WESTON CLIMATE GROUP

Weston Talks Trash Event Materials

2012-02-09T23:46:00.001-05:00

Over 40 people participated in the "Weston Talks Trash" event at the library on Feb. 8th. The discussion was interesting, enthusiastic, and wide-ranging, filled with good questions and great ideas. It was videotaped by the Weston Media Center, so check their site for when it will be shown on local cable channels.

In the meantime, you can take a look at two of the main components of the event, the Story of Stuff video and the slides presented by Bob Hoffman.

The Story of Stuff
Go to the Story of Stuff Project website to watch the video we presented, along with many others, and to delve more deeply into this topic with all of the supporting information they have collected.

Talking Trash
This is the slide deck Bob Hoffman used in his presentation:

February 8 Event

2012-01-30T16:12:00.000-05:00

Weston Talks Trash!

Featuring Bob Hoffman

February 8th, 7-9 p.m.

Weston Library

The Weston Climate Group is hosting a presentation and discussion about stuff, where it comes from and where it goes when we think that we are done with it. Although it is easy for most of us to just "throw stuff away," it is amazing to see what actually happens once you realize that there is no such thing as "away."

The evening will start with a showing of the short, very entertaining film The Story of Stuff, which describes the impacts and implications of our production and consumption patterns. Following the movie, Bob Hoffman, Director of Weston's Department of Public Works, will describe the current profile of Weston's waste and how it is processed. He will discuss the breakdown of the amounts and types of waste we generate as a community, the role of recycling, and outline some of the economics involved in managing the town's trash disposal. There will be time for discussion at the end.

Come to the Weston Public Library at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 8th to learn how to watch your waste in a whole new way. For more information, contact Rudy Ruggles.

Brookline Climate Week Starts Jan. 21

2012-01-21T17:39:00.000-05:00

Climate Change Action Brookline is a very active group and their most recent effort is Climate Week. Starting tomorrow (Jan. 21), they will have over 40 events and activities taking place across their community over the coming week.

See their website for a full description (http://www.ClimateChangeActionBrookline.org/), but here is a partial list of activities (from WickedLocal, full link below):

Plan a family day at Larz Anderson Park on Saturday, Jan. 21. There will be ice skating, a free green transportation exhibit at the museum with electric cars, information about the town’s new charging stations, examples of transport bikes, a 1938 bicycle, information about bike lanes and the new Hubway bike sharing program, and free hot chocolate. Follow this up with story telling with the polar bear on the top of the hill and a view of the sun through a special telescope.

Walk. The streets will become a gallery. Take a walk down and around Harvard Street to view eco-art and consider how artists make the invisible visible helping us to see in new ways. You might want to attend the opening of artist Tim Gaudreau at the New England Institute of Art on Saturday, Jan. 28, from 2-5 p.m. Tim will display a room-size collage of everything he threw away in one year: Some 365 days of waste makes a visually stunning and thought provoking exhibit.

Eat. Don’t miss the fun of shopping at Brookline’s first Winter Market on Jan. 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Public Health Building near Town Hall. Bring the family. Meet farmers and local sellers of organic vegetables, cheese, mushrooms, oatcakes, ice cream, honey and more! There will be information about vegetarian diets and what’s new with school lunches. Sample delicious and healthy food. Come early and get a tour of the first green municipal building in Brookline. Stay for stories and displays in town hall.

Save. Across from the Winter Market in Town Hall, learn how to conserve energy in your home and save money too with Green Homes Brookline, a presentation on solar energy, and preventing heat loss with “The Ups and Downs of Windows”. You can recycle Styrofoam while you’re at it.

Read. Look for books on climate change at the town libraries. Don’t miss Frances Moore Lappé reading her new book, “Eco Mind: Changing the Way We Think To Create The World We Want,” on Thursday evening, Jan. 26, at the Brookline Booksmith.

Think. Hear an expert panel discuss how businesses are addressing climate change on Wednesday evening, Jan. 25, at Town Hall.

Dream about spring and the garden. Bountiful Brookline will give tips on gardening at the Winter Market. Take a composting class with horticulturist Robin Wilkerson at Brookline Adult and Community Education on Tuesday evening, Jan. 24.

See wildlife. Start looking for a 6-foot polar bear who will be taking part in the fun. Or take a walk along the Muddy River with Brookline’s tree expert and an ecologist on Sunday, Jan. 29.

Guest column: Our community’s resolution and Climate Week 2012

Jan. 19 Walden Forum Event

2012-01-12T15:46:00.000-05:00

The Walden Forum presents

"What We Know about Climate Change"

Thursday, January 19 at 7:30

First Parish Meeting House, Wayland

Dr. Kerry Emanuel a Professor of Atmospheric Science at MIT, will discuss his book “What We Know about Climate Change.” What are the risks and possible benefits of climate change? How much of it is manmade and how much is natural? Will we be in for more intense hurricanes, how will society cope with increased incidence of drought and floods, and will there be a problem with climate refugees? And has the American public been misinformed by a media obsessed with sensational debate? Dr. Emanuel will review what is known about climate science and discuss the problem from the sober point of view of risk assessment and management, focusing on the enormous challenge of dealing with uncertain risks affecting primarily our grandchildren and their descendants.

About Walden Forum

The Walden Forum is a free public series that promotes learning and discussion about important ethical, religious, political, scientific, social and other topics in a live forum setting. Dynamic speakers may challenge preconceived notions about the world around us and offer access to issues that might not otherwise be heard in Wayland or our surrounding community. Featuring world-class speakers on great topics throughout the year, The Walden Forum is a non-religious community program offered by First Parish in Wayland, and held at the historic 1815 First Parish Meetinghouse at the intersection of Routes 20 and 27 in Wayland Center. http://www.waldenforum.org

WCG Fall Events

2011-09-12T18:16:00.014-04:00

The WESTON CLIMATE GROUP Presents
at 7 PM in the Weston Library Community Room:

September 21
Jean Sideris, Union of Concerned Scientists:
Extreme Weather, Global Warming, and Your Health

October 19
Paul Eldrenkamp:
Ice Dams, Climate Change, and You

November 15
Financing Energy Efficiency Upgrades in Your Home

December 7
Film: Carbon Nation

Event Descriptions

Jean Sideris: Climate Change and Your Health (9/21)
“How are climate change and extreme weather related? In a warming world, what health effects could climate change bring? Join me for a discussion of these issues and how you can call for action on climate change.”
Jean Sideris is the Outreach Coordinator for the Climate and Energy Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. She connects scientists with the public and policy makers to educate them on global warming science, impacts, and solutions and to advocate for strong action to reduce emissions. Jean has a master's degree in journalism from Northeastern University, a bachelor's in anthropology from the University of Colorado, and has been with UCS for 7 years.

Paul Eldrenkamp: Ice Dams, Climate Change and You (10/19)
Paul Eldrenkamp is both the owner of Byggmeister, a Newton-based remodeling company, and principal of DEAP Energy Group, a consulting firm specializing in Deep Energy Retrofits (renovations that achieve energy savings of at least 50%). He will explain the cause of ice dams, their connection to climate change and what you can do about both.
Paul says his “mission is to design, build and maintain homes that are functional, beautiful, cost-effective and environmentally responsible. We have put environmental stewardship at the center of our services—and not just because it's good for the planet…
Sustainable homes aren't just environmentally beneficial; they also reduce maintenance and energy costs, improve air quality and comfort, and, through good design, are better able to meet the changing needs of occupants over time.”

Financing Energy Efficiency Upgrades (11/15)
There are energy efficiency rebates, incentives and tax breaks available that could reduce the upfront costs of a renovation. There are also novel financing mechanisms that are currently being debated that go even further. In this session, we’ll review the availability of programs and discuss new ideas being bandied about.

The film "Carbon Nation" (12/7)
“Carbon Nation is an optimistic, solutions-based, non-preachy, non-partisan, big tent film that shows tackling climate change boosts the economy, increases national and energy security and promotes health and a clean environment.
Even if you doubt the severity of the impact of climate change or just don't buy it at all, this is still a compelling and relevant film that illustrates how solutions to climate change also address other social, economic and national security issues. You'll meet a host of entertaining and endearing characters along the way…
It’s incredibly smart to be a part of the new, low-carbon economy: it’s good business. Carbon Nation’s optimism and pragmatism are appealing across the political spectrum. While other good films have been about problems, blame and guilt, Carbon Nation celebrates solutions, inspiration and action.”

Note: All quotations from web sites and emails with our guests.

Try Your Hand at a Carbon Footprint Calculator

2011-08-08T12:17:00.013-04:00

Ever wonder how much carbon dioxide is created as a result of daily activities? There are numerous carbon calculators on the web. Here's a sample from the collection listed at the Bureau of National Affairs, a news agency. Their home page for climate is http://climate.bna.com/climate/home.aspx:

Carbonfund.org’ s calculator at www.carbonfund.org/Calculators#Home asks about energy used in your home, car, air flights, public transportation and special events. You will need estimates of electricity, gas and heating oil use, as well as miles traveled by various modes. If you attend a special event, you can estimate your footprint based upon your travel. If you're planning a wedding, you can estimate the total footprint for your wedding based on the number of guests and how far they've traveled and where they stayed.

The calculator at www.ecohatchery.com/calculator asks many of the same questions, but also includes the carbon footprint from your diet. You might already know that a diet high in vegetables and fruits has a significantly smaller footprint than one with significant meat.

The US Environmental Protection Agency has one of the original web-based carbon calculators at www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html It allows you to calculate household emissions including waste disposal, and then choose among various actions that reduce your footprint. The resulting savings are calculated in dollars and emissions.

The Texas State Energy Conservation Office has a straightforward calculator, but one that allows you to make changes and easily see the effect of those changes on your footprint. Go to www.infinitepower.org/calc_carbon.htm The results for Boiled Frog and spouse were 25,713 pounds of carbon added to the atmosphere as 94,281 pounds of carbon dioxide. That's about 6.5 tons of carbon for each of us, based on collectively flying 50,000 miles, driving 20,000 miles per year and heating the house, including hot water.

You can take a closer look at your footprint from travel at www.travelmatters.org/calculator/individual/personal It includes carpooling, rental car, taxi, RV, motorcycle and public transportation.

Take your pick among these, and have some fun. It's serious fun, however, as each of us leaves an impressive trail of carbon dioxide in our wake.

Contributed by Boiled Frog on August 12, 2011.

New Study - The Climate Majority

2010-06-18T09:44:00.007-04:00

The New York Times recently published an op-ed by Jon Krosnick, professor at Stanford, regarding a new survey about global warming. The study revealed that a "huge majority of Americans still believe the earth has been gradually warming as the result of human activity and want the government to institute regulations to stop it."

Some of the statistics reported include "Fully 86 percent of our respondents said they wanted the federal government to limit the amount of air pollution that businesses emit, and 76 percent favored government limiting business’s emissions of greenhouse gases in particular. Not a majority of 55 or 60 percent — but 76 percent.

Large majorities opposed taxes on electricity (78 percent) and gasoline (72 percent) to reduce consumption. But 84 percent favored the federal government offering tax breaks to encourage utilities to make more electricity from water, wind and solar power.

And huge majorities favored government requiring, or offering tax breaks to encourage, each of the following: manufacturing cars that use less gasoline (81 percent); manufacturing appliances that use less electricity (80 percent); and building homes and office buildings that require less energy to heat and cool (80 percent).

Thus, there is plenty of agreement about what people do and do not want government to do."

Read the full article, "The Climate Majority."

Carbon Crunch 2.0 Pilot Group

2010-06-11T13:20:00.005-04:00

Weston Climate Group Accepting Applications for Pilot Program

Sign up now and start saving $600-900 yearly on home heating and cooling. Join our pilot group in Carbon Crunch 2.0 and we’ll guide you through a home energy assessment and weatherizing.

Weston homes have averaged a 20-30% reduction in their energy bills after renovations.

We’ll help you find the best rebates, tax credits, and easy terms for upgrading your home efficiency, and enjoying a more comfortable house.

Interested? Questions? Drop us a note at wcg.ccc@gmail.com.

Sign up for Carbon Crunch Challenge 2!

2010-05-20T10:42:00.001-04:00

Carbon Crunch Challenge 2 is officially underway! Watch the slide show below to get a sense for how the Challenge works, what an Energy Assessment can do for you, and how many financial incentives are already in place to support your move to a warmer, more efficient home.

CCC2 Intro

Sign up today to get all of the benefits of participation in the Challenge. Just click here to send an email to the CCC team and we'll get you going right away.

Reminder - May 16 Launch

2010-05-11T11:09:00.003-04:00

Join us at 3:00 on Sunday May 16th in the Community Room at the Weston Public Library to learn about Weston's Carbon Crunch Challenge 2.0.

Patterned after our first successful Crunch, which focused on electricity use, Carbon Crunch Challenge 2.0 will focus on home heating. Whether you use oil or natural gas, this is your chance to reduce your energy use and save money. You will learn about free home energy assessments by MassSave, and get the information you need to create a more energy-efficient home. You will hear testimonials from friends who have already benefited from the great savings that retrofits can provide. And, we will explain how CCC 2.0 will work and answer your questions.

Come find out how to take advantage of the myriad rebates, tax credits, and low interest payments available to help make your home more efficient.

We hope to see you Sunday!

