2005 Issues of EcoBytes

EcoBytes - Volume 7, Issue 3 Summer 2005 Welcome to Volume 7, Issue 3 of EcoBytes the Center for Ecological Technology's (CET) email newsletter. EcoBytes updates you on CET's^sm accomplishments in waste, energy, environmental education and sustainable development. Visit our web site to learn more about our programs. For mailing list changes or deletions, please contact Ruth.

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Western Mass Rocks with Clean Energy Signups
• Berkshire Leaders Attend the Renewable Energy Summit
• Recycling Hits Main Street
• Running on Sunshine

Announcements:

• ReStore Annual Report Now Available
• Please sign up to hear even more about CET
• Shop Till Your Energy Costs Drop!

Western Mass Rocks with Clean Energy Signups

Residents and elected officials from seven local towns are leading the green way. Egremont, Great Barrington, Monterey, Northampton, Shutesbury, Wendell and Williamsburg were the only communities in the Commonwealth to enroll at least 3% of their households in the Massachusetts Clean Energy Choice^sm program by the March 31 deadline. Beyond virtue and environmental benefits, there’s a monetary reward - dollars for clean energy projects from Clean Energy Choice. Depending on the number of participants in each town, these communities will receive several thousand to over forty thousand dollars to help fund renewable energy projects. To add to the largesse, CET awarded Wendell and Shutesbury $5,000 each toward a solar energy system. Wendell surpassed the rest of the state by having almost 10% of households enrolled in New England GreenStart^sm and Shutesbury followed with 6.5% of residents. Wendell has its sights set on putting solar electric panels on the new library addition. In July, CET will award $5,000 to two Berkshire towns with the highest percentage of households enrolled in GreenStart as of June 30. We’ll keep you posted. Funds for the CET awards are from the U.S. Department of Energy. The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative will distribute another round of funds to towns that achieve 3% enrollment from December 31 2005 through March 31, 2006. There’s still time to build support for New England GreenStart, encourage local jobs and get more clean energy produced. As we choose electricity from renewable sources, we replace electricity generated from fossil fuels. For more information, contact Peggy MacLeod or visit: GreenStart.

Berkshire Leaders Attend the Renewable Energy Summit

"The right thing to do makes good business sense."
"Start a Green Team."
"Small scale projects and energy efficiency are a good investment."
"Use renewables as a hedge against volatile prices for fossil fuels."
"Resources are here now to help."

These are a sampling of the messages that businesses took away from the Berkshire Renewable Energy Leadership Summit on June 7. Directors, facilities and purchasing managers and plant engineers from 20 of the Berkshire’s largest businesses joined architects, Selectmen, small business owners, educators and school administrators for a daylong session. They learned about the evolving marketplace for purchasing electricity and the benefits of renewableenergy. Staples’ Mark Buckley, Vice President of Environmental Affairs described how their comprehensive carbon reduction strategy makes good business sense. Local speakers showcased energy efficiency and solar projects while highlighting the long-term environmental and economic benefits to both businesses and the community. CET and the Berkshire Renewable Energy Collaborative organized the Summit, which was funded by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. Many of the presentations are available online.

Recycling Hits Main Street

Recent strolls through downtown Great Barrington reveal new recycling bins. Where did they come from? CET started working with local citizens to place recycling bins on the street about a year ago. Together, we worked out the logistics and then the Great Barrington Select Board gave their unanimous endorsement for the effort. Now anyone walking down Main Street can conveniently recycle soda cans or water bottles. Congratulations to all who helped support this project that increases the amount of bottles and cans recycled. A special thanks to Great Barrington's Don Chester of the DPW and Sharon Palma from the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce for their help. For more information, including photographs, visit http://www.cetonline.org/Community/GBRecycling.php or contact Raya Ariella.

Running on Sunshine

Nearly forty middle school students from Berkshire County and the Hudson Valley gathered at Reid Middle School in Pittsfield on June 4 to showcase their solar powered model cars in the Berkshire-Hudson Junior Solar Sprint (JSS). With help from teachers and mentors, the students designed and built their cars in the weeks leading up to the race. The students used popsicle sticks, neatly cut balsa wood, paper clips, cd’s, rubber bands and clothespins to construct their cars. Every car ran off an identical solar panel and carried an empty aluminum soda can "payload". On June 4th, the students raced their cars. In addition to speed, the cars were judged on craftsmanship, technical merit, and innovation. The students who made the top three cars in each category were invited to the JSS regional competition in Springfield on June 12th. Funds from Berkshire Bank, Berkshire Gas Company, Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, and the U.S. Department of Energy made the JSS possible. Thanks also to the many volunteers who judged and made sure the race went smoothly. For more information, contact Amy Johns.

ReStore Annual Report Now Available

Want to learn how the ReStore is doing? Visit www.restoreonline.org and download our 2005 Progress Report. You’ll find photos of our first whole-house deconstruction project and facts and figuresonourimpact. The ReStore has lots of quality re-used and surplus building materials for your summerprojects, so don’t just visit electronically. Come by and shop at our store on Albany Street in Springfield. Sign up to learn more about CET Do you like getting news about CET? We have new, easy way to sign-up online to get additional information from us. Join our mailing list. To save resources, you can specify if you want to hear from us by email or by mail.

Shop Till Your Energy Costs Drop!

Save money and support CET. Find discounts on energy efficiency and other environmentally friendly products at CET’s storefront.