Goals and Methods

Back Porch EI operates under the following values:

Energy Consumption -- Reduction is beneficial for local economies and the environment.
Living the Mission -- The answer to combating global energy consumption starts in the home.
Community Learning -- Local communities have unique advantages, resources and powers to reduce energy consumption.
Local Involvement -- Acknowledging the responsibilities we all have to each other is key to building and maintaining relationships with local communities.

Goals

Increase awareness about energy efficiency, sources of energy and how our current energy usage is impacting the world and ourselves.

Foster communication between Southern environmental groups and work to bolster a network of Southern energy action.
Foster a demand for green energy in local markets.
Engage a diverse audience in terms of age, race, gender and economic status through programming.
Increase participation in current campaigns, both locally and nationally.
Ensure long-term vitality and growth of Back Porch EI as a non-profit organization.
Keep in touch with members, donors and towns the initiative has visited.

Methods

Establish a non-profit organization with the purpose of fostering a network, supporting future tours and effective programming that continue the purposes established above.
Design programs that inform audiences about issues of energy sources and efficiency; tailor these programs to each specific audience.
Connect with local environmental groups to provide trainings focused around campaign building and organizational development.
Green the homes of prominent community members as practical examples – Put together programming with prominent community members and their organization (i.e. – green the house of a pastor and then run a program with their church).
Work with local environmental groups to help carry out programming – Run an internship with William & Mary to allow undergraduates the opportunity to work on the Initiative, do research with professors in a variety of departments and become more connected with the youth climate movement.
Create a website as a resource for networking/ communication, online organizing resources and training guides, an a venue for a Back Porch Energy Initiative to remain available as a resource.
Maintain a blog, put together a documentary, and create modes of communication a variety of audiences.