Weston Climate Group Founder is completely recycling her house

2010-05-11T10:02:00.004-04:00

Jane Bindley is watching her brainchild come to fruition and hopes she’s setting a template for the way houses will be torn down in the future. The Weston property owner decided to sell her 12.8-acre parcel of land, but the idea that her 1970s Core house would most likely be knocked down and carted off to a recycling center didn’t seem right to her. The founder of The Weston Climate Group, a four-year-old group of Weston residents concerned about global warming, Bindley said she decided to recycle the house instead.

“I had a similar experience with a house I own in New Hampshire. I planned a complete renovation there and gave away most of what I removed or replaced,” Bindley said.

Her completely renovated New Hampshire house was the first Net Zero structure in New Hampshire. The ultra “green” house has been featured in Fine Home Building Magazine and New Hampshire Homes Magazine. Parts taken from the original structure were claimed by her neighbors who took everything from the water heater to kitchen cabinets to use in their own homes.

A month or so ago Bindley hired Jeff Haddon, a New Hampshire contractor, to start the intricate task of disassembling her Weston house piece by piece. READ MORE ...

CARBON CRUNCH CHALLENGE 2.0 LAUNCHES!

2010-05-07T11:41:00.002-04:00

Patterned after our first successful Crunch, which focused on electricity use, Carbon Crunch Challenge 2.0 will focus on home heating. Whether you use oil or natural gas, this is your chance to reduce your energy use and save money. You will learn about free home energy assessments by MassSave, and get the information you need to create a more energy-efficient home. You will see the difference when you compare your heating bills in early 2011 to those in 2010, and you will continue to reap the benefits for years to come.

Join us at 3:00 on Sunday May 16th in the Community Room at the Weston Public Library to learn more about this challenge. You will hear testimonials from friends who have already benefitted from the great savings that retrofits can provide. We will explain how CCC 2.0 will work and answer your questions. Come find out how to take advantage of the myriad rebates, tax credits, and low interest payments available to help make your home more efficient.

Wayland Earth Day Celebration This Sunday April 11th 11-2

2010-04-08T11:16:00.003-04:00

Finishing touches are being carried out in preparation for the Wayland Earth Day Celebration this Sunday April 11th from 11 –2 at the Wayland Town Building courtyard. Smokey the Bear will walk through the crowd meeting children of all ages, turtle hatchlings will make their grand appearance, lively interactive play at the cake walk station will delight the children, and numerous activities including seedling planting, face painting and creating handmade crafts such as musical instruments, bird feeders and tool boxes will engage every member of the family. Joules the Energy Magician will inform us about energy conservation while entertaining the crowds 1-2pm.

Adults will enjoy a nature walk guided by world-renowned naturalist, lecturer, eco tourism guide and author of 15 books on North American and African wildlife, Peter Alden. In addition, over 35 local environmentally friendly organizations and businesses will be available to describe their missions.

Food will be available for purchase including pastries and coffee in the morning, and lemonade and pizza at lunch. Please also look for the impressive selection of items that will be available for raffle sales. All proceeds will be used to bring environmentally friendly products and services into Wayland schools.

Qualifying as a Green Community

2010-03-30T18:37:00.003-04:00

Join us at the Weston Town Hall on the morning of Wed., April 7 at 8:30 AM if you are interested in finding out what it takes for a town to be certified as a Green Community. Joanne Bissetta, Regional Green Communities Coordinator, is meeting with Selectman Michael Harrity and others to describe how the state is supporting towns going through the Green Community certification process. The meeting is open to the public.

The Mass. Dept. of Energy and Environmental Affairs established the Green Communities program to support Commonwealth cities and towns reducing their carbon footprint. There are specific criteria that need to be satisfied to be certified a Green Community and to be eligible for $10,000,000 in related state grants and other benefits.

Joanne Bissetta is our Regional Green Community Coordinator. There are four Regional Coordinators throughout the state offering technical assistance and support to public officials and local energy committees. This is to help communites understand all the opportunities and tools available.

For more information on the Green Communities go to http://www.mass.gov/energy/greencommunities

A major focus for the WCG this year is on supporting Weston’s certification as a Green Community. Currently, the idea is under review by various affected boards as we learn more about the costs and benefits of the certification process. We can use all the help we can get in supporting this effort. Thanks to Jane Bindley for arranging this meeting.

Earth Hour March 27, 2010 8:30 PM

2010-03-18T20:35:00.001-04:00

For more info, visit: https://www.myearthhour.org/home

The Story of Stuff

2010-03-16T11:23:00.001-04:00

Proposed State "Stretch Code"

2010-03-06T10:51:00.009-05:00

The "Stretch Code" is an upgraded building code which adds significant energy conservation requirements to the existing Massachusetts code, providing about 20% additional efficiency. These requirements are mostly enhancements of present practices, such as careful attention to the building envelope. The code complements present requirements for Energy Star homes.

Towns seeking state grants for renewable energy projects under the Massachusetts Green Communities Act, such as solar collectors on municipal buildings, must approve the Stretch Code through town meetings, or other representative process. Thus we all need to learn about these new building requirements.

Ian Finlayson, the State Sustainability Manager at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs, presented Stretch Code details at a meeting of the Lexington Selectmen on February 23. With candor and clarity, he explained these aspects of the proposed Code:

Initial costs and long term savings
No new technologies needed
State and federal tax credits
State and utility rebates, incentives
Testing required
Historic exemptions and other compromises

The audience of about 80 were mostly approving; however, one speaker decried the cost of a whole new bureaucracy.

Much more information is available at:
http://www.mass.gov/Eeops/docs/dps/inf/stretch_code_overview_jun05_09.pdf
Also, the town of Acton's website provides a concise presentation.

The "Clean Coal" Myth

2010-01-29T10:06:00.004-05:00

A home in eastern Tennessee is partially buried in contaminated waste
from a coal-fired power plant.

CLICK HERE
for the facts from NRDC on the "clean coal" myth.

This Is Our Moment

2010-01-29T09:59:00.000-05:00

Front Page Coverage in the Weston Town Crier

2010-01-18T10:14:00.002-05:00

News of the Carbon Crunch Challenge wrap up was reported on the front page of the local paper's January 14, 2010 issue. CLICK HERE to read the article.

Fall 2009 Carbon Crunch Challenge Results

2010-01-05T08:29:00.007-05:00

Dear Crunchers,
Thanks to everyone who participated in Weston's First Carbon Crunch Challenge this fall! We had a grand awards ceremony on December 13th at the Weston Public Library. There was much to celebrate. Not only did we manage to save some energy this fall, people actually had fun. Here's the results of the challenge:

Carbon Crunch Challenge Data
CCC Participants
- 42 Households sent in data for October & November
- 4 Households sent in only October data
- Weston, Wayland, & Wellesley were all represented
- 10 Teams

October Averages
2008
- CCC Participants: 1,091 kWh
- All Weston Residents: 1,319 kWh (supplied by NSTAR for comparison purposes, includes all Weston households)

2009
- CCC Participants: 913 kWh
- All Weston Residents: 1,259 kWh

kWh Reduction
- CCC Participants: 16.30%
- All Weston Residents: 4.55%

November Averages
2008
- CCC Participants: 1,079 kWh
- All Weston Residents: 1,235 kWh

2009
- CCC Participants: 973 kWh
- All Weston Residents: 1,204 kWh

kWh Reduction
- CCC Participants: 9.87%
- All Weston Residents: 2.51%

Overall Totals
Average Total Reduction
- CCC Participants: 13.10%
- All Weston Residents: 3.56%

Average Net kWh Reduction ’08-’09
- CCC Participants: 275 kWh
- All Weston Residents: 91 kWh

Total Net kWh Reduced by all CCC Participants ’08-‘09: 12,651

And the Team/Family Winners Are...

Overall Reduction
1. Babbott/Ward (49.73%)
2. Dunlay (49.18%)
3. Phillips (47.43%)

October Reduction
1. Urell (54.73%)
2. Dunlay (54.40%)
3. Phillips (51.54%)

November Reduction
1. Babbott/Ward (54.36%)
2. Phiilips (43.90%)
3. Dunlay (42.62%)

Greatest Cumulative kWh Reduction
1. Phillips
2. Lawry
3. Babbott/Ward

Lowest Monthly kWh Recorded
1. Dunlay (140 kWh)
2. Bender (185 kWh)
3. Kendall (206 kWh)

Team Prize
Team Tight Watt (aka Team 6)
- Chase; Fiske, Addie; Icke; Lee; Parrish; Rowe; Wiedie

Congratulations, everyone!

Thank You
Last, but not least, thanks to all of our sponsors for their support and kind contributions: Weston Land Trust, B.L. Ogilvie & Sons, Oh Deer!, Larry Grob, Inspiration House, John Fiske, Christian Science Reading Room, Omni Foods, Brueggers, Florentine Frames, Jane Bindley, Pure Mosquito Spraying, Land's Sake, Weston Forest & Trail Association, Don Stewart, Martie Fiske, Theo’s Pizzeria & Grill

We are in the process of planning the next Carbon Crunch Challenge. If you have any ideas or feedback on this effort, please let us know.

Energy-Saving Tips For Greener, Less Costly Holidays

2009-12-01T11:50:00.008-05:00

Environmental News Service has compiled the following list of best tips for saving energy and saving money while enjoying the holidays:

Decorating

Consider replacing older strings of holiday lights with more energy efficient light emitting diodes, LEDs. Ask your lighting supplier for LED holiday bulbs, or look for them on the Internet. Now available in green, orange, gold, red, white and blue, they're shatterproof, shock resistant and safe to touch. They present no fire hazard and save up to 80-90 percent of your decorative lighting energy costs.
LEDs use 10 times less energy than incandescent mini-lights and 100 times less energy than standard bulbs, and they last up to 50,000 hours.
LEDs thrive in outdoor environments because of their durability and performance in cold weather. Look for Energy Star LED pathway lights, step lights, and porch lights for outdoor use.
If LEDs are not an option, consider buying new miniature lights, which use about 70 percent less energy and last longer than the larger bulbs.
If you prefer the brilliance of the larger lights, switch to 5-watt bulbs, which use about 30 percent less energy than 7-watt or 10-watt bulbs. Although the new bulbs will cost money initially, you will see energy savings immediately.
Using holiday lighting wisely can lower power consumption. Timers and photo cells can help reduce power usage by turning the lights on at dusk and turning them off at a desired time. Just make sure that the timer you use is rated to handle the total wattage of your lights.
Hot bulbs can ignite dry tree branches. To avoid disaster, keep indoor trees well watered and keep extension cords and light strings away from the water.

Food Storage

Keep extra beverages and holiday leftovers cold by storing them in the garage or on the porch if outside temperatures permit. Unplugging that second refrigerator saves on the electricity bill.
Defrosting frozen food in the refrigerator helps keep the refrigerator cold. Keeping the refrigerator and freezer full is energy efficient, because the mass of cold items inside helps the refrigerator recover each time the door is opened.
Leaving the refrigerator door open while you take out the items you need is more efficient than opening and closing it several times.
Allow hot food to cool before storing in the refrigerator or freezer. But be sure to refrigerate or freeze hot foods within two hours of purchase or preparation, or within one hour if the air temperature is above 90 degrees.

Cooking

Using the smallest appliance for the job while cooking during the holidays will always save energy. Microwave ovens use less than half the energy required by a conventional oven.
To improve oven efficiency, keep the doors closed as much as possible and bake several dishes at the same time and temperature. Every time the door is opened, the oven loses 25 to 50 degrees.
Use the smallest pan and burner needed for the job. A six-inch pan on an eight-inch burner will waste more than 40 percent of the energy. Cook with lids on your pans. For example, cooking pasta without a lid on the pot can use three times as much energy.
If you use glass or ceramic pans, you can turn the oven temperature down 25 degrees, and foods will cook just as quickly.
Slow cookers and crock-pots will cook a whole meal for about 17 cents worth of electricity.
If the oven self-cleans, turn it on just after taking out the holiday feast, while the oven is still hot to take advantage of the residual heat.

Cleaning Up

A load of dishes cleaned in a dishwasher requires 37 percent less water than washing dishes by hand. If you fill the wash and rinse basins instead of letting the hot water run, you'll use half as much water as a dishwasher.
Run the dishwasher with full loads for optimum efficiency. To rinse the dishes before loading them, use only cold water so you're not running up your energy bill by heating water.
Dishwashers that feature air power or overnight dry settings can save up to 10 percent of dishwashing energy costs.

Around the House

Household appliances keep using electricity even if you are not there. If going on vacation during the holidays, unplug televisions, stereos, computers, VCRs, chargers, etc. since these all draw small amounts of electricity even when they are turned off. Unplug any refrigerator that does not contain perishable food.
Unplug cell phone, MP3 players, and PDA chargers when not in use. They use electricity, even when they aren't charging.
Use the energy-saving setting for all appliances, particularly your refrigerator, air conditioner, washing machine, dryer, and dishwasher.
Consider replacing older incandescent light bulbs with Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent bulbs. They will save you about $30 or more in electricity costs over each bulb's lifetime. Producing about 75 percent less heat, they are safer to operate and can cut home cooling costs.
Controls such as timers and photo cells save electricity by turning lights off when not in use. Dimmers save electricity when used to lower light levels. Be sure to select products that are compatible with CFL bulbs; not all products work with CFLs.
Compact fluorescents provide the greatest savings in fixtures that are on for a long time each day. CFLs are available in sizes and shapes to fit almost any light fixture. Visit www.energystar.gov to find the right bulbs for your fixtures.
Consider converting the wood-burning fireplace to energy-efficient natural gas. Traditional masonry fireplaces are only 10 to 25 percent efficient and they draw heat from your home up the chimney. Natural gas burns cleaner and is up to 80 percent efficient without the hassle of wood, ashes and smoke.
If you use a wood-burning fireplace, close fireplace dampers to keep the heat in when the fireplace is not in use.
Weatherize your home. Use caulk or weather stripping to seal up any air leaks from window frames, baseboards, electrical outlet and switch plates, wall-mounted or window-mounted air conditioners, and other openings, such as pipes and wiring coming through ceilings, floors, and walls. You can cut heating and cooling costs by 15 to 30 percent and increase comfort at the same time.
Install storm windows and exterior doors. For older windows, use a plastic window kit to cut drafts and seal in heat.
Health permitting, set your thermostat to 70 degrees during the day and 60 degrees at night and when no one is home. Each degree over 70 can increase by three percent the amount of energy you use for heating.
If your windows are well-insulated, open the curtains on sunny days in the winter months and close them at night to keep the heat in.
Next to heating or cooling, water heating is typically the largest energy user in the home. To conserve energy, conserve hot water. Set your water heater no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit or about midway between the low and medium settings. Wrap your hot-water storage tank with an insulation blanket, even if it's a newer model.

