EcoBytes Volume 5, Issue 2

Welcome to Volume 5, Issue 2 of EcoBytes, the Center for Ecological Technology's (CET) email newsletter. EcoBytes updates you on CET's activities in waste, energy, environmental education and sustainable development. Visit us online at www.cetonline.org to learn more about our programs. You can reach us by email at cet@cetonline.org, or call us in Pittsfield at (413) 445-4556, in Northampton at (413) 586-7350, or at the ReStore Home Improvement Center at (413) 788-6900. For mailing list additions and deletions, please send a message to ruthd@cetonline.org.

In This Issue:

• Food Waste Composting Rocks - Not Rots
• Cooling the Climate in Lenox
• Riches, Not Rags
• Sun Shines on Junior Solar Sprint
• We’re Certified BPI
• Still Growing - ReStore Expands
• Welcome New Staff
• Coming Soon: Get your earth friendly yard flag

Food Waste Composting Rocks - Not Rots

Over 40 professionals from across New England attended a one day tour and workshop on May 1st featuring the Northampton and Amherst restaurant composting projects. More than 30 restaurants and 5 schools collect food waste which then goes to local farms for composting. The workshop showcased participating restaurants, schools, and a composting site.  Each participant received a comprehensive toolkit that includes a step-by-step methodology, lessons learned, case studies and sample materials. Missed it? Download the toolkit: http://www.cetonline.org/Publications/res-schools-online.pdf  The project is funded by MA DEP and partners include CET, the City of Northampton and the Town of Amherst. For more information contact John Majercak.

CET helped the MA DEP and U.S. EPA organize the Third Massachusetts Organics Recycling Summit, on March 18th. Over 170 participants included supermarkets, compost facility operators, haulers and municipal representatives. Haulers expressed interest in expanding into organics collection, investors sought composting facility sites, and supermarket chains sought assistance so they can divert organics. DEP will post the presentations and other resources at http://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/compost.htm  

Cooling The Climate In Lenox

In celebration of Earth Day, over 150 Berkshire area residents gathered at the Lenox Town Hall to learn more about preventing Climate Change. Professor William Moomaw framed the global issue and discussed local implications. He noted that in 50 to 100 years the Berkshires climate could be similar to Atlanta, Georgia. The national perspective and Massachusetts activities were shared by U.S. Congressman John Olver and Pat Larkin, of the Massachusetts Technology Trust respectively. Senator Andrea Nuciforo, Jr. moderated a lively audience discussion ranging from the aesthetics of wind turbines to tax credits to stimulate investment in renewable and efficiency technologies. Displays on photovoltaics, biomass, biodiesel, efficiency and wind power were of great interest. This event was co-sponsored by the Berkshire Renewable Energy Collaborative, Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust and the Lenox Environmental Committee. For more information or to find out how you can get involved with climate protection in your community, contact Nancy Nylen.

Riches, Not Rags

More than 20,000 pounds of used clothing were collected during CET’s Eighth Annual Earth Day Clothing and Textile Drive. The drive was conducted in partnership with Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires which resells some clothing at their local stores. Other textiles are sold overseas, become usable rags, or are marketed for industrial uses. Instead of throwing the clothes away, area residents dropped clothing at sites throughout the Berkshires. The textile drive, which has become a CET tradition, couldn’t happen without the generous support of local businesses and volunteers. Many thanks to Banknorth Massachusetts, Berkshire Bank and the Lee Bank-Pittsfield Loan Office for their support. To find out more, contact Amy Johns in our Pittsfield office.

Sun Shines On The Junior Solar Sprint

On the morning of May 10th, the sun came through the early morning fog as a promise of a great day for the 4th Berkshire-Hudson Junior Solar Sprint (JSS). Dozens of middle school students designed, constructed and entered their model solar cars into the JSS competition held at Reid Middle School in Pittsfield. Guided by their teachers and cheered on by families and friends, students raced their solar vehicles and displayed them for judging in four categories: craftsmanship, innovation, technical merit and speed. The top three teams in each category were invited to go on to the regional JSS competition in Springfield on June 8th. Thanks to our sponsors, Berkshire Bank, Berkshire Gas Company and Western Massachusetts Electric Company and many hours of volunteer effort for making this all possible. As one enthusiastic teacher remarked, "Next year we want to get even more kids involved. It's a great way for them to learn about clean, renewable technology and have a lot of fun."

We’Re Certified Bpi

We are proud to announce that CET has received accreditation from the Building Performance Institute (BPI), a national non-profit that recognizes weatherization and home efficiency contracting companies that demonstrate a commitment to high quality services. Accreditation signals to consumers that home improvement projects will be performed according to nationally recognized standards. The accreditation is required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in order to participate in Home Performance with Energy Star® nationwide. CET provides efficiency services to Berkshire Gas Company and Massachusetts Electric Company, both of whom offer Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® to their customers. To take advantage of utility company rebates and financial incentives, contact Paul Schmidt in out Pittsfield office.

We’Re Growing - Restore Expands

The ReStore is growing by leaps and bounds - more staff, more space, more goods to make your home renovation ideas possible. Stop by the ReStore to see what’s new!

Welcome New Staff

Lorenzo Macaluso, Waste Management Specialist (part-time) – Mr. Macaluso works on programs to increase composting, recycling and reuse of business, municipal and residential wastes. He set up a composting program at 25 area restaurants in Amherst and Northampton and coordinated a workshop to educate others about the project. Since 1997, Lorenzo has worked at University of Massachusetts Office of Waste Management as Special Projects Coordinator, where he manages projects to reduce waste and increase recycling at the University. He received a M.P.H. in Environmental Health and B.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Massachusetts. Stop by the Northampton office to say hello.

Tammi McBath has joined CET as the new Marketing and Outreach Coordinator of the ReStore Home Improvement Center.  She will increase the ReStore’s inventory and promote the ReStore’s affordable products more widely. Full shelves and more customers are her goal. Help her reach them by visiting the ReStore.

Coming Soon:

A new "earth friendly" lawn and garden flag will be available from CET in June. Contact Joy Kirschenbaum to receive a free flag. Signal to neighbors and passers-by that your lawn is a welcome place for birds, wildlife, pets and children.