Time to Weatherize Your Home or Apartment

source photo

Here are some easy ways to see energy savings on your bill this winter! Start before November, and you'll get the best results.

1. Install temporary window film to blog out the cold. 

2. Make blankets easily accessible for all of the places you spend the most time at home. 

3. Make a habit of opening blinds during the day and closing them after the sun goes down.

4. Insulate your water heater to keep it from losing heat.

5. In the winter, you'll likely take warmer showers - use a timer to make them as efficient as possible.

6. Use a draft blocker for leaky doors. 

7. Dress appropriately, you really shouldn't be comfortable in a T-shirt indoors when it is freezing outside. Dressing appropriately will allow you to turn the thermostat down a bit.

8. Create a sense of warmth with solar powered candles and a cup of tea. 

Earthspiration

image courtesy of mindblowingresources

New Boston Solar Map Unveiled

Yesterday, Mayor Walsh launched Solar SystemTM Boston, a new map which enables homeowners and businesses to quickly and easily understand their roof’s solar potential and installation cost estimates. With over 12 MW of solar PV installed in Boston producing roughly enough power to supply 2,000 homes, the new solar map is one more tool to accelerate the adoption of solar and help Boston meet its goal of installing 25 MW of solar by 2020.

“Going solar is increasingly an attractive option for Boston homes and businesses,” said Mayor Walsh. “With solar prices plummeting, and Massachusetts having some of the best incentives in the country, this map will introduce the benefits of solar to a broader audience.”

Solar SystemTM Boston is a partnership with Mapdwell®, a Boston-based  M.I.T. spin-off that looks to advance collective sustainability through information, education, and choice architecture, to provide accurate and accessible information about going solar. The tool has mapped all 127,000 buildings in Boston for their solar potential and found that Boston has a potential for 2.2 GW (gigawatts) of solar power. While there are barriers to putting solar PV on every building with good sun access such as roof age and financing constraints, this map confirms the significant potential for solar to expand rapidly in Boston as installation prices continue to drop.

“The City of Boston prides itself on using data and innovative mapping technology to have a positive impact ,” said Jascha Franklin-Hodge, Chief Information Officer for the City of Boston. “Solar SystemTM Boston will make it easier for residents to take action to increase the use of sustainable energy in the City.”

Spotlight: EnerNOC

WHAT: EnerNOC

WHERE: One Marina Park Drive, Suite 400, Boston, MA 02210

WHY: EnerNOC stands for Energy Network Operations Center, and is a leading provider of energy intelligence software (EIS). EIS helps organizations buy cleaner energy, manage utility bills, optimize energy consumption, participate in demand response, and manage peak demand. EnerNOC has saved clients millions of dollars through energy efficiency and carbon management, and helped mitigate millions of dollars in costs through energy supply procurement. Strategic energy management is a competitive advantage for our customers, driving positive benefits right to the bottom line. This Boston-based company is a necessary and successful step towards a green economy.

Spotlight: HEET MA

Last week, I ventured across the river to Cambridge for the Squeaky Leaks Project Fundraiser which hopes to map natural gas leaks along streets in Cambridge and Somerville. This project would make these communities safer, more energy efficient, and help residents save money on their utility bills. A serious win-win. The project is designed by HEET MA with the help of Sustain for the Future.

HEET which stands for Home Energy Efficiency Team is a Cambridge-based non-profit organization that helps people become more energy efficient at home and in the community. The group provides educational opportunities, hosts events, and helps with energy assessments.

"HEET is one of the only local groups that provides free and practical education to local communities, teaching people how to reap the benefits of energy and water efficiency measures. In order to fight climate change, all of us must work together. We accomplish this by organizing Energy-Upgrade Work-Parties, where volunteers under the guidance of skilled team leaders perform the tasks necessary to make a building more energy efficient. A survey has show that over 70% of our volunteers take four or more of the hands-on skills we teach back to their homes to reduce energy use there. The work also lowers the energy bills for the host organization, allowing it to spend more on helping its community."

In five years, HEET has:

Organized more than 225 Energy-Upgrade Work-Parties
Assisted with more than 50 solar installations
Installed more than 5,000 CFLs
Trained more than 3,500 volunteers in hands-on skills in saving energy
Reduced the CO2 equivalent of taking 2,169 cars off the road for a year
Saved more than 3 million gallons of water
Saved more than $2.7 million in energy and water bills over the lifetime of the measures installed.