In the Home Office

Turn off your monitor when you leave your computer for more than 20 minutes. There is a common misconception that screen savers reduce energy use by monitors; they don't. Automatic switching to sleep mode or manually turning monitors off is a better energy-saving strategy.
Set your computer to hibernate when not in use for 30 minutes.
An Energy Star labeled computer uses 70 percent less electricity than computers without this designation. If left inactive, Energy Star labeled desktop computers enter sleep mode and use four watts or less, saving energy and helping the equipment run cooler and last longer.
To maximize savings with a laptop, put the AC adapter on a power strip that can be turned off or will turn off automatically. The transformer in the AC adapter draws power continuously, even when the laptop is not plugged into the adapter.

On the Road

Get a customized map with low gas prices along the route or find out where the cheapest gas is in your neighborhood. MapQuest: Gas Prices at: http://gasprices.mapquest.com/index.jsp offers maps of gas locations with current prices.
Decrease your speed. Gas mileage usually decreases rapidly above 60 miles per hour. Each five miles per hour over 60 mph is like paying an additional 20 cents or even more per gallon for gas.
Keeping your tires properly inflated improves gas mileage by around three percent.

Climate Change Related Books

2009-11-12T18:01:00.008-05:00

New books worthy of taking a look ...

Clean Energy Common Sense
NRDC President Frances Beinecke has written an excellent new book called Clean Energy, Common Sense: An American Call to Action on Global Climate Change that could profoundly influence the debate over global warming and help spur Congress to action at last. In Clean Energy Common Sense, Frances sets forth solutions, and challenges each of us to do our part to create a clean and sustainable energy future. Doing so will help put Americans back to work, reduce our reliance on foreign oil and create a healthier planet.

Be the Change: How to Get What You Want in Your Community
Anneke Campbell and Thomas Linzey of Democracy School bring you five true case studies of communities that beat the powers that be in Be the Change. They lay out a blueprint for how to be a positive disruptive force in your own hometown.

Down to the Wire: Confronting Climate Collapse
David Orr's new book, Down to the Wire, is all about the need for leadership in the long emergency: "We are now engaged in a global conversation about the issues of human longevity on Earth, but no national leader has yet done what Lincoln did for slavery and placed the issue of sustainability in its larger moral context." Watch an interview with David on Bioneers about the Green Campus Initiative.

Plan B 4:0 Mobilizing to Save Civilization

Lester Brown is the dean of environmentalists, a dynamo of ideas and passion about preserving the planet. In the latest update to his Plan B blueprint, he sums up the problems succinctly and then moves into detailed solutions.

Carbon Crunch Challenge

2009-11-05T11:58:00.006-05:00

November Update

Sunday's Mid-Contest Meeting (11/1/2009) for the Carbon Crunch Challenge participants at the Weston Public Library offered several energy saving tips - both what to do and what to avoid. Should you have missed it, or wish to review some of the information shared, below you'll find the powerpoint slideshow from the meeting.

CCC Meeting 11.1.2009

Omni Market Goes Green

2009-11-03T09:30:00.003-05:00

by Martie Fiske
Originally published in Weston Town Crier, October 28, 2009

What would you do when the cost of electric power spikes and you are managing a supermarket with yards of exposed refrigerated products, and the precious cold air spills into the aisles day and night?

Suren Avedisian, general manager at Omni Foods, imagines thermal shades to pull down at night to contain the cold and cut his utility costs.

He also dreams of solar collectors on the Omni’s vast roof, or ways to capture the heat pumped from all that refrigeration below.

Sharing these dreams is NStar and their small business contractor, National Resource Management (NRM). They have been upgrading the energy efficiency of our local supermarket since 2004 when Omni undertook their major makeover.

These efficiency upgrades came at hard to believe bargain prices. NStar paid – and still offers to pay businesses – 70 percent of agreed on equipment and installation costs, with easy credit terms for the remaining 30 percent. Just let that deal sink in for a minute! (Homeowners can get similar discounts. Call MassSAVE at 1-866-527-7283 for a free audit.)

In 2004 lighting was the first easy target at Omni, and high efficiency fluorescents were installed, with payback a few years later. All retail stores must consider color and intensity in lighting their displays. Freezer sections, for example, need special attention since glass doors complicate access. Omni agreed with NStar to install strips of LEDs – the most efficient, coolest and longest lasting option on the general market – in the door frames. Motion detectors with timers were mounted on every freezer so that freezer lights would shut down if aisles were quiet after eight minutes.

Omni realized other savings by converting their ovens from electricity to natural gas, and replacing inefficient fans. All hot little halogens were retired also, and of course there are programmable thermostats to maintain appropriate ambient temperatures. Reductions in hot water use were realized with a new dishwasher.

Omni continues to work with NStar and NRM to plan the next big efficient thing for our favorite local market. Seem like a no-brainer investment? Call Augie Pimentel, small business program manager, at 781-441-8705 and see how a relationship with NStar could work for you. You might check out the state’s new "Green Communities" offers too.

Ideal Bite

2009-11-02T22:25:00.004-05:00

Bite-Size Ideas for Healthy, Light Green Living
Easy eco-living tips are presented in a free email each weekday. From organic pet products to eco-friendly fashion, the Daily Tips provide bite-sized advice for people who strive to do the right thing without giving up creature comforts.

We're ALL Climate Activists Now

2009-11-02T22:07:00.004-05:00

Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN) Annual Conference, "We're ALL Climate Activists Now," will take place on Sunday, November 15, 2009, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, at the Strata Center, MIT, 32 Vassar Street, in Cambridge, MA.

15 workshops include sessions for beginners as well as seasoned activists and municipal leaders. Topics range from 'Renewable Energy at Home' to 'Tech Tools for Activism.' Presenters will explain emerging scientific approaches to climate change, policy issues, and nuts-and-bolts necessities for community organizers, such as ways to maintain motivation among volunteers.

For more information, and to register, CLICK HERE.

Special Event November 10th

2009-11-01T16:28:00.002-05:00

National Energy and Climate Legislation and Carbon Emissions Treaty Negotiations in Copenhagen

Speaker: Jean Sideris, Climate Outreach Coordinator,
Union of Concerned Scientists
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 7:00 pm
Weston Public Library
Free and Open to the PublicIn June, the House of Representatives passed a climate and energy bill, the "American Clean Energy and Security Act" and in September Senators John Kerry and Barbara Boxer introduced the "Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act." Senate deliberations will continue this Fall, with a plan to culminate in the enactment of legislation. With the final stages of the international climate negotiations happening this December in Copenhagen, it is crucial for the US to step up and take action.

Join us for a review of key elements of the two pieces of legislation, how they differ, the lead up to international negotiations, and how you can make your voice heard. A 30 minute presentation will be followed by questions and answers.

Meet The Greens

2009-10-30T08:24:00.004-04:00

MeetTheGreens.org is a new kids' guide to looking after the planet. Kids can watch The GREENS' cartoon adventures and discover related green games, news, downloads, a blog, action tips, links, and much more. This innovative, Web-only project comes from WGBH in Boston, the producer of shows like ZOOM, ARTHUR, Frontline & NOVA.

Countdown to Copenhagen

2009-10-26T21:14:00.002-04:00

Carbon Crunch Challenge: Mid-Contest Party

2009-10-26T14:41:00.012-04:00

Contest Crunchers,
Come to our mid-contest party to boost your new power conserving habits and renew your commitment.

We'll meet November 1st in the Weston Public Library at 3:00 to hear what clever or clumsy moves other families are making to reduce their electricity use.

We guarantee some inspiring fresh ideas. Or we can share bloopers, like pulling the plug on the aquarium heater. Email your team mates so you can strategize at the party and share tips.

Celebrating Our Third Anniversary

2009-10-26T10:42:00.005-04:00

by Roy Chatalbash
Originally published in Weston Town Crier, October 22, 2009

This November, the Weston Climate Group celebrates its third anniversary. From its founding, a few people gathered together to shares concerns about global warming. To a community of over 100 today, we have engaged the larger community to clarify the urgency of our work. In this article we will review some of our initiatives with the hope that you might be inspired to join our cause.

Our latest project is called the Carbon Crunch Challenge, a friendly competition among families to reduce electricity usage. We hosted a kickoff party at the Weston Library last month and were delighted by the enthusiasm of more than 40 parents and kids. That excitement has continued to grow – there are 70 households currently participating in the contest!

We worked with the selectmen’s office to create the Environmental Baseline Committee, to measure Weston’s ecological footprint – water consumption, energy use and waste generation. Once we build this baseline, we can establish meaningful goals for improved environmental practices.

We worked collaboratively with the Permanent Building Committee to incorporate feasible "green" building concepts into town projects such as a highly efficient geothermal heating and cooling system, a rainwater harvest system and a day-lighting scheme to reduce electricity use. By establishing a goal of a 10-year payback, we insured these initiatives were not only ecologically responsible, but financially responsible too.

These three activities represent only a fraction of our endeavors over the last three years. We have also hosted a film series at the library, led energy efficiency workshops and written articles in the Town Crier, to name a few more.

We look forward to continuing our work, helping residents recognize the need to address climate change, and insure a healthy planet for future generations.

Tips From National Grid

2009-10-25T11:04:00.003-04:00

Are you a customer of National Grid? If so, check out their new energy insider website designed to help customers lower their energy use. There are tools for monitoring your own energy use and tips for further savings.

World Rallies for Climate

2009-10-25T10:45:00.010-04:00

Yesterday, October 24th, people in 181 countries came together for what is believed to be the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet's history. At over 5,200 events around the world, people gathered to call for strong action and bold leadership on the climate crisis.

Approximately 350 people gathered nearby at the North Bridge in Concord, MA including some of our very own members from the Weston Climate Group!

Check out the inspiring slideshow of pictures
from around the world
at 350.org.

MassSAVE Energy Audits

2009-10-25T10:26:00.004-04:00

Something free that then starts paying you for the indefinite future.

It is not hype, but truth. The utility companies of Mass., including NSTAR and National Grid, offer you free home energy audits through MassSave. Your audit results in recommendations for energy-saving upgrades that reduce heating, cooling and electricity bills, and often reduce drafts to make your house more comfortable. The upgrades are offered at steep discounts to encourage you to start saving dollars and energy.

An energy audit takes less than two hours. The auditor needs access to the attic and basement to provide a complete report. If you provide last year's utility bills, they become a baseline on usage and dollars spent, so that an auditor can estimate cost savings based on various suggestions.

For August and September, a total of nine Weston residents had MassSave audits, so people recognize their value. Now is an excellent time to schedule one, before the winter heating season. To contact MassSave, call 866-527-7283, or www.masssave.com.

No Impact Man

2009-10-08T07:53:00.010-04:00

There has been a lot of buzz about this new documentary. Apparently, Beavan's wife steals the show!

New Yorker Colin Beavan decided to eliminate his personal impact on the environment for a year -- no car, no electricity, no material consumption, and no garbage. But when his wife and daughter were dragged into the fray, the No Impact Project had an unforeseen impact of its own.

Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein's documentary "No Impact Man," provides an intriguing look into the experiment, and its impact on Colin's family life. View theater schedule.

Colin has also written a "No Impact Man" book, and started the non-profit No Impact Project to help people learn to reduce their impact by living the zero-waste lifestyle for one week.

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Colin Beavan

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

Michael Moore

Global Climate Action Day - 10/24/2009

2009-10-06T11:04:00.000-04:00

Regional Energy Revolution Rally
in Concord, Massachusetts

This rally is being spearheaded by author and activist Bill McKibben and his 350.org group. The event will be one of over one thousand similar events that will be held around the world to show support for a strong international climate treaty to be negotiated at the December United Nations talks in Copenhagen.

Make history and join us in Concord: Taken together, these combined events will quite likely constitute the largest global citizens' climate rally ever held.

When: October 24, 2009 starting at 2 PM and ending between 3 and 4 PM.

Where: Minuteman National Historical Park, Concord, MA - Adjacent to the North Bridge Visitor Center at 174 Liberty Street, near the flagpole overlooking the bridge. (Directions to North Bridge Visitor Center at http://www.nps.gov/mima/planyourvisit/directions.htm)

What to Expect: Speakers, Minutemen, American History Being Made, and Fun!

CLICK HERE TO EMAIL US if you are interested in carpooling from Weston over to the rally!

Green Buildings Open House Saturday, October 3, 2009

2009-09-30T13:22:00.004-04:00

Over 600 locations in New England, NY, NJ, PA and DE. To find Green Buildings Open House sites near you, visit http://www.nesea.org/greenbuildings/.

