Going Green
During Fall Foliage Season in the Berkshires

October 3, 2007
by Nancy Nylen
This article appeared on the Berkshire Visitors Bureau Website

Riding the chair lift to see the wind turbine on Jiminy Peak, visiting a net-zero energy home in Williamstown, touring a green inn in Adams - followed by a ride or stroll on the Ashuwillticook Bike Trail, enjoying solar-brewed beer at the Barrington Brewery and picking pumpkins at solar-powered Howden Farm in Sheffield are among the many ways you and your family can enjoy green living in the Berkshires over the Columbus Day Weekend or at other times you may visit.

Green Buildings Open House

The 2007 Green Buildings Open House Tour, slated for Saturday, Oct. 6th gives the public the chance to see such features as passive solar heating, solar hot water collection and storage, radiant floor heating, photovoltaics, hydropower, energy efficient lighting and appliances, and sustainable and healthy building materials.

Sixteen solar or otherwise “green” homes, businesses and public buildings in the Berkshires will open their doors at specific times between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for the sixth annual tour. The Center for Ecological Technology (CET) has produced a booklet for the Open House with highlights of green building features, photos, hours and directions to each site. The booklet is available by calling CET at 413-445-4556, ext. 25, or as a pdf download.

On Friday, Oct. 5, at 5:30 p.m. CET will host a pre-tour kick off event at the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield. Dr. William Moomaw of Tufts University will talk about all aspects of designing, building and living in a net-zero energy home in the Berkshires in his presentation, Living Deliberately in the 21st Century. Locally produced hors d’oeuvres and the CET-produced booklet outlining the sites on this year’s tour will be provided.

The Moomaw net zero energy home in Williamstown is one of those featured on the Berkshire tour.

"What that means is we'll use as much energy as we produce," says Moomaw. The home employs a 7.2 kW photovoltaic solar array and a geothermal heat pump system, in addition to numerous energy efficiency measures.

Other stops along the way are the Barrington Brewery with its new solar hot water system, and the Topia Inn in Adams with solar panels that replace roof tiles.

Jiminy Peak - Fall Festival features Wind Tours

The Annual Fall Festival celebration at Jiminy Peak Resort, features a craft fair, Hancock Fire Department Swap Sale, BBQ, and sales on new apparel and equipment.

New this year are tours of Jiminy Peak’s new wind turbine, Zephyr, offered several times throughout the weekend. Go to www.jiminypeak.com and click on the spinning turbine to the left for information about dates and times. Reservations are required. Come enjoy the beautiful foliage this fall at Jiminy Peak!

Pick Your Own - Apples and Pumpkins

Enjoy the fresh air, fall colors and tastes of the Berkshires by picking your own pumpkins and apples at locations throughout the Berkshires. Visit Howden Farm in Sheffield, Whitney’s Farm Stand in Cheshire, Ioka Farm in Hancock and Bartlett’s and Hilltop Orchards in Richmond to name a few. For information and directions, go to Berkshire Grown’s website: www.berkshiregrown.org/eat_local/pick.html.

These are just a few examples of ways you can enjoy Going Green this weekend. We welcome your suggestions for other ways to have fun and enjoy the beauty of the Berkshires.

Nancy Nylen coordinates renewable energy and environmental education programs for the Center for Ecological Technology (CET), a non-profit energy and resource conservation organization based in Pittsfield. Currently CET’s Associate Director, she began her career at the Alaska Division of Energy and Power Development in the late 1970s and has worked for state and non-profit organizations in Washington, New Mexico and Massachusetts in the fields of energy conservation and renewable resources for more than 25 years. Ms. Nylen received a B.A. from Hampshire College and a Masters of Education with a concentration in environmental studies from the University of Washington.