Appoint an Energy Committee in your town. This committee can:
- Contact the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative for resources and support for renewable energy projects. www.masstech.org
- Explore renewable energy installations and efficiency/ conservation measures for new buildings and all renovations projects.
- Communicate with like-minded groups on best energy practices.
- Interact with the community and its officials
- write an energy column for your local newspaper
- develop an 'energy policy' for the town
- benchmark energy use for municipal and school buildings
- Arrange an energy audit of town buildings with your gas and electric company. Seek out incentives offered by utility companies.
Municipal and School Department
Transportation
- Replace fleet vehicles with the most fuel efficient models
- Encourage carpooling, biking, walking, use of public transportation
- Offer incentives to hybrid owners, i.e. free metered parking, reduced charge on parking permits
- Replace diesel buses with cleaner models, i.e. hybrid-electric diesel engines or compressed gas engines.
- Add or improve bike paths
- Encourage policing on bikes (also discourages crime)
- Enforce no idling laws
- Use biodiesel fuel
Renewables
- Explore possible sites and conduct feasibility studies for solar power, wind power and geothermal installations.
- Contact electricity provider at onset of capital projects for available funding, rebates and incentives for energy projects.
- Seek out funding and support for renewable energy features.
- Participate in the 'Clean Energy Choice' program and Green Communities Act for funds for a renewable projects. www.cleanenergychoice.org
Education
- Encourage involvement of schools, teachers and religious institution.
- Arrange for municipal leaders to visit 'green' buildings, i.e. Carlton School, Salem; Centerville School, Beverly; Holten-Richmond Middle School, Danvers; Cider Hill Farm, Amesbury; Joppa Flats Nature Center, Newbury; Boston Nature Center, Mattapan; Newton South High School, Genzyme Building, Kendall Square.
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Ask municipal leaders to visit renewable energy sites. Hull – wind power; IBEW, Rt 93- wind power; Beverly's Solar Now Greenergy Park; Cambridge Savings Bank in Newton - solar, Trinity Street Church – geothermal; Gorlov turbine in Merrimac – tidal power; Brockton – solar array, Mass Maritime - wind turbine.
- Pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Join the 200+ mayors across 38 states representing 42 million Americans in the "US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement" For info: http://www.seattle.gov/mayor/climate/
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Essex County
Communities
Amesbury
Boxford
Danvers
Essex
Georgetown
Groveland
Hamilton
Lawrence
Lynnfield
Manchester-by-the-Sea
Merrimac
Methuen
Middleton
Newburyport
North Andover
Peabody
Rowley
Salisbury
Saugus
Topsfield
Wenham
West Newbury
Bolded communities have or are forming committees. More info
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