Admission to most sites is fee, some guided tours may charge, check website for details.

An Energy Quiz

2009-09-28T20:00:00.009-04:00

Sunday's Kick-Off Party (9/27/2009) for the Carbon Crunch Challenge participants at the Weston Public Library was a tremendous success! Should you have missed it, or wish to review some of the information shared, below you'll find the quiz show questions and answers.

Energy Quiz

Some of the questions have been adapted from the National Geographic "Energy Conservation Quiz"

For more information about the game console question (Question #2) visit these two sources:
Top Ten Reviews, "Cutting the Costs of Gaming"
National Resource Defense Council, "Lowering the Cost of Gaming"

Energy Saving Tips

2009-09-27T12:11:00.005-04:00

Here are a few resources for the Carbon Crunch Challenge participants about saving electricity. Click on the links below:

March 2009 Nat'l Geographic Article, "It Starts at Home"

How to Reduce Your Energy Consumption
Tips for conserving electricity and cutting your energy costs
From the National Resource Defense Council

Weston Climate Group's "Tips for Reducing Electricity Use"

Online Energy Calculators:
NH Coop
NSTAR Residential (see Calculators drop-down on left nav)

And, if you have suggestions for follow participants simply respond to this post and your comments will be published here!

Have You Signed Up Yet?

2009-09-24T09:14:00.002-04:00

Weston’s Carbon Crunch Challenge is about to begin!

With more than fifty families ready to go, we hope you’ll join us! It’s not too late. The kick-off party begins this Sunday, September 27 at 3:00 pm at the Weston Library. CLICK HERE to learn more and to sign up.

Count Down to CRUNCH Time

2009-09-16T11:23:00.004-04:00

It's 10 days away ...
The first Weston Carbon Crunch Challenge is about to commence!

CLICK HERE to read more about the challenge and register. The registration deadline is September 27th, the day of the big kick-off event at the Weston Library at 3:00.

 It doesn't cost anything to participate and all you need to do is hold on to your NSTAR bills for the next couple of months (after you pay them, of course). If you want to win the contest, you should try to reduce the amount of electricity you use in October and November, since we will be comparing your energy use in those two months this year to what it was in the same months last year (it's all on your NSTAR bill).

  Register today and get ready to power down to win some prizes -- and even save some money in the process!

Too Hot Not To Handle

2009-09-16T11:15:00.003-04:00

A primer on global warming, TOO HOT NOT TO HANDLE, is now playing on HBO through September 27. The documentary, produced by Laurie David of "An Inconvenient Truth" and Stop Global Warming, features contributions from leading scientists in the field. In addition to in-depth discussions of such subjects as the greenhouse effect, hurricanes, snowpack, hybrid vehicles, and alternative power sources, the film shows how businesses, local governments, and citizens are taking positive actions to reduce global warming emissions.  

CLICK HERE to learn more about the film and to view the broadcast schedule.

Bioneers By The Bay Conference

2009-09-16T10:03:00.000-04:00

The fifth Annual Bioneers by the Bay: Connecting for Change conference is being presented by the Marion Institute in the historic Downtown of New Bedford, MA, on October 22-25, 2009. Bioneers by the Bay: Connecting for Change is an internationally acclaimed annual gathering of environmental, industry and social justice innovators who have demonstrated visionary and practical models for restoring the Earth and its inhabitants.  

Over 2,000 students, teachers, green business innovators, scientists, grassroots leaders and everyday folks from across the East Coast will gather to embrace, share, brainstorm, network, heal, learn, teach, celebrate, recharge and connect for change. We will roll up our sleeves and harvest tangible, practical solutions to the specific challenges we face here in the Northeast and the world at-large.  

The three day conference includes live keynote presentations, afternoon workshops, an extensive Youth Initiative program, a downlink of the 20th Annual Bioneers Conference in California [www.bioneers.org], an exhibition hall featuring sustainable businesses and organizations, a community action center, films, music, art installations, a farmers’ market and local & organic food.  

For more information, CLICK HERE.

It's Crunch Time!

2009-09-11T13:08:00.005-04:00

The first Weston Carbon Crunch Challenge is about to commence!

CLICK HERE to read more about the challenge and register. The registration deadline is September 27th, the day of the big kick-off event at the Weston Library at 3:00.

 It doesn't cost anything to participate and all you need to do is hold on to your NSTAR bills for the next couple of months (after you pay them, of course). If you want to win the contest, you should try to reduce the amount of electricity you use in October and November, since we will be comparing your energy use in those two months this year to what it was in the same months last year (it's all on your NSTAR bill).   

Register today and get ready to power down to win some prizes -- and even save some money in the process!

Can you help with the CARBON CRUNCH CHALLENGE?

2009-09-08T15:02:00.002-04:00

This Saturday, September 12, from 10 AM to 2 PM, we will have a table in
Weston Center to publicize and recruit folks for the Carbon Crunch Challenge.

On Saturday, September 19, from 10 AM to 3PM, Olgivie's has invited us to have a
Weston Climate Group table at their big anniversary celebration in their parking lot on Warren Avenue. This is another opportunity to recruit more participants for the Crunch.

We have a great banner, information about the Carbon Crunch, and clip board sign up ready.
We need Climate Group members to help the tables. Please contact me, janebindley@gmail.com,
if you can give an hour or two. I can guarantee you good people and a good time!

Bill McKibben on Colbert Report

2009-08-19T21:16:00.005-04:00

Bill McKibben urges international leaders to take steps to lower the world's carbon dioxide levels through his 350.org movement:

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Bill McKibben

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Protests

International Day of Climate Action

2009-07-31T21:17:00.004-04:00

August’s Movie – King Corn

2009-07-21T19:45:00.003-04:00

King Corn – the last in our summer movie series - will be shown on Monday, August 10 at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room at the Weston Public Library. It is a feature documentary about two friends, one acre of corn, and the subsidized crop that drives our fast-food nation.

In "King Corn," Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis, best friends from college on the east coast, move to the heartland to learn where their food comes from. With the help of friendly neighbors, genetically modified seeds, and powerful herbicides, they plant and grow a bumper crop of America’s most-productive, most-subsidized grain on one acre of Iowa soil. But when they try to follow their pile of corn into the food system, what they find raises troubling questions about how we eat—and how we farm.

This movie is certain to change the way you think about food, especially corn! Join us and bring your family and friends – it’s free!

July's Movie - A Sense of Wonder

2009-07-18T10:08:00.004-04:00

Join us Monday evening, July 20th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room at the Weston Public Library for the screening of A Sense of Wonder - a film based on the life of Rachel Carson.

When pioneering environmentalist Rachel Carson published Silent Spring in 1962, the backlash from her critics thrust her into the center of a political maelstrom. Despite her love of privacy, Carson’s convictions and her foresight regarding the risks posed by chemical pesticides forced her into a very public and controversial role.

Using many of Miss Carson's own words, Kaiulani Lee embodies this extraordinary woman in a documentary style film, which depicts Carson in the final year of her life. Struggling with cancer, Carson recounts with both humor and anger the attacks by the chemical industry, the government, and the press as she focuses her limited energy to get her message to Congress and the American people.

The film is an intimate and poignant reflection of Carson's life as she emerges as America's most successful advocate for the natural world.

Bring the family and out-of-town guests to this special event. This film is a treat for the soul!

MORE About Rachel Carson ...
Rachel Carson has been called the "patron saint" of the modern environmental movement. The Atlantic has listed her as one of the 40 most influential figures in American history. Praising Carson and her work, Al Gore wrote that, “without [Silent Spring], the environmental movement might have been long delayed or never developed at all.”

As a scientist, a writer, and a woman, Rachel Carson has inspired generations. As an activist she fought governmental negligence and unbridled corporate interest. Through her scientific integrity and elegant prose she became one of the 20th centuries most prescient scientific authors. And as an individual she battled economic adversity, family tragedy, and gender stereotyping. Carson reminds us that we each have not only the ability to make a creative difference in this world—we have the responsibility to do so.

Carson was born in Springdale, PA on May 27, 1907. She graduated from Pennsylvania College for Women (now Chatham College), worked several summers at the Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory, and then earned her masters in zoology from John Hopkins University. Carson worked for what was to become the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a writer and biologist for nearly 16 years. While she was there, she published her first two books, Under the Sea Wind, and The Sea Around Us. The latter became a best-seller, winning her numerous literary awards and her financial independence. Her next book, The Edge of The Sea, completed her sea trilogy. These three books brought alive the beauty and mystery of the sea and its creatures to millions of readers.

In 1962, Carson delivered her seminal work, Silent Spring, which alerted the world to the dangers of chemical pesticides and launched our modern environmental movement. Controversy swirled around the book as the chemical industry tried to suppress publication with a lawsuit. The controversy grew as the book became a bestseller, and Carson, “that hysterical woman,” had her science belittled and her politics questioned by those who felt their interests threatened. Carson, terminally ill with breast cancer, refused to be cowed.

Silent Spring stayed on the bestsellers list for 86 weeks and was translated into over 30 languages. In 1963, Miss Carson testified before Congress, speaking out in an effort to protect human health and the environment from the cascade of poisons unleashed by the chemical industry. Less then a year later, on April 14th, 1964, Carson died.

But the legacy of Rachel Carson lives on. She was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor the U.S. government can award a civilian. Her determined labors led directly to the passage of such important laws as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. These laws remain the pillars of U.S. environmental law.

Weston's FIRST Carbon Crunch Challenge

2009-07-18T10:00:00.000-04:00

September - December 2009

Start the school year lean and green! Join the Carbon Crunch Challenge -- a friendly competition among families to reduce electricity use and shrink our NSTAR bills.

The contest will measure October and November reductions in kilowatt hours compared to last year. (Every NSTAR bill gives you a history of your kilowatt comsumption for a year.) Other categories will be winners too.

Register before September 27. Simply CLICK HERE TO EMAIL US, and let us know your name & address.

Help recruit friends and neighbors. Encourage organizations and local businesses to enter the contest too!

Come to the launch party & workshop at the Weston Public Library on Sunday, September 27 at 3 PM. Bring your August NSTAR bill. We’ll meet one another, share concerns, and get tips on ways to reduce our electricity usage.

Celebrate at the final party at the Library on Sunday, December 13 at 3 PM.

Summer Movie Series

2009-06-01T10:20:00.004-04:00

Bring the family, get informed and inspired at the Weston Climate Group's movie series this summer! We'll be screening three environment films that highlight how one individual's action can make a difference in caring for the Earth.

June's documentary, "Taking Root - The Vision of Wangari Maathai," tells the story of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangara Maathai whose simple act of planting trees grew into a nationwide movement that safeguarded the environment, protected human rights and defended democracy. Join us on Monday, June 15, at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room at the Weston Public Library.

[Looking ahead: Mark your calendar for July 20 when we'll be screening a film about Rachel Carson's love for the natural world, "A Sense of Wonder."]

Wayland Sustainable House Tour

2009-04-08T17:31:00.001-04:00

Come receive a crash course on living in a truly sustainable, low maintenance home incorporating many of the green and renewable technologies you have heard about but may not have seen.

Date: Saturday, May 16, 2009 (if raining or very cloudy will postpone to May 17, same time)
Time: 2:00pm (arrive promptly as this is a guided tour)

Location: Jackson Madnick's Wayland Sustainability Home, 206 Lake Shore Drive, Wayland
Presenter: Jackson Madnick, Sustainability Expert

Fee: $5.00 (payable at the door)

RSVP required as numbers need to be managed. Send an email with "Wayland Sustainable House Tour RSVP" in the subject line to: WestonClimateGroupRSVP@gmail.com

The Wayland Sustainability home is a demonstration and educational project full of renewable energy technologies, sustainable materials and healthy living design elements incorporating energy, water and money saving strategies:
solar photovoltaic (including Dawn Solar's unique PV/hot water hybrid system)
solar hot water (even heats the hot tub and melts snow and ice off the front walk)
passive solar/distributed thermal mass (home stays at 72º when 0º outside with no heat on!)
heliostat (directs sunlight into home's interior)
low maintenance, no fertilizer, low water requirement Pearl's Premium organic lawn
rain water captured for garden irrigation and use in toilets
super insulation (R50 Roof, R40 walls)
geothermal (planned)
many, many more interesting sustainable features
Jackson consults to others on how to make their existing or new home or industrial building more sustainable and save dramatic amounts of money with no loss in comfort.

Directions: from Weston Town Hall on Google Maps: http://tinyurl.com/waylandsustainabilityhome1
Parking: park anywhere that does not block the road
Carpooling: anyone wishing to carpool, meet at Weston Town Hall at 1:30pm

Polar Bears and Poor Kids

2009-03-19T01:30:00.005-04:00

Van Jones is the prominent spokespeople for the “Green Jobs Movement.” Author of The Green Collar Economy and founder of Green for All, Van has a knack for connecting with people and connecting the dots between polar bears and poor kids.

If you haven’t come across Van Jones yet here are a couple resources to put you “in the know:”

Greening the Ghetto – Can a remedy serve both global warming and poverty?” The New Yorker, January 12, 2009
Green for All website
The Green Collar Economy Van's book & bio
Van’s Opening Statement, “Stimulus Package & Energy: Creating Jobs, Opportunities for All,” before Congress on January 15, 2009 (see video below)

Volunteer Help Wanted

2009-03-12T10:12:00.000-04:00

The Town of Weston's Environmental Baseline Committee needs volunteers to help acquire data, particularly from residential and commercial sectors. The work consists of contacting people with access to data, and asking them to share what they have with us. Other projects, like estimating the average miles driven by cars owned by Weston residents, will also develop.

