EcoBytes - Volume 2, Issue 2 (April 2000)

Welcome to Volume 2, Issue 2 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 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. 

CET, a member of the Environmental Federation of New England, invites you to learn more about environmental issues and opportunities in the warm glow of your computer screen by logging on to www.greenfornewengland.org

IN THIS ISSUE:>

• A Better Way to Handle Household Hazardous Waste
  
• Reusing the Historic Mills of the Hoosic River
  
• Sixth-graders Plot Against Paper Waste
  
• Energy Efficiency Can Help Pay Your Mortgage
  

A Better Way to Handle Household Hazardous Waste

Convenient programs that collect household hazardous waste (e.g., pesticides, solvents, and automotive products) are needed to keep these toxic materials out of landfills and incinerators, where they can pollute the environment. CET is working with 13 rural South Berkshire communities to develop the first mobile collection program of this kind in Massachusetts.

The Southern Berkshire Solid Waste Management District received a $13,000 grant from the MA Department of Environmental Protection and hired CET to develop a plan that covers education and outreach, operations, costs, management and a fee structure. As currently envisioned, Maxymillian Technologies would provide the mobile collection service and Safety-Kleen (NE) Inc. would manage a consolidation facility. For more information, contact Laura Dubester in our Pittsfield office.

Reusing the Historic Mills of the Hoosic River

CET, together with Hoosic River Watershed Association (HooRWA) and the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, recently inventoried the historic mills along the Hoosic River to learn about their current status and potential for adaptive reuse. The Hoosic River winds its way through Cheshire, Adams, North Adams, Clarksburg and Williamstown in northern Berkshire County and was a critical source of power for dozens of mills during the industrial revolution and the 20th century. Mill properties on or near the river are often historic and aesthetic assets, but at the same time, they can pose a potential threat to the river because of lingering contamination problems. Team members gathered information about current use, condition, ownership status, possible eligibility as designated historic sites and outstanding characteristics of the mills. Results showed that most of the mills are occupied and owners are committed to continuing and increasing their use. Mill businesses range from a manufacturer of specialty papers to growers of shitake mushrooms to galleries for contemporary art. CET and the project partners will sponsor a forum this summer for mill owners, public officials and economic development agencies to discuss the challenges and resources available to preserve this important part of our cultural and architectural heritage. The Mills Inventory project is funded through a "Communities Connected by Water" grant from the MA Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. For more information, contact Nancy Nylen in our Pittsfield office.

Sixth-graders Plot Against Paper Waste

Question: What do sixth-grade science students suggest be done to reduce paper waste in schools? Answer: Wooden reusable library and hall passes, boxes for scrap paper in every classroom, and asking teachers to accept homework assignments prepared on paper that has already been used on one side. In January, sixth-grade students at the JFK Middle School in Northampton participated in a Waste Reduction Forum where each class presented their ideas for saving paper. The Forum involved Northampton’s waste management coordinator, teachers, school administrators and a guest from MA DEP. JFK is now implementing these ideas and will track paper purchasing trends over the coming months to gauge the effectiveness of the project. The ongoing paper waste reduction project, designed and coordinated by CET, began with lessons and activities led by classroom teachers and CET staff. For more information, contact Jim Desmond in our Northampton office.

Energy Efficiency Can Help Pay Your Mortgage

Residents of western Massachusetts can now incorporate the cost of energy-efficient improvements into a mortgage when they purchase a new home or refinance an existing one. CET, in partnership with Conservation Services Group (CSG), has just launched the Energy Mortgage Program (EMP), a new initiative to upgrade homes so that the money saved by energy conservation improvements exceeds the increased monthly mortgage payment. EMP incorporates the Home Energy Rating System (HERS), a national program that calculates the energy ratings of homes based on insulation levels, solar orientation, heating, cooling, ventilation systems and controls, appliance efficiency and windows. A HERS report on your home will recommend cost-effective upgrades and enable you to take advantage of special state and federal financing programs.

Once the improvements have been made, a follow-up inspection and re-rating is performed to ensure that the measures have been done correctly and the savings will be realized. CET's Bill Lafley, who recently attended the Northeast HERS training, is becoming certified as a HERS rater. During this pilot phase, CET is currently working with two primary mortgage lenders, Berkshire Bank (in Berkshire County) and Source One (in Pioneer Valley). For more information on the Energy Mortgage Program, contact Alan Silverstein in our Pittsfield office.

Coming Next Issue:

Earth Stewards in Pittsfield