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

• Encourge energy efficient retrofits

  •  motion detectors/senors for lights
  •  programmable thermostats
  •  energy efficient bulbs and state-of-the-art light fixtures
  •  modernize boilers and cooling systems
  •  add insulation and weatherstripping 
• Change traffic lights and exit signs to LEDs
  
• Purchase Energy Star equipment - applicances & electronic equipment, http://www.energystar.gov/
• Install wind and solar power
• Buy electricity on the open market at a discounted futures rate

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.
• 
  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/

Essex County

Communities

Andover

Beverly

Gloucester

Haverhill

Ipswich

Lynn

Marblehead

Nahant

Newbury

Rockport

Salem

Swampscott