If you are interested in volunteering please be in touch with Don Stewart at stdon@comcast.net.

Environmental Film Series in Weston

2009-03-12T09:51:00.016-04:00

F irst Parish Church in Weston, MA has been sponsoring an environmental film series this year. Scheduled on the last Sunday evening of each month, three screenings remain. It's free and open to the public.

The Eleventh Hour
April 26, 2009, 7:00 p.m.

Renewal
May 31, 2009, 7:00 p.m.

Awakening the Dreamer Symposium

2009-03-11T15:40:00.005-04:00

Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium
Where On Earth Are We Going? What Can We Do About It?

Discover new opportunities to make a real difference in accelerating the emergence of an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, and socially just human presence on this planet. These questions will be explored:

Where Are We? – examines our environmental, social, and personal well-being
How Did We Get Here? – traces the causes that led to our current imbalance
What's Possible for the Future? – explores new ways of relating with each other and with the Earth; illustrates the broad global movement for change
Where Do We Go from Here? – considers the role we want to play in the world and our personal and collective impact

The symposium uses inspiring short films and video clips, information from some of the world’s most respected scientists and thinkers, the insights and wisdom of indigenous peoples, and dynamic group interactions to allow participants to gain new insight into our worldview and create opportunities to shape and change the direction of our life on this planet. Sponsored by volunteers in association with The Pachamama Alliance.

In the Boston Area:
Saturday, March 14, 2009, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm in Salem, MA
Saturday, March 21, 2009, 10:00 am– 4:00 pm in Concord, MA

CLICK HERE for more information about these two events and to find a symposium near you.

Presidential Climate Action Plan

2009-03-11T15:37:00.003-04:00

Have you seen the plan designed to help President Obama formulate climate-action policy and programs? Sponsored by the University of Colorado and several partners, the Presidential Climate Action Plan incorporates a broad menu of recommendations from America’s science, policy, business and civic leaders. CLICK HERE and READ the plan!

Also, if you happened to miss the U.S. National Teach-In on Global Warming, February 5, 2009, you can still watch the keynote webcast anytime at your convenience online. “Solutions for the First 100 Days” offers actionable ideas to set the planet on the path to a stable climate. Eight, well-known thought leaders on the subject – David Orr, Hunter Lovins, Betsy Taylor, Ray Anderson, Dianne Dillon-Ridgely, Jessy Tolkah, Billy Parish and Wahleah Johns –discuss global warming solutions. CLICK HERE for more information and to watch the webcast.

Charrettes for new DPW building

2008-06-05T16:28:00.004-04:00

At last night's Permanent Building Committee meeting, it was decided that two "Charrettes" will be held to gather citizens' ideas for the new DPW complex. I hope very much that many of you will attend, and wanted you to have the dates right away:* Sat June 14*, and *Tues June 17*, 9AM-1 PM. The meetings will be held in a bay of the DPW garage. You can attend one day, both days or just part of a session. Obviously, learning about the basics of the site and operations from the chosen architect will be an important intro, but then after that, the PBC wants to be open to all ideas for energy efficiency etc. A professional Green Building consultant (familiar with LEED design) will be invited to facilitate.

June is not a great time to ask people to set aside 4 hours of intense indoor discussion, but the PBC is trying to (quickly) fulfill what many of us have been asking for since November Town Meeting. They expect to finalize the conceptual design Sept 1.

This should be an interesting process; look for more info from the
Town Manager in the 3 weeks leading up to it. Please pass this message
on to whoever might be inclined to attend.

Business Meeting

2008-06-05T14:46:00.001-04:00

The WCG has had a great first half of 2008 and we've got some fun 
things to look forward to over the next six months. So, instead of a 
speaker or movie this month's "Wednesday evening at the Library" 
discussion will actually feature YOU! Actually, it will only feature 
you if you come (but be careful - if you don't come we might talk 
about you anyway). More specifically, we will discuss the ideas and 
activities you would like to see the WCG focus on over the coming 
months. Plus, we may even have some early summer treats to share as 
well.

Wednesday, June 11th
7:00 - 8:45pm
Weston Public Library, Community Room

Lester Brown to Speak in Cary Hall, Feb. 24, 7:30 PM

2008-02-17T19:05:00.000-05:00

Lester Brown, the world's foremost environmental economist and President of the Earth Policy Institute, will speak in Cary Hall, Lexington on Sunday, February 24. He is the author of "Plan B, 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization" and will be presenting his bold new plan to stop global warming and achieve world sustainability.

Lexington's E.O. Wilson says of Brown: "Lester Brown is one of the pioneers and heroes of global environmentalism. If the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize had been extended to a third recipient, the logical candidate would have been Lester Brown." Brown has been called "one of the world's most influential thinkers" by the Washington Post and is the recipient of scores of awards and honorary degrees. He is the founder of Worldwatch Institute, and the winner of the United National Environmental Prize and the genius award from the MacArthur Foundation.

In his new book, "Plan B, 3.0, Mobilizing to Save Civilization" he outlines a survival strategy for our early twenty-first-century civilization. The world faces many environmental trends of disruption and decline, including rising temperatures and spreading water shortage. In addition to these looming threats, we face the peaking of oil, annual population growth of 70 million, a widening global economic divide, and a growing list of failing states. The scale and complexity of issues facing our fast-forward world have no precedent.

With Plan A, business as usual, we have neglected these issues overly long. In /Plan B 3.0/, Lester R. Brown warns that the only effective response now is a World War II-type mobilization like that in the United States after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Kevin Knobloch, President of the Union of Concerned Scientists, will present opening remarks at 7:30 PM. Copies of Brown's book will be available for sale and signing that evening. Admission is Free and the talk is open to all. Sponsored by Lexington Global Warming Action Coalition. For more information, see www.lexgwac.org

IMPORTANT BUSINESS MEETING

2007-11-04T20:39:00.000-05:00

PLEASE COME: Wed., Nov. 7 at 7PM, Library Conference Room (not the Community Room).

AGENDA:
1.Plan 30 minute presentation for Weston-Wayland Rotary Club in response to their invitation for Dec. 6. Possible plan: 4-5 of us would go and each say what is it about global warming that concerns me the most, and what changes I am making. Shall we invite them to join us in a town wide effort to reduce our carbon footprint? One household losing 5000 lbs. of CO2 adds up to 1,000,000 lbs. with 200 households.

2.Could we take this presentation to other local organizations and ask them to help us build a community through their commitment? We might provide leaders for their small groups who want support in reducing their emissions.

3. Volunteer jobs for short term projects.
4. Election of Officers for 2008.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Nov.11, Sunday 3pm, Library: Nicki Jimenez and Meredith Raheem speak on their experience in Guatemala this summer with AIDG's Teco Tours. Bring the Family!

Nov.14, Wed. 7pm, Library film. "Too Hot Not to Handle"

Can we capture the energy and teamwork of the Red Sox to bring Carbon Emissions Reducton to Weston? I believe we can.
Jane

OCTOBER OPPORTUNITIES:

2007-10-15T15:32:00.000-04:00

October 16: "Ultimate Green Lawns" save water, time, money and protect our environment. Learn everything you need to know about growing a low maintenance and environmentally safe lush green lawn. Short 30 minute program will teach you about organic lawn care program, and tips used by Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. 7:30pm, Wellesley Town Hall.

October 17: "Out of Balance: Exxon Mobil's Impact on Climate Change:" 7pm, Library Film Series.

October 18: Business meeting; bring ideas and energy: 7pm, 80 Concord Rd.

October 20: Cambridge School of Weston: dedication of "green" Garthwaite Center, tours and panel sessions, community welcome, 1-5pm, Georgian Rd. www.csw.org/page/giving/garthwaitegathering/

October 21: Steven Strong, President Solar Design Associates, "Sunlight is Light: a visual presentation on solar and wind powered buildings." 7:30pm, Lexington. www.lexgwac.org/

November 3: STEP IT UP 2007. "Who's a Leader?" ELECTED OFFICIALS MUST
BECOME REVOLUTIONARY RENEWABLE ENERGY LEADERS. Weston will join the Revolutionary Energy Rally at the Minute Man National Historical Park. We are celebrating the leadership of the Minutemen of 1775. State and national LEADERS HAVE BEEN INVITED to the rally, 2-3PM!

Bring a picnic and join the Revolutionary Bike Ride from Weston to
the rally at Concord. Carpooling is also an option. Please let us know if you will be riding the 9.5 miles to Concord. RSVP to info@westonclimategroup.org. Bikers meet at Merriam St. and North Ave. (Rt.117) at 12pm.

Carpool leaves from Field School at 1pm. More info on this exciting day at www.stepitup2007.org/

November11: Weston students Nicki Jimenez and Meredith Raheem speak on their summer tour and work with AIDG in Guatemala. Weston Library. Time to be announced.

Join the Revolution!
Jane

Nov.3, 2007 Step It Up 2, A National Day! Americans demanding real

2007-10-08T17:25:00.000-04:00

Local communities choose a spot that commemorates great leaders of the past and invite their Senators and Congresspeople to come and speak.

Any ideas? Please e-mail them back so we can begin to join this important movement. There are ideas from communities on the website, http://www.stepitup2.org.

Realtors and Operating Costs

2007-10-08T16:56:00.000-04:00

When realtors show prospective homes to clients, they rarely discuss operating cost. Not surprisingly, that is due to the dry and relatively uninspiring nature of what it represents. We buy a home, after all, because of a magnificent view, its lovely architecture or its proximity to community assets such as a train line – not because it has an energy efficient heating system. However, we at the Weston Climate Group urge you to consider your home's operating costs for other reasons. First, you can save a lot of money by taking a few simple steps, and second, you will be doing your part to reduce your power use in the effort to address global warming.

We appeal to Weston and Wayland realtors to list homes' operating costs, much like car dealers indicating a car's estimated miles per gallon. This would give homebuyers a point of comparison to measure its cost beyond the price of the purchase. When those operating costs
seem excessive, it might empower the buyer to negotiate for such enhancements as better insulation or a new boiler. Rebates from Nstar Electric and government incentive programs can offset the cost of implementation so that sellers are not put at a disadvantage. In the
end, a home's operating cost is reduced and the owner has contributed to the effort to reduce greenhouse gases.

We also urge current homeowners to know their operating costs. It is as simple as downloading a template from our website www.westonclimategroup.org and filling out a year's worth of electricity bills. Then, consider taking our "kilowatt challenge" – commit to reducing your energy use by taking some steps listed on the site, monitor a few months progress and report your energy savings on our poll. Know your home's operating cost; take steps to reduce those costs and you will be taking a vital step in the effort to deal with global warming.

submitted by Roy Chatalbash, Weston Climate Group

A letter from a Weston Resident to the WCG

2007-10-08T16:53:00.000-04:00

I grew up in Weston in the '70s and '80s and have recently moved back, after several years in (gasp) California. My wife and I have been taking many of the steps advocated in your column in the Crier, and it is working, and the sacrifice has really been minimal. Here are some other tips you might want to share with your readers that I thought I'd pass along.

We replaced many of our light bulbs with high efficiency fluorescents. Although the quality of the light given off by these bulbs is continually improving, sometimes it is not comparable to the light from our old stand-by incandescents. In certain rooms where we have recessed lighting, we elected to replace 1/2 the bulbs, and the light is still terrific and we've cut our energy costs bigtime. This may be a good solution for others who are concerned about the color/quality of the light.

One thing many people are not aware of is how energy hungry their coffee maker is. Most coffee makers consume 750 to 1000 watts, and are left on for hours. Everyone know that hair dryers are power hungry, and if you tell them that leaving their coffee maker on for hours is not that much different from leaving their hairdryer running for hours, it seems to really have an impact. Also, at $.18 per kwh, it costs about $300 per year to run your coffee maker for a few hours every day....imagine that!

Another great tip has to do with outside lighting. Our house has five lantern style light fixtures, each with five or six little 40 watt candle bulbs. We don't turn them on anymore. We figured out that if they come on at 7 p.m. (average) and stay on until 11 every night, it was costing us about $400 per year to have these on...and for whom, the squirrels? That was insane.

We also bought canvas shopping bags, carbon credits for our cars (we've got a big SUV....guilty), I use Tupperware instead of disposable packaging in the company cafeteria, and we're trying to cut back on consumption overall...that's the hard part.

Anyway, there are lots of little steps we can all take. Our family is a big consuming family, so we're trying to do what we can. Keep up the great work.

Mitch Solomon
Deer Path Lane
Weston

We Want Your Story

2007-10-08T16:50:00.000-04:00

“Tell me and I'll forget. Show me and I'll remember. Involve me and I'll understand.” Chinese proverb

We at the Weston Climate Group are looking for inspiring stories to post on our website Blog about your decision to take our “kilowatt challenge”. For those of you who do not know about the challenge, here are the basic steps: First, download a template from our website www.westonclimategroup.org. Next, set a reasonable goal for energy reduction -- we suggest 10-15%. Then, visit our website for tips on how to reduce your energy use. Finally, keep track of your monthly kilowatt-hours and compare them to last year’s. After a few months, report your progress on our website poll. You’ll see how much power Weston is saving as a community.

Participation is an important cornerstone to a vibrant democracy. Common purpose leads to necessary change. Without it, we tend to lack the leverage to adequately deal with the larger issues, like global warming. That’s why we are looking for your story. After you decide to take the “kilowatt challenge” and involve yourself in the process, you will understand your energy use more fully, and take an active roll in minimizing the negative effects of that use. We hope that you’ll participate, and share your story at info@westonclimategroup.org.