Squeaky Leaks Project & Fundraiser

Did you know old pipes cause natural gas to leak into our air? The Squeaky Leaks Project is tackling this issue in Cambridge and Somerville. In June, their team will drive down every street in Cambridge and Somerville with a high-precision methane analyzer. With the information they collect, they will post the maps of the leaks to the public, pinpoint the worst leaks, and create a national website where any community can post a map of their leaks and organize citizens to call those leaks in until they are fixed.

Why is this important?

• Natural gas (before it is burned) is a potent greenhouse gas; 34 times more destructive than CO2.
• The gas is delivered through pipes under our streets.  Many of these pipes were installed pre-1950. These ancient pipes rust and leak gas, damaging our climate, suffocating our trees, and potentially cause explosions.
• The utilities pass the cost of this waste onto you in your gas bill, forcing you to pay for hurting the planet.  The total cost for lost gas in Massachusetts alone is $640 million per year at the minimum (according to Sen. Ed Markey).

Help further support this initiative by attending their upcoming fundraiser!

Squeaky Leak Fundraising Mixer

The Asgard Irish Pub and Restaurant

350 Massachusetts Ave

Cambridge, MA 02139

Tuesday, June 3, 2014 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (EDT)

Startup, Climatestore, Makes Sustainable Shopping Easy

In October, I joined a startup company with the mission of making it fun and easy for people to reduce their carbon footprints. We took on this task by building an e-commerce website with products that reduce electricity use or have a lower impact during manufacture or disposal. We also set up Learn pages that include all of the basics on climate science including all of the latest consensus reports. Another section of the website focuses on personal action: in My Plan, customers can learn about easy, money saving activities they can do to reduce their contribution of greenhouse gasses.

I am excited to announce that we launched ClimateStore.com on Earth Day and are hoping to start making an impact this summer. Join the climate conversation with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Thanks for your support!

Boston Races to Solar

In April, Mayor Walsh launched the Race to Solar, a program for local non-profits and small businesses to increase the adoption of solar power installations and energy efficiency measures. Race to Solar is a partnership with Renew Boston, NStar, National Grid, and Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET) to promote energy efficiency upgrades and make solar power more affordable and accessible for non-profits, including houses of worship and schools, and small businesses that own their buildings.

Through the Race to Solar, organizations will be able to take advantage of a competitively priced option for installing solar power. To participate, non-profits and small businesses must own their buildings, have suitable site conditions for a solar installation, and be in good financial standing.  The goal of Race to Solar is to promote and facilitate the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy systems on the buildings of 40 local non-profit organizations, adding approximately 1 megawatt of clean, renewable electric power capacity to Boston and Cambridge.  SunBug Solar was selected as the solar installer.  

To learn more about the Race to Solar and speak directly with program providers, please attend an upcoming technical workshop:

• Wednesday, April 30th, 10am to 12pm, Cambridge City Hall Annex, 344, Broadway, Cambridge
• Thursday, May 1st, 6pm to 8pm, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, 239 Harvard Street, Cambridge
• Thursday, May 15th, 6pm to 8pm, Curtis Hall, 20 South Street, Jamaica Plain
• Tuesday, May 20th, 6pm to 8pm, Carpenter’s Center, 750 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester

Boston's Green Events Happening this Week

First and foremost, good luck to all of the Marathon runners today!!! We will be cheering you on!

MONDAY

• Help keep Boston clean during and after this year's marathon by properly disposing of waste and encouraging fellow race viewers to do the same.

TUESDAY

• Earth Day!
• EcoMotion Sustainability UnConference
• Greening Rozzie Spring Potluck
• USGBC MA Earth Day Gala
• Earth Day Meals at Restaurants affiliated with the Chef's Collaborative 

WEDNESDAY

• Remind yourself why spring is green

THURSDAY

• Fashion Revolution Day
• Monthly Planet Southie Meeting
• Project Blue Pride Lecture & Screening at NEAQ

FRIDAY

• April Walk/Ride Day

SATURDAY

• Investing in a Sustainable Future: Economic Growth and Environmental Constraints
• Dorchester Bike Festival

SUNDAY

• Doing yard work? Reduce your impact by gardening smart

Mayor Walsh Launches the Carbon Cup

On April 8, 2014 Mayor Walsh announced the Greenovate Boston Mayor’s Carbon Cup, a voluntary program for hospitals, universities, and commercial building committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2020. In order for the City of Boston to reach its citywide target of reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs) by 25% by 2020, large building portfolios will need to lead by aiming for a higher GHG reduction target.

