EcoBytes - Volume 2, Issue 1 (January 2000)

Welcome to Volume 2, Issue 1 of EcoBytes, the Center for Ecological Technology's (CET) email newsletter. EcoBytes updates you on CET's activities in solid waste, energy, environmental education and sustainable development. We wish you all a happy and healthy 2000! We encourage you to contact us for more information about any of our programs. You can reach us by email at our new address, cet@cetonline.org, or call us in Pittsfield at (413) 445-4556 or in Northampton at (413) 586-7350. For mailing list additions and deletions, please send a message to cet@cetonline.org.

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Standing Up for Renewable Energy
• Green Tree Greets Students with Holiday Recycling Message
• New Energy Services for the New Millennium
• Massachusetts Cultural Council Supports CET Programs

Standing Up For Renewable Energy

On October 13, 1999, CET helped sponsor and coordinate an exciting forum entitled "Renewable Energy: Choices for Our Environment" The event drew a standing-room-only crowd of 250 residents to Williams College to discuss options for renewable energy. Peter Berle, host of National Public Radio's "The Environment Show," moderated the event, which included an impressive array of national, regional and local experts. Ann Mesnik of the Sierra Club, Chris Flavin of the Worldwatch Institute, and Randy Udall of the Community Office for Resource Efficiency in Colorado discussed connections between current energy use and global warming, new technologies that are efficient and use renewable resources, and grassroots work around the world. Panelists Alan Nogee of the Union of Concerned Scientists, Nancy Nylen of CET, and Averill Cook of Catamount Corporation joined the national speakers in fielding questions from the audience. A reception in the lobby before the forum featured hands-on displays of conservation and renewable technologies including wind, micro-hydro, biomass, fuel cells and photovoltaic panels. We thank the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative for underwriting the forum and for their commitment to raising public awareness about sustainable energy technologies. CET will continue to work at the local level to increase our use of renewables in a way that is appropriate and benefits our environment and local economy. For more information, contact Nancy Nylen in our Pittsfield office.

Green Tree Greets Students With Holiday Recycling Message

The Berkshire Museum's Annual Festival of Trees featured CET's "Green Tree" with ornaments made completely from reused/recycled materials by students at Conte Community School and the Mt. Greylock High School Environmental Club. Ornaments included "dead" light bulbs painted with beautiful designs, caps from markers strung together, and tomato paste cans transformed into lanterns by piercing the tin and attaching the cans to strings of lights. Hundreds of teachers and thousands of school children visit the museum over the holiday season. The Green Tree educated students about the environmental benefits and creativity of reuse as a holiday decorating option. For more information on CET'ss educational programs, contact Joy Kirschenbaum in our Pittsfield office.

New Energy Services For The New Millennium

CET is now providing the MassSAVE Survey Plus to customers of Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO) and Massachusetts Electric Company (MECO) in western Massachusetts. CET energy technicians, upon request, will help households reduce their energy costs by recommending cost-effective improvements including insulation, hot water measures and heating system upgrades. Energy-efficient light bulbs and other low-cost items are installed at no cost as part of this service. In December 1999, MassSAVE, a corporation formed to provide energy conservation services on behalf of member utilities, merged with Conservation Services Group (CSG), a national leader specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy services. As part of this merger, CET will subcontract with CSG to deliver services to approximately 2,500 households in the year 2000. For more information on CET's energy conservation services, contact Paul Schmidt in our Pittsfield Office.

MASSACHUSETTS CULTURAL COUNCIL SUPPORTS CET PROGRAMS

The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), a state agency, has awarded a grant of $11,690 to support CET's environmental education and community outreach programs. MCC's Organizational Support Program awards competitive grants to organizations that provide high-quality programs and community services. Each year CET serves several thousand people of all ages through its work with schools, communities, businesses and other local agencies and nonprofit organizations. The MCC grant will help CET continue its teacher training workshops, classroom presentations on recycling and reuse, composting education and technical assistance, energy education, and community education on renewable resources and sustainable development issues.

Coming Next Issue:

Mobile Collection of Household Hazardous Waste