Submitted by Roy Chatalbash, Weston Climate Group member

"SUNLIGHT IS LIFE! The Path Toward A Sustainable Future"

2007-10-08T16:47:00.000-04:00

On Sunday, October 21 at 7:30 PM, Steven Strong will present a highly visual world overview of solar- and wind-powered buildings using the best built examples of residences and commercial-scale buildings from Europe, Japan and the US. These early solar- and wind-powered buildings provide a window into the coming new era of environmentally responsive, energy-producing buildings where elegant, life-affirming, renewable technology will become commonplace as an integral part of the built environment. He weaves technology, politics and social policy together with humor and compelling graphics to clearly demonstrate that the end of the era of cheap oil is upon us and that renewable energy is ready here and now to help define the path to a sustainable energy future in the post-petroleum world. Steven is the President of Solar Design Associates of Harvard, Mass. The talk is sponsored by Lexington Global Warming Action Coalition and will be held in Cary Hall, 1605 Mass., Ave., Lexington, MA. Free admission. Handicap accessible.

Oct. 17, 7 pm, Library, film: OUT OF BALANCE: EXXON MOBIL'S IMPACT ON CLIMATE CHANGE

2007-09-24T19:29:00.000-04:00

THURSDAY, SEP. 27, 7 PM, Library Community Room

2007-09-24T19:23:00.000-04:00

WESTON'S CARBON FOOTPRINT: What's going on now, and ideas for the future.

Michael Harrity, Selectman
Bob Hoffman, Head of Department of Public Works

A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of CO2.

Both Michal and Bob are actively making changes in their departments. Come with your ideas for the future for our round table discussion.

FALL EVENTS

2007-09-09T07:03:00.000-04:00

This fall is full of opportunities for education and action.

IN WESTON:
-Monthly film series: Wed. Sep. 12 at 7pm: "Who Killed the Electric Car? A Lack of Consumer Confidence...or Conspiracy?" Discussion following film.

-Kilowatt Challenge: Join Today, Take the Steps! Go to www.westonclimategroup.org and click on "Household Kilowatt Challenge."

-Sep.17, Mon. at 7pm: Business Meeting, 80 Concord Road. Agenda: Plan for Kilowatt Challenge community and school outreach; ideas and energies for the future.

-Sep.27, Thu. at 7pm, Library: Michael Harrity, Selectman, and Bob Hoffman, DPW Head, talk about Weston's action and plans to reduce carbon footprint.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

AREA EVENTS:
Now playing, Waltham Embassy Landmark Theater: "11th Hour", new Leonardo DiCaprio's documentary.

Sep.23, Sun. at 7:30: Lexington Cary Hall, Wm. Moomaw PhD, "Life on a carbon diet: Improving our lifestyles while fighting climate change." www.lexgwac.org

Sep.24, Coolidge Corner Theater: "Everything's Cool" from Sundance Film Festival. Screening followed by Q&A with Adam Wolfensonn, Ross Gelbspan. www.coolidge.org/ MuddyRiver

Oct.12-13, Manchester, NH: "Global Warming and Energy Solutions" will convene business, labor and community leaders to communicate specific challenges to the presidential candidates campaigning in NH. www.cleanair-coolplanet.org/

Nov. 18, Sun. at MIT's Strata Center, 9am-6pm: Mass. Climate Action Conference. Sign up early; last year sold out.
http://massclimateaction.net/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=3
_____________________________________________________________________________________

NATIONAL EVENTS:
Nov.3: Gather at places named after historic leaders to demand our present leaders address four priorities: 1) Cut carbon by 80% by 2050; 2) Conserve 10% of our energy in 3 years; 3)No new coal-fired power plants; and 4) Establish a Green Jobs Corps. www.stepitup2007.org

Jan.31, 2008: National teach-in about Global Warming Solutions. Now involving over 1,000 colleges, universities, K-12 schools, faith groups, civic organizations and businesses have committed for the day. If you know of any colleges or universities who are not involved, please pass the word along. www.focusthenation.org

WESTON LIBRARY MOVIE SCHEDULE 2007

2007-08-07T21:32:00.000-04:00

July 11, 2007 Kilowatt Ours
August 8, 2007 An Inconvenient Truth
September 12, 2007 Who Killed the Electric Car? A Lack of Consumer Confidence...or Conspiracy?
October 10, 2007 Out of Balance;Exxon Mobil's Impact on Climate Change
November 14, 2007 Too Hot Not To Handle
December 12, 2007 Blue Vinyl

NEWS, August 4, 2007

2007-08-05T19:48:00.000-04:00

Hi Friends,
Lots of news to share and opportunities for your ideas and action!

July Library film, "Kilowatt Ours", attended by 25 people. Discussionfollowing film included remarks by selectman, Michael Harrity, reporting on excellent work in the Weston Buildings Department and DPW. We've invited them to come to speak with to the Climate Group in September.

August film, "An Inconvenient Truth", screening is August 8, 7pm. Come at 6:15pm for action planning and ice cream.

Kilowatt Hours Challenge. Ideas and action needed to widen the community campaign. Households, churches, schools, local businesses all have potential to reduce kilowatt hours. How can we sign them up using the excellent format and tips that Debbie Slotpole has created and has posted on the website? Please send along your ideas.

Weston Climate Group member, Tom Ward, sends info on an item for reducing kilowatt hours.The Power Cost Monitor is available through NStar, http://www.save-electricity.ca/ Please pass along news of your experience with this device as an energy saver.

Roy Chatalbash's Town Crier article last week reported on NStar's renewable energy option for its Massachusetts customers. The program is called NSTAR Green and it will allow customers to purchase half or all their electricity directly from wind farms in the Northeast. NStar will begin enrolling customers in the fall with service beginning in January.

Leonardo Dicaprico's new movie,"11th Hour" will be released August 19 in NYC and San Francisco. It will be at the Waltham Landmark Embassy Theater on August 31. See the trailer at http://www.leonardodicaprio.com/

Excellent daily or weekly free news feed from science journals and newspapers world wide. It all originates in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, with Tom Stokes the creator of this valuable service! www.climatecrisiscoalition.org, (upper right, under News About Climate Change). The following titles are from the Friday, August 3 news feed from the Climate Crisis Coalition. There is a summary of the article and the link to the complete article.

Missing Carbon Mystery: Case Solved? By Jane Burgermeister, Nature Magazine, August, 2007 Issue.
The Power in the Carbon Tax. Commentary by John C. Dingell, The Washington Post, August 2, 2007.
U.N. General Assembly Meeting on Climate Change Goes an Extra Day. By Edith M. Lederer, The Associated Press, August 3, 2007.
India Says No Quid Pro Quo over U.S. Nuclear Pact. Reuters, August 3, 2007.
APEC Finance Ministers Urge Action on Climate Change. By Neil Sands, Agence France-Presse, August 3, 2007
London's Heathrow Airport Tries to Ban Climate Protesters. By John Vidal, The Guardian Unlimited, August 3, 2007
U.K. Looking to Follow German Lead in Promoting Living Roofs. By Mari Woolfe, The London Independent, August 3, 2007
Sign on, an easy way to stay up to date!

Coming Attractiion: "Who Killed the Electric Car?", Sept.12, 7pm, Weston Library.

Dreaming of future summers without smog from coal plants and autos..clean air!

Jane Bindley

Shareholder Proposals: Pressing Business to Address Global Warming

2007-06-29T10:31:00.000-04:00

Shareholder Proposals: Pressing Business to Address Global Warming - by Roy Chatalbash

There are examples of successful initiatives in which investors pushed businesses to address their energy usage. As a result, these businesses not only reduced their green house gas emissions, but also acknowledged that increasing shareholder value cannot be at the expense of the environment. However, most shareholder proposals rarely succeed in gaining majority support (largely due to the lack of voter participation). Indeed, environmental proposals gain only about thirty percent approval on average, according to Institutional Shareholder Services.

We at the Weston Climate Group encourage those of you who own stock to vote in favor of shareholder proposals that direct companies to deal with global warming. Even the threat of such a shareholder proposal can sometimes lead a business to change its ways. For example, ConocoPhillips agreed to join the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, an association of businesses supporting action to tackle climate change. In addition, it announced that it would invest over twenty million dollars in a research program that would synthesize new generation biofuels. These actions convinced the originators of one shareholder proposal to withdraw their initiative.

Since the Bush Administration has not seriously addressed climate change, we need to put pressure on companies to reduce their energy consumption. One simple way is to vote in favor of investor initiatives that force companies to deal with the issue. That means we have some work to do if we want to influence business to address the impending crisis of global warming.

Submitted by Roy Chatalbash, Weston Climate Group. We thank The Weston Town Crier for printing this article.

Green Transportation

2007-06-29T10:29:00.000-04:00

Green Transportation - by Roy Chatalbash, Weston Climate Group member

With the higher price of gasoline, many drivers are looking for ways to do more with less. That means utilizing efficiencies and thinking of new ways to do the things we do. For example, carpooling is an excellent way to reduce your use of fuel. With the aid of the Internet, coordinating with other commuters couldn’t be any easier. Check out www.Erideshare.com, www.ridecheck.com and www.rideshare.meetup.com for details.

Taking public transport is another good way of reducing your use of fuel. Weston and Wayland are fortunate to have three train routes to Boston. Wellesley Farms and Kendall Green are two commuter line routes and Riverside in Newton is the endpoint for the Green Line. Check the MBTA website for schedules at www.mbta.com.

Maintaining your car is another way to get a little more with less. According to the government website www.fueleconomy.gov, you can gain respectable improvements in fuel mileage by keeping your tires inflated properly, changing the air filter regularly during oil changes, and driving 55-60 miles per hour on the highway. Lastly, you might consider a hybrid the next time you are looking for a car.

A gallon of gasoline used yields almost twenty pounds of carbon dioxide. It’s a shocking revelation, given that a pound of gas weighs only six pounds. Unfortunately, it is the reality we must acknowledge every time we drive. So, the next time you do, consider that there are other ways to get more out of that gallon of fuel.

Opinion Piece - by Roy Chatalbash

2007-06-29T10:27:00.000-04:00

A wise person once said, with great gifts comes great responsibility. We human beings have been gifted with minds that have constructed language, developed reasoning and gained insight through our turbulent history. Those achievements have put us in control of not just other species, but of the Earth itself. Indeed, we reroute rivers, remove mountaintops and torch millions of acres of jungle in order to suit our purposes. Unfortunately, our rapaciousness and ever-growing population has only recently crossed the line in terms of being sustainable. We are at an important cross-roads.

An overwhelming majority of scientists are now convinced that we are warming the planet, and unless we undertake bold steps to address it, we face mass species extinction, mass human migration, pestilence, etc.

(The WCG thanks The Weston Town Crier for printing this article)

LOCALLY GROWN FOOD & THE ENVIRONMENT

2007-06-29T10:26:00.000-04:00

LOCALLY GROWN FOOD & THE ENVIRONMENT - by Roy Chatalbash

There are often hidden costs to the many purchases we make that have an impact on our environment. For example, to provide certain fruits and vegetables year-round means it is necessary to transport produce from far-away places such as Chile or Thailand The planes, trains and cargo ships that deliver these goods generate carbon dioxide that is largely responsible for global warming. This is the hidden cost of our purchases.

At Weston Climate Group, we suggest buying your produce locally, whenever possible. We are blessed with a vibrant market right here in Weston – Land’s Sake. Check out their website for details at www.landssake.org. Another local option is a farmer’s market. Check out www.mass.gov/agr/massgrown/farmers_markets.htm for locations. Both Omni and Wholefoods markets offer locally grown food in season – they are labeled as such. In buying your produce from local sources, you will be doing your part to diminish the demand for shipping food thousands of miles, and in turn, reducing CO2 emissions. More specifically, you would be recognizing the hidden cost of your purchases and claiming a deeper responsibility for them.

Submitted by Roy Chatalbash, Weston Climate Group. We thank The Weston Town Crier for printing this article)

The Next Step In Global Warming Action

2007-06-29T10:25:00.000-04:00

The Next Step In Global Warming Action - by Roy Chatalbash

The American public faces one of its most difficult challenges in the coming years – how to best deal with Global Warming. The phenomenon is no longer discussed only between far-out environmentalists and theoretical scientists. It is considered a real and present danger beyond a reasonable doubt. That’s why scientists from 113 nations (including the United States) agreed in a report issued late last month that humanity is responsible for the increase in the Earth’s temperature.

Unfortunately, the current administration has actively blocked any federal action, beginning with its rebuff of the Kyoto Protocol that had been negotiated by the Clinton Administration. Consequently, concerned citizens have formed grass-roots organizations in order to put pressure on politicians, business leaders and other influential people. It’s empowering to realize that we can make small changes in our own lives that yield substantial changes collectively. In an earlier column, we recommended that people change their incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent lamps because they were more efficient. Another way to increase efficiency is to employ some practical tips from the environmental movement in construction, called “green” building.

For practical ideas on cost-effective applications related to green building, please
join the Weston Climate Group for a lecture by Michael Crowley at the Weston Community Center on Sunday, March 4th at 4:00pm.