“A cleaner, greener, and more prosperous future, as outlined in our Climate Action Plan, requires leadership from every sector.” said Mayor Walsh. “Carbon Cup pledges and winners will represent the cream of the crop for our large buildings, demonstrating what’s possible in energy efficiency, while greening our city and creating quality jobs.”

Those pledging to the Carbon Cup commitment must enroll at least 1 million square feet, with additional tiers of recognition for those enrolling greater than 2 million or 5 million square feet.

“Commercial buildings comprise over half of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions.” said Brian Swett, Chief of Environment, Energy Services, and Open Space. “Getting our biggest property owners enrolled could cut emissions by over a hundred thousand metric tons of GHGs, equivalent to ten thousand homes taken off the grid.”

The City is seeking initial pledges and possible Carbon Cup winners to be announced at the Greenovate Boston Community Summit on May 31. Over the summer, the City will work with initial participants to finalize guidelines for reporting and accounting, and continue to source new participants. The Carbon Cup is a part of the larger Renew Boston Commercial/Industrial Strategy for saving energy and bringing down the GHG footprint of Boston’s institutions and businesses. Guidelines can be found at http://greenovateboston.org/resources/actions/mayors-carbon-cup/. Interested entities should contact info@greenovateboston.org.

Boston's Eco Activities for this Week

image courtesy of Flickr

MONDAY

• First 70 degree day of spring! Head to Follain to pick up some earth-friendly, chemical free sunscreen. 

TUESDAY

• Check out the Sea Change: Boston Exhibit

WEDNESDAY

• Net Impact Sustainability Breakfast
• Water, Water Everywhere and Not a Drop to Drink Forum at the Museum of Science

THURSDAY

• Green Justice Coalition Energy Efficiency Summit
• Invasion of the Lionfish Lecture at the New England Aquarium

FRIDAY

• Last chance to check out the Museum of Science before the craziness of April Vacation begins. Why not check out their live presentation on climate change?!

SATURDAY

• Save some $$$ while cutting your environmental impact by turning off your heat and committing not to turn it on again until November or December.

SUNDAY

• Enjoy a vegetarian Easter celebration. 

NEWIEE Awards Gala Recap

On Tuesday evening, I attended the Fourth Annual NEWIEE Awards Gala at the Lenox Hotel. It was an inspiring evening that also happened to fall on "equal pay day," or the day to which women would have to work to make the same amount a man would have made in their job in 2013. This added a extra bit of fire to the event which celebrated female leadership in the energy & environmental sectors.

The keynote address was delivered by Karen Gordon Mills the Former Administrator of the Small Business Administration. She spoke to the importance of entrepreneurship and the role of women in the U.S. economy - using the incredibly successful story of Spanx founder Sara Blakely as an example.

The awards were then presented to these very-deserving leaders:

NEWIEE Achievement Awards:

• Alicia Barton, Chief Executive Officer, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
• Janet Gail Besser, Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs, New England Clean Energy Council
• Elin Swanson Katz, Consumer Counsel, State of Connecticut

NEWIEE Leadership Award:

• Patricia Stanton, Senior Vice President of Policy & Advocacy, Conservation Services Group

Each recipient graciously accepted their award and spoke to the importance of "stepping up," "asking for what you want," and "becoming a good mentor to younger women." Great advice all around!
We then sipped on coffee and snacked on desert. I am excited to see what NEWIEE has in store for their two other signature events this year!

Renew Boston Extends Deadline for Energy Efficiency Incentive Program

image courtesy of Next Step Living 

In 2013,  Renew Boston, the City of Boston’s energy efficiency program, helped Boston residents to weatherize 1,581 homes! These weatherizations resulted in a total energy savings of approximately 210,000 mmBtu. The Renew Boston team believes that helping Boston residents to make their homes more energy efficient is a key component to reaching the City of Boston’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 25% by 2020 and 80% by 2050.

This is why Renew Boston, in partnership with National Grid and NSTAR, is extending the Whole Building Incentive, a program that significantly reduces the cost of energy efficiency improvements for two and three unit buildings in the City of Boston. Originally scheduled to end at the close of 2013, the program has been extended until June 1st 2014. If you own property in Boston, or are on good terms with your landlord, learn more about the program here. The incentive offers up to $3000 per apartment!

Earth Hour is this Saturday

Join Jamie Foxx in fighting Climate Change this weekend!

The Eco Way to Use a Keurig

1

Keurigs are great. They give you great coffee/tea/hot chocolate in a matter of seconds. The problem, of course, is that the little disposable K-cups create a lot of waste compared to a traditional filter-less coffee machine. But if you already own a Keurig or your office has one, here are some tips for using it a greener way.

