L from a casual group of friends concerned about climate change to a professional non-profit taking action throughout the city. Sarah combines a thoughtful intelligence with a laser focused can-do attitude as evidenced in her work on the Citizens Environmental Advisory Committee, East Calhoun Green Team and Zero Waste Uptown task force.
- Dan Trockman - An environmental and life sciences educator for 15 years. Currently serves as educational technologist and environmental science teacher at The Blake School in Minneapolis. Dan loves ingenious mechanical systems and alternative ideas for energy self-sufficiency and efficiencey. A Linden Hills resident for 10 years.
- Monica Gross -Monica is a longtime environmental activist and Linden Hills Resident. With her background in law, Monica has volunteered her time with many non-profits including the Minnehaha Watershed District, St Joan of Arc and LHP&L.
- Anne Trockman - a long time waste reduction advocate, Anne is involved with energy efficiency and waste reduction initiatives with her synagogue and community.
- Madalyn Cioci - is an involved Linden Hills resident and formerly worked as the Linden Hills Neighborhood Council Implementation Coordinator (2001-2004). She has also done extensive volunteer coordination and has 5 years experience in environmental education and community organizing. Currently, she works for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency doing outreach and education for source reduction. One day she will come back, we know she can't stay away for long.
- Bryce Hamilton -A small business owner and Linden Hills Institution, Bryce is the founder and implementer of Linden Hills Live -an annual summer program of live music in the business district and a long time champion of the neighborhood.
- Steve Palm – Another engineer, Steve is a gadget man, who quietly keeps us on track as well as introducing us to the latest management concepts and best practices.
- Jim Postiglione –AD committee- Jim is the quiet, humble member of the team. A super smart engineering genius, Jim built 2 portable anarobic digesters -one can be see on a video here, the other is at his home where he also built his own solar panel. JIm works for a firm who install landfill gas capture technology and in his spare time teaches Tai Chi.
- Mike Otto - Mike is the driving force behind Mike Otto Construction, specializing in designed focused, Sustainable building practices, practical value engineering, and open communication. Mike is a founding member of MN Greenstar (a green building standards and certification program) and a member of ASID Green Committee.
- Mark Anderson -legislative liaison- is currently a Minnesota based independent consultant on health care and human rights policy. He served in Paul Wellstone's US Senate office for Wellstone's 12 years in office, with his last title being senior advisor and policy liaison. He has 30 years experience in grass roots and government positions working on major policy challenges. He serves as executive director of the Barbara Schneider Foundation.