(The WCG thanks The Weston Town Crier for printing this article)

Weston Climate Group’s Call to Action

2007-06-29T10:24:00.001-04:00

Weston Climate Group’s Call to Action - by Roy Chatalbash

Our demand for ever-increasing amounts of energy is leading to a larger carbon dioxide blanket in the atmosphere that holds in heat. Not only will this mean a worsening of the climate change we are seeing around the world, but it will also necessitate building more power plants. That’s why unlikely proponents such as the energy company, NStar, is providing solutions even though it will mean reducing their potential revenues.

NStar electric is providing energy efficiency programs that can help assess your energy use and point out ways to save both power and money. For example, their MassSave program not only helps customers identify energy efficiency measures, but it also offers rebates on approved products such as windows, insulation and refrigerators. Simply call 800.654.5833 or visit their website for more info www.masssave.com.

This Saturday, April 14th, local communities are putting together awareness activities to help people make choices in their own lives that will lead to a sustainable environment. Weston Climate Group members will have an information table at Omni supermarket from 9-12pm, and volunteers at the Weston dump will pass along reading materials and answer any questions that you might have from 8-11am. We look forward to seeing you.

(The WCG thanks The Weston Town Crier for printing this article)

Three Pillars of Environmental Responsibility

2007-06-29T10:21:00.000-04:00

Three Pillars of Environmental Responsibility - by Roy Chatalbash

Environmental responsibility means making decisions in our own lives that limit our impact on the planet. Keeping in mind the simple phrase: reduce, reuse and recycle can go a long way in helping us choose ecologically sound options. For example, in an earlier column, we urged readers switch to compact fluorescent bulbs. In doing so, many of us in the Weston Climate Group have reduced our energy consumption and seen substantial savings on our electric bills.

In this column, we suggest two other recommendations: First, buying canvas bags is a good way to reduce the need for paper and plastic bags at the grocery store, and reusing them week-after-week will ensure a continuous impact. These bags are generally available for $3-$5 at local grocery stores such as Wholefoods, craft shops such as Michael’s and online at amazon.com and reusablebags.com. Many supermarkets will even reimburse up to 5 cents per bag.

Another step that is easy to do and reduces consumption is to cancel delivery of unwanted catalogs. Simply call the toll-free number in the company catalog or visit the website and request that they remove you from the mailing list. It only takes a few minutes and you will limit the amount of unwanted mail you receive. Keep in mind that companies constantly buy mailing lists from each other, so you may find that you have to cancel a catalog more than once in a year.

For further information about practical ways to tackle global warming, please visit our website westonclimategroup.org.

(WCG thanks The Weston Town Crier for printing this article)

Meet and speak with Representative Markey aides - June 8, 2007

2007-06-04T07:33:00.000-04:00

There is a meeting scheduled next Friday, June 8 at 3:00 PM with Rocco DiRico and Sarah Butler, Rep. Markey's aides, to deliver the petitions the Lexington based climate group gathered last month from the StepItUp rally. The aides have agreed to stay for an hour and have a conversation about what Rep. Markey is doing in Washington and how things look for global warming action on a national level. It's a good idea to have many towns from his district represented.

If you have time, please join us in the Learning Center at Cary Library (Lexington Public Library). Due to limited space, please let Nancy Nolan (781-862-2872) know if you can attend.

FROM NANCY NOLAN - LEXINGTON GLOBAL WARMING ACTION COMMITTEE

2007-05-04T17:40:00.000-04:00

We have a meeting scheduled with Kate Anderson, Sen. Kerry's aide, next Tuesday, 10 AM in the Lexington Cary Library (Learning Center, next to the children's room). We will be giving her the petitions from the StepItUp rally and will ask her to talk about Kerry's positions on global warming legislation.

Please ask others in your group to join us and let me know who will be coming, since the room has a maximum capacity of 20.

NOTES from MEETING APRIL 1:

2007-04-23T16:40:00.000-04:00

Volunteers needed to lead our organization: president, VP, treasurer, secretary and directors.

SHORT FILM: Solutions: What's Being Done About Global Warming, 2003, by Clean Air-Cool Planet.
-Campuses-Middlebury College commitment to education of students and sustainable practices in operating the College.
-Corporations-Shaw's Supermarket. For the past several years they have invested in reducing their carbon footprint, offsetting their energy use, and saving money.
-Communities-Keene, N.H. City Council has approved cost and energy saving projects: biodiesel fuel in all town vehicles, and harvesting methane from town landfill to generate electricity to operate their large recycling facility.

WHAT WE’VE DONE IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS:
- Created a Group with 50 on our e-mail list
-Active website and blog
-Weekly Town Crier articles
-Relationship with high school environmental group
-Relationship with town building manager
-Connection with elementary schools
-Monthly film series at library beginning in July
-Participation at PTO Science Fair
-12 Steps to Reduce Global Warming posted
-Participation in national Step It Up Day of climate action

WHAT WE’D LIKE TO DO NEXT:
-Work with schools: curriculum, recycling, automobile and bus idling, biodiesel school buses, reduce carbon footprint of schools
-Outreach at community events, e.g.Golden Ball Tavern Day, Spring Fling; perhaps create our own fair
-Increase e-mail list
-Have 501.C3 status and membership with dues for individuals and groups; need officers and Board of Directors for this
-Create an active relationship with local, state and federal elected officials to work for 80% reduction of greenhouse gases by 2050
-Create a coalition of communities in our 7th congressional district for education and dialogue with our Congressman

The experience in the past six months of working in small groups with individuals committed to research, education and action has worked well. We hope to continue with this format to create change in our community.

AGENDA FOR MAY 6 MEETING, FORBES ROOM, BROOK SCHOOL APTS., 4-6pm:

GUEST SPEAKER: PETER HAAS
Peter is a lifelong Weston resident, graduate of Weston High School and Yale. He is co-founder, Lead Technician and Executive Director of AIDG, Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group. The mission of AIDG is to provide rural villages in developing countries with affordable and environmentally sound technologies that meet their needs for energy, sanitation and clean water.

BUSINESS MEETING AFTER TALK:
reports from individuals
officers for organization

Step It Up 2007 - Photos

2007-04-18T08:50:00.000-04:00

It was a great day! Lots of sun, interested people and education to the public about global climate change and the crisis we face.

Step it Up 2007 - April 14

2007-04-07T06:31:00.000-04:00

Saturday, April 14, Here's the Good News: What is up for Weston and neighboring communities!

WESTON "Step It Up, Congress! Cut Carbon 80% by 2050"
Time: 9:00 am –12: pm
Locations:

Omni Supermarket
Transfer Station (Town Dump)

Activities at Omni Supermarket

Table and signs on table
Sign up sheets for e-mail addresses for Weston Climate Group
100 free fluorescent bulbs - Join our E-mail list and receive a free fluorescent light bulb
Carbon and Cars exercise from Science Fair: calculate carbon costs around town
Book marks with emission saving tips or a hand out of tips
Federal and state legislatures' goals for emission reduction for this session on a one page hand out
Signs – Banner: "Step It Up Congress!" -Weston Climate Group website (banner)
Lose 3,000 lbs. in 30 Days with a carbon diet
Climate Flicks at Weston Library (visit website for schedule)

Activities at the Transfer Station (Dump-sign will be furnished)
Time: 8:00 am –11:00 am

Holding Small Signs on stick with Step It Up and Weston Climate Group
Distributing one page handout

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

PHOTOGRAPHER: to take photos and post on "Step it Up" website and print to take to elected officials' local offices. Also use in media (web and newspaper)
TABLES - PLEASE e-mail me if you have an hour on April14th, and state when you can be available. We can use 2-3 people at the dump, and as many as possible at the Omni.
Current volunteers: Donna, Habib, Joan, Debbie, Shirley and some maybes. Please let me know the hours you would like to staff the 2 activities.

NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES (110 Actions and Towns In Massachusetts)
http://events.stepitup2007.org/events/search/state/MA

Lexington, Belmont, Bedford
Time: 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Where: Hastings Park at the corner of Mass. Ave and Worthen Road, Lexington
Speakers: U.S. Representative Ed Markey, Chair of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming

Senator Susan Fargo, Democrat, Third Middlesex District
Senator Robert Havern, Democrat, Fourth Middlesex District
Representative Jim Marzilli, Democrat, 23rd Middlesex District
Rep. Will Brownsberger, 24th Middlesex District, "Choices we face in controlling climate change"
Marc Breslow, Director, Mass. Climate Action Network
Barbara Hill, Exec. Director, Clean Power Now (Nantucket Sound Wind Farm Advocacy Group)
Peggy McKibben, of Lexington, mother of organizer of national Step It Up, Bill McKibben

Boston Common
Time 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Featured Speaker: Ross Gelbspan, a pioneer in Climate Change, a national HERO for his long standing persistent speaking and writing on the issue. He is an inspiring speaker.

Carlisle Town Common
Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Speakers: 8th Grade Film on Climate Change

Concord
Time: 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Walk Thoreau's Path at Brister's Hill

Lincoln
Drumlin Farm
Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Exciting and informative programs all day

Sudbury
Time: 11:00 am - 12:15 pm
Hike and Family Picnic Round Hill
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Taped Ross Gelbspan talk, Al Gore Slide Show by Donna Merrit

Waltham
Town Common, Moody and Main Streets
Time: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm Music and Speakers: Mayor McCarthy, Senator Fargo, Professor Olson, Professor Davis

Watertown
Library123 Main St
Tiime: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Dan Grossman, radio and multimedia producer, traveler to Greenland, Artic, Antarctic, Peru. "The Coming Global Meltdown"

Next Meeting April 1

2007-03-26T09:04:00.000-04:00

April Foolish Meeting on Sunday, April 1, 4pm; Forbes Room, Brook School Apts. School Street, entrance in rear of building. Please park on street.

Revised agenda:
1) 15 minute film

2) Step It Up on April 14
+ donation of flourescent bulbs!
+ ideas for incentives for receiving free bulb
+ table opportunities, multiple sites for tables?
+ banners
+ T-shirts have been ordered
+ displays from Science Fair: Global Warming Quiz; Carbon and Cars
+ contact Markey, Kerry, Kennedy, Alice Peisch, Susan Fargo: request written reply
+ invite High School Group to join us

3) Membership sign up: online or with form at table
+ dues: suggested range $10-$1000
+ sign commitment to record kilowatt hours and odometer of car once a month and set a reduction goal. Report savings to next meeting, or send it to website for the Weston Carbon Bank (we'll have math formula for calculating pounds of carbon from kilowatt hours and gallons of gas).

4) Leaderhip (better than old fashioned hierarchy of officers)
+establish short and long term goals by consensus, publicize them on website
+ volunteers who choose to work on a goal (we have begun to organize this way with Roy and Habib taking on the Crier articiles; and Lelia, Martie, David and Nicole working on the website)
+ also include logistical side of the operation: treasurer, taking and posting minutes on website

"Step It Up 2007" Planning Meeting - 3/11/07

2007-03-21T10:27:00.000-04:00

Attendees: Joan Parrish, Donna Hazard, David Mordecai, Susan Vick, Debbie Slotpole, Martie Fiske, Jane Bindley .

Discussion: School Vacation begins Apr.13, so national date for Step It Up on the 14th is not great for us. High School participation has not been forthcoming and therefore Band, Dance Group, and student groups are not in the picture. Weather and appealing to townspeople to come to an event were concerns. Why not go to where where the people will be on a Sat. in April rain or shine?

Decision: Table with information at Omni. Possibly additional tables at the Kendal Green parking lot for Transfer Station traffic or Dragon Books area.

Information: Energy Saving Tips. Possible donation of free fluorescent bulbs for first people to come to the tables. Examples of household items: power surge strips, programmable thermostats NStar audits. Info on state and federal legislation. Recruiting new members.

School Science Fair: 3/23 Woodland School 6-8pm.
The Weston Climate Group, thanks to Rudy's initiative, has been okayed to have a table at the fair. Martie has planned a Global Warming Challenge Quiz for students and Jane will have a Travel from Home to Town Center exercise with carbon calculation. Additional volunteer helping hands would be welcomed for this evening event. Should be great fun. Nina
Danforth has volunteered.

Future Meetings and Agendas

April 1, Sunday 4-6pm: Forbes Room, Brook School. Film followed by "Step It Up" report. Discussion and decisions on membership, dues, officers, board, non-profit status.
May 6, Sunday4-6pm: Election of officers. 4:30pm speaker, PeterHaas, founder of AIDG. "Bringing Renewable Energy to the Third World."
June 3, Sunday 4-6pm: Film. New officers. Looking tothe fall, education and legislative plans. Thanks to Susan Vick for working with the library to reserve room for film series.
July 11, Wed. 7pm, Library: Film followed by discussion.
August 8, Wed, 7pm, Library: Film followed by discussion.
Sept.19, Oct. 17, Nov. 14, and Dec. 12, 7pm: Library: Films and discussion.

Become a Citizen Co-Sponsor of the Sanders/Boxer Global Warming Bill!

2007-03-16T14:21:00.000-04:00

Senator Barbara Boxer has just introduced legislation with Sen. Bernie Sanders to comprehensively reduce global warming, and she's asking for citizens like you and me to join with her in co-sponsoring the bill.

One week before Earth Day, which comes on April 22nd, Sen. Boxer will announce the number of citizen co-sponsors that have been gathered, giving her a huge push forward as she approaches her colleagues and enlists their support for Sanders/Boxer.

The Weston Climate Group encourages you to review and support this critically important legislation -- just click the link below to learn more and become a Co-Sponsor!

http://ga6.org/campaign/citizen_cosponsor?rk=KdNV2P51FXnrW

Help the Environment While Helping a Local Student

2007-03-14T08:05:00.000-04:00

Colin Lualdi, a Weston resident and student at the Learning Center for Deaf Children in Framingham, is organizing a fund drive to send his sixth grade class to the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL to attend Space Camp this spring. Colin's class has come upon an interesting fundraising idea that will help them earn money and also help the environment.