• Use a reusable K-cup.
• Use only organic, fair trade products to fill your reusable K-cups.
• Keep using the same mug - no need to put it in the dishwasher after everyyyyy use.
• Unplug the Keurig when no one is using it. 
• Encourage your friends in co-workers to do the same. 

Have any other ideas about greening your Keurig use? Please share! 

Babson Energy and Environment Conference to be March 27

WHEN: March 27, 2014, 9:30 am - 6:30 pm

WHERE: Sorenson Theater, 19 Babson College Dr., Wellesley, MA 02482

WHAT: This year's conference - Fifteen Shades of Green - is about how energy efficiency and sustainability has evolved into an integral part of every industry helping grow the top line and breaking the long held myth that sustainability is a cost center. Register here for a day of fabulous speakers and green networking! 

Simple Tips for Better Heat Circulation

source image courtesy of Savor Home

Cold temps are headed back to Boston, so here are a few ways to increase heat flow in your home without turning up the thermostat:

1. Locate your heaters in each room and move away any furniture or clutter that could be blocking it. Pull all couches and other furniture out at least a foot. 

2. Turn on ceiling fans for about 5 minutes every few hours in order to recirculate heat. 

3. Weatherize all windows with clear coating to prevent heat from escaping. 

4. If you have a working fireplace or wood burning stove, use it!

5. Leave your oven door open for a few minutes after you finish cooking meals. (WARNING: make sure your oven is off!)

6. Leave bathroom door open when showering. 

7. Turn your thermostat down 4-5 degrees each night or when leaving your home for an extended period of time. 

For more ideas, check out these 26 tips for home heating. 

Cut Down Your Winter Bills & Your Carbon Footprint

source image courtesy of Mother Earth News

Cutting monthly bills and reducing your environmental impact often go hand in hand. But this doesn’t mean you have to mean you have to be cold and miserable. The best of both worlds is to properly insulate your home and use energy efficient appliances and equipment. You can then take the next step by investing in renewable energy.

Buy Green Power

Boston residents can sign up to switch electricity power source to wind or solar. There are three different companies that you could go with:

•  NSTAR lets you choose between half or all of your electricity support wind power. The wind is generated in upstate New York and in Maine, and has been certified by Green-e Energy. This means that NSTAR meets standards of environmental quality and it has acquired the renewable energy supply it has committed to deliver. 

• Boston Buying Power lets local businesses to group together to buy green energy.   EPA encourages organizations to use green power, and at the moment has more than 1,400 partners voluntarily using billions of kilowatt-hours of green power annually.

So whether you’re a resident or a business owner, there’s no excuse not to consider using green power.

Make Your Own Energy

There are lots of ways to make your own energy, but the best for households is via solar power. Solar panels can be used to generate electricity, or to heat water. Solar panels have dropped in price over the past five years, making them much better value for money and increasing ROI. Though the upfront price is still a lot, some solar systems can be installed with no upfront cost for installation and ownership by a third party and they can also be leased at a rate that could be lower than your bills. If you want to own it yourself, then you can save money by shopping around for installation costs at companies like The Handy People.

Insulation

Insulation is a really effective way to cut down on your energy bills, as it stops heat escaping and makes it quicker and easier to heat your home.

Renew Boston is a program that offers free energy assessments and then eligible customers receive 75% off for insulation and air sealing. If you’re part of a duplex or an apartment building, and the whole building is buying insulation, then you could receive up to 90% off.   

Author: Tom, The Handy People

Spotlight: Harvest Power

Continuing with Boston's composting momentum, Boston Green Blog is featuring Harvest Power as the green biz of the week. Waltham-based Harvest Power helps communities better manage and beneficially re-use their organic waste. Their vision is to find the highest and best use for the 500 million tons of organic materials produced in North America each year. Harvest Power is particularly focused on building powerplants and infrastructure for using our organic waste to create biomass energy. To learn more about this, I highly recommend the TEDtalk by the Harvest Power founder, Paul Sellew:

What to watch on Netflix this weekend

This 2011 documentary, available for streaming on Netflix, takes an inspirational look into the brief, but landmark, presidency of President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives. The Maldives are the lowest lying country in the world, and may very well disappear as a result of climate change. Nasheed heads to the U.N. and to Copenhagen to face adversaries like China and India in the hopes that they can come to an agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Island President is informative, witty, and motivating - two thumbs up!