Colin and his class are selling Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Bulbs in their communities. The bulbs are supplied to the students by NSTAR at no charge so all the profit goes to offset the cost of the student's Space Camp tuition. Since their overhead is low the students are able to sell the light bulbs at a very competitive price of $3-$4 each.

These CFL bulbs use 75% less energy than a typical incandescent bulb and will last 7 to 10 times longer. If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an Energy Star CFL, we would save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year and prevent greenhouse gasses equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars!

If you would like to help Colin and his classmates while at the same time make your home more energy efficient please contact info@westonclimategroup.org with COLIN BULBS in the subject line.

Thank you for your support. - The Lualdi's of Weston

Answer the Call: A Slide Presentation and Discussion on Climate Change

2007-03-13T11:43:00.000-04:00

Please join the First Parish Wayland - Green Sanctuary Committee for a presentation by Helen Waldorf of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Climate Project on Wednesday, March 14, 7:30 - 9:00 PM in the First Parish Wayland - Stokey Library.

The evidence of profound global climate change is overwhelming. This is perhaps the greatest moral issue of our times. Come learn about what is happening and get ideas about how to talk to your friends and family about this important issue. This is an updated slide presentation based on the movie, “An Inconvenient Truth”, and will give participants an opportunity to discuss issues associated with global climate change.

For more information, visit www.theclimateproject.org.

Presentation using slides and information from An Inconvenient Truth - showing in Weston

2007-03-12T09:18:00.000-04:00

Science Night and the WCG

2007-03-12T09:01:00.000-04:00

As you may know, Weston’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is putting on a Science Night for kids in grades K-5 from 6-8pm on March 23rd at Woodland School. It will be a well-structured program of over a dozen different science activities, run by parents and high school students, which the kids will rotate through over the course of the evening. I talked to the organizing committee about the possibility of the Weston Climate Group doing an activity and they loved the idea! While I am happy to help put this together, I am already doing one of the stations so I cannot take the lead. Therefore, we are looking for people to do the following:

1. Prepare an activity consistent with the Weston Climate Group’s mission – For example, Jane had the idea of having a map of Weston and some string so that kids can see how far their trip to school is each day and then do the math to calculate the carbon footprint of various transportation options, based on some generic conversion rates we’d give them for things like school buses, minivans, hybrid cars, standard cars, etc. Another idea was to do a side-by-side comparison of things like light bulbs (regular vs. CFL). The PTO group is very open to ideas, preferring ones where the kids not only learn something, but also actually do something. The cost of materials can be covered by the PTO (within reason, of course). There is a meeting on Tuesday (March 13) at 3:00 at the high school to review the activities, so that will be a great opportunity to get feedback on ideas. I will be attending and can represent the team if others aren’t available.

2. Prepare information displays & handouts – There will be room to display information at the station (table) and many activities will have take-away sheets with further information and activities. These don’t need to be particularly fancy. Copying can be done at Case House with some advance notice and large-scale (e.g., poster-sized) printing can be done at the Weston Community Center. I can put you in touch with the right people in both cases.

3. Set-up, man, and break-down the station – The event is scheduled to run from 6-8 p.m. on the 23rd, with set-up beginning as early as about 4:30 (if needed). People can take turns running the activity, or have more than one person there at a time, so the more the merrier.

Despite the length of this description, it won’t be a great deal of work to put this together and the payoff, in terms of both public education and publicity for the Weston Climate Group, will be tremendous. If you are interested in helping in any way, even if it’s just to take a shift at the table or make some copies, please contact Rudy Ruggles at info@westonclimategroup.org or by phone at 617-513-1869.

Thank you!

Rudy

Interfaith Walk for Climate Rescue

2007-03-12T08:54:00.000-04:00

Interfaith Walk for Climate Rescue
March 16 to 24, 2007 - Northampton to Boston
Climate Rescue Day - Saturday, March 24
Walk, Bike, Worship, and Rally to Stop Global Warming

A moral call for swift, bold, and comprehensive political action to address global.
Gor more information go to: http://climatewalk.org/

Business Meeting Minutes - March 4, 2007

2007-03-07T08:53:00.000-05:00

1) Website with a Blog

a resounding, yes, and appreciation and thanks to our new webmaster, Lelia Elliston.
Martie Fiske and David Modecai will serve as editors for postings to the blog.
The current website sub-committee is Nicole Mordecai, Martie Fiske, David Modecai, and Lelia Elliston.

2) Step It Up2007 - April 14, 12pm. National Day of Climate Action

Weston Climate Group to head up participation efforts and plans
Visit http://www.stepitup2007.org/ for more information
PLANNING MEETING scheduled for SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 4:00 pm at the Brook School Apartments, Forbes Room
Current ideas:
- Location: Weston Town Hall Steps - requested, hope for approval this week
- Time:1 2pm-2pm
- Bike from home to Weston Center
- Decorate your bike with recyclable materials
- Prizes for the craziest, most beautiful, etc. bike
- Have a bicycle parade around the Town Green
- Invite the H.S. Band to play
- Invite the H.S. Dance group to preform
- Food concession for lunch, e.g. pizza and sodas, project for the H.S. Group
- Program: invite local, state and national elected officials to speak about their vision for carbon reductions for Weston, State and Nation, as well as what the legislative agenda is for this coming year for cutting carbon to reach 80% by 2050.
-- If unable to attend, ask for someone from their office or a written statement to be read at the rally.

3) Woodland School Science Fair

Date: March 23, 2007
Practice Date: March 13, 2007 from 3:00 -5:00 pm
Rudy Ruggles reported idea accepted of calculating emissions from home to school by car and bus.
Need to plan and to staff evening of event. Will be on the agenda for the March 11 meeting.

4) Michael Crowley of the Harvard Green Campus Initiative gave a superb talk and presentation at the WCG monthly meeting, entitled "Practical, Cost-Effective Design and Construction of Green Buildings." Go to http://www.greencampus.harvard.edu/gclf/ to learn more about the extraordinary example Harvard is setting for the green building movement, and to learn more about the Green Campus Loan Fund.

Meeting Agenda - Sunday, March 4, 2007

2007-03-03T10:26:00.000-05:00

Hi Friends,
This is a reminder about the Sunday, March 4 Weston Climate Group meeting tomorrow at the Weston Community Center!

AGENDA:

3:30 pm - volunteers report on meeting on website planning, discuss and vote on blog
4:00 pm - speech by Michael Crowley "Practical, Cost-Effective Green Building Design and Construction"

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

"Step It Up, 2007" - Saturday, April 14, 2007
66 Massachusetts communities and 777 in US have signed on!

"STEP IT UP CONGRESS! CUT CARBON BY 80% BY 2050"

NEXT WESTON CLIMATE GROUP ORGANIZING MEETING:

When - SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 4:00 pm
Where - FORBES ROOM, BROOK SCHOOL APARTMENTS

Here is a first go around of ideas:

Location: Weston Town Hall Steps between 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm requested, hope for approval next week

Bike from home to Weston Center
Decorate your bike with recyclable materials
Prizes for the craziest, most beautiful, bizarre bike
Have a bicycle parade around the Town Green
Invite the H.S. Band to play
Invite the H.S. Dance group to preform
Food concession for lunch, e.g. pizza and sodas (project for the H.S. Group?)
Program: invite local, state and national elected officials to speak
Local officials to talk on their vision for carbon reductions for Weston, State and Nation, and what the legislative agenda is for this coming year for cutting carbon to reach the 80% benchmark by 2050

(If unable to attend, ask for someone from their office or a written statement to be read at the rally)

Check out the website at http://www.stepitup07.org/

See you Sunday,

Jane Danforth

Weston Climate Group

2007-02-21T07:50:00.000-05:00

Welcome to what we hope will be a regular column – news from the new Weston Climate Group. We are a group of Westonians in Massachusetts concerned about global warming and the climate crisis. Our goal is to educate one another and fellow Westonians about conservation issues and renewable energy opportunities.

Last month, we had a showing of Al Gore’s "An Inconvenient Truth" followed by a discussion on some possible steps we as a community can take. On Sunday, January 7, 2007 we saw a documentary titled "Kilowatt Ours" which details a young couple’s odyssey to a carbon neutral goal followed by more plans for taking action.

We are committed to education and action and are looking for more people to join us.

Our monthly meetings are generally from 2 to 4 p.m. Watch for an announcement of the meeting location. Anyone interested is welcome. For more information contact Jane Bindley at "janebindley@gmail.com" or Habib Rahman at "hrahman@comcast.net"

WCG Projects

2007-02-20T09:08:00.000-05:00

Weston Transfer Station - review of posted statistics
Recycling fluorescent bulbs
Status of energy audits of Town buildings
Idling around Town is a big concern and the list goes on

February 4, 2007 Meeting Minutes

2007-02-19T09:11:00.000-05:00

Susan: Monthly film series at the Library is progressing. Library is heavily used,therefore we will plan to get on the schedule for next Fall and Winter for early evening screenings
Mission statement: Will be e-mailed to everyone for closer look and suggestions
Debbie: Transfer station DOES accept all fluorescent lamps and bulbs for recycling(due to mercury content). They go to a company in Stoughton which recycles all components of the bulbs
Habib and Roy: Working together to write articles for Town Crier. Open to suggestions roy.chatalbash@gmail.com, hrahman@comcast.net
Martie: Befriended Weston H.S Group (Students for Environmental Action). Meet regularly. Considering checking tires at Transfer Station to profile increase in MPG with inflation of tires. Four science teachers requested to be on our e-mail list. They will post our meeting notices.
Shirley: Met with new Weston facilities manager, Mr McCarty. He has been meeting with all School Principals and teachers to show them and discuss his Power Point Presentation on Recycling. We saw the paper copy of the Power Point. Excellent. He is looking at H.S. HVAC system, Jr HS pool heating, lighting in gym and more.
Jan: Met with guys at Transfer Station re: sign at entrance with % of waste and recycled. The numbers are correct. They weekly calculate the weight of the waste and the recycled material and change the sign numbers. It varies by 1%. Currently, 42% is recycled! They report this is a high figure. Most communities are at 35%. They believe this 42% is a peak and won't change without significant educational efforts.

WHAT A FANTASTIC JOB! GREAT INFORMATION!

1) Education and Outreach

Stop Global Warming website with educational ideas
Idling of parents' cars in pick up lines
*IDLING
Curriculum
Field School renovation..LEED certified?
*FIELD SCHOOL GREEN
*RENOVATION, NO DEMOLITION
educational film series
weekly column in Town Crier

2) Local Government/Community Responsibility:

Town Forest and other trees in town - are we maximizing the CO2 capacity?
Renewable Energy in our public buildings
Parking for commuter railroad station, Kendall Green
Town Carbon Footprint measurement
Windmill sites in Weston: Cat Rock, Dump, MWRA Land
Restore old commuter rail, parking at Mass Broken Stone
*SALTING ROADS
*TIRE PRESSURE, NITROGEN IN TIRES = MPG
*FLUORESCENT BULBS AVAILABLE
*DISPLAY OMNI ENTRANCE OF SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT,BAGS,BULBS,ORGANICS
*ENERGY AUDITS OF HOMES AND TOWN BLDGS

3) Global Advocacy:

Stay in close contact with legislators
*HAVING POLITICAL CLOT WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS-LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL

4) Volunteers and their chosen action

Results to be shared at meeting 3:30pm, March 4th, before 4pm speaker Jane, Alan
Susan: contact local,state elected officials and people in the towns in their districts
Martie:contact permanent bldg com. volunteer to do research for them on Green Bldg.
Julie:learn solar potentials
David : elementary school curriculum,idling, recycling
Shirley: display of sustainable products in Hardware stores
Susan: Step It Up http://www.stepitup2007.org/
Roy: Town Crier articles

Weston Unplugged - 9/29/2009

2000-06-20T12:18:00.001-04:00

Dear Carbon Crunchers:

We are swept away by your enthusiastic turnout at Sunday's party and by our enrollment of 70 HOUSEHOLDS!

Please check this website for more TIPS to reduce energy use, and other sources of enlightenment.

Plan to come to a mid-course PEP RALLY on Sunday afternoon, November 1 at 3 PM at the Weston Public Library. More team sports!

We will soon explain optional TEAM ASSIGNMENTS, and where to send your SEPTEMBER NSTAR DATA to provide an interesting baseline. It will not be used to figure final percentages.

Since you are already committed to crunching carbon, consider calling MassSAVE (866 527 7283) for your FREE HOME ENERGY AUDIT to save on your heating bill. More info at www.masssave.com. Again, this recommendation is not part of the contest.

Now get a jump start on October with a new family mantra: "Last one out turn out the lights!" And use those CFL's and power strips too.

With best regards from the Carbon Crunch Challenge planning team,
Martie, Rudy, Carol, Jane, Julie and Don

Organizations & Groups

2000-06-18T09:53:00.004-04:00

Thanks to the organizations and groups that have already signed on to support and sponsor Weston's first Carbon Crunch, a friendly two month competition among families to reduce electricity use and shrink our NSTAR bills.

If your organization would like to lend your support there's still time and several opportunities to receive recognition in our materials and on our web site, sponsor a prize, and exhibit your materials at our two upcoming parties.

Email Carol Hohle at carol@inspirationhouse.org or Martie Fiske at fiskem@verizon.net.