Cambridge News, Events, Jobs, Resources, & more!
Jesse Gorden
Hello again, friends and affiliates of the Cambridge Energy Alliance!
Spring is almost upon us, and we at CEA hope that it is inspiring you to tackle those lurking home energy efficiency projects with renewed gusto! Spring’s bounty is apparent already, and easy to see if you take a look at the number of events scheduled in the next few months on the CEA calendar.
In this email you will find a bit of everything that CEA update emails can offer: Cambridge news, several upcoming event descriptions, updates on a few past events, jobs available in the community, an update from the Energy 2.0 blog, and then several cool resources you can use to increase your energy efficiency!
Events coming up include a an Open Forum for Planning Climate Change Week 2011 on Tuesday, March 22nd, a Portrait of an Eco-Municipality on Wednesday, March 23rd, a Green Future event featuring David cash on Tuesday, March 29th, a HEET Barn-raising on Sunday, April 3rd, and a Smart Building Workshop on Tuesday, April 5th.
We hope to see you there!
Best wishes,
Jesse Gorden
Outreach Coordinator
Cambridge Energy Alliance
News
Cambridge
Cambridge Climate Action Week
The City Council has resolved that the third week of May (14th – 22nd) will be Cambridge Climate Change Week. This week falls within the City’s “Go Green” month, and is expected to be a monumental week of events. Please see the events section below for more information on the week, and how you can get involved.
West Cambridge Youth Center is now LEED Silver
The Mayor Sheila Doyle Russel West Cambridge Youth and Community Center has earned a LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The City now has a portfolio of six certified green buildings: City Hall Annex, Russel Fieldhouse, Robert W. Healy Public Safety Center, War Memorial recreation facility, Main Library, and the West Cambridge Youth Center.
LED Street Lights on Inman Street
The City has replaced all of the streetlights on Inman Street between Massachusetts Avenue and Broadway with energy efficient LED (light emitting diode) fixtures. The electrical Department and the Community Development Department would like to hear opinions about he new lighting in terms of light levels, quality of light, visibility on the sidewalk, and other thoughts. Please email your comments to Iram Farooq, Senior Project Manager at ifa...@cambridgema.gov and/or George Fernandes, City Electrician, gfern...@cambridgema.gov.
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Events
Open Forum: Planning Cambridge Climate Change Week 2011
A special discussion led by the steering committee
Tuesday, March 22nd
7:00-8:30pm
Windsor Street Community Health Center
119 Windsor St
These forums are usually a re-grouping of the Climate Congress hosted by the Cambridge Climate Emergency Action Group, a time to reach out to members all across the community who are interested in or concerned about climate change that is being caused by global warming, and have discussion on the movement surrounding climate change.
This meeting will be geared toward the planning of Climate Change Action Week 2011 (May 13 – 22, 2011), in the third week of the City of Cambridge’s “Go Green” month, during which the initiators hope to increase the level of awareness in Cambridge, lead to an unprecedented cohesion of the environmental community, and with those accomplished, motivate action to be taken. There will be a week of events resting on the themes of informing, motivating, and inspiring folks to action… beginning with a kick-off including speakers and film, and a closing “Action Fest” including celebration of accomplishments, much information about definite steps to take next, and potential for music, food, etc. Events performed/hosted by various environmentally interested groups and institutions will take place all week- it’s going to be great!
The wonderful plans for this week can only go so far with a group of 10 or 15 steering committee members; community ideas and helping hands are an important part to include. Please come along to this meeting to learn more about the week’s plans, and whether you might like to participate in making it happen!
We look forward to seeing you there.
*If you cannot attend but would like to help or participate, please email cccwe...@gmail.com
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Portrait of an Eco-Municipality: Portsmouth, New Hampshire
A real life application of a comprehensive approach to sustainability on a municipal level
Wednesday, March 23rd
7:00pm
Main Library, Auditorium (on floor L2 in elevator)
449 Broadway
Learn how Portsmouth became an Eco-Municipality and how sustainability principles are integrated into the municipal governance structure.
The real life application of how eco-municipalities are taking a comprehensive approach to sustainable change—as opposed to carrying out a collection of disparate sustainable development projects.
Speakers
-John Bohenko, City Manager, Portsmouth, NH
-Peter L. Britz, Sustainability Coordinator and Environmental Planner, Portsmouth, NH
-Sarah James, Institute for Eco-Municipality & Education Assistance (IEMEA)
For more information call 617-349-4205.
Sponsored by the Cambridge Renewable Energy Action Team (CREATe), the Cambridge Energy Alliance (CEA), and the Office of the Vice Mayor Henrietta Davis.
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Green Future 2020
Realizing the Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan
Tuesday, March 29th
7:00pm
Cambridge Citywide Senior Center, Central Square
806 Massachusetts Avenue
The effects of climate change through man-made global warming are felt every day with devastating consequence.
As the federal government continues to falter in its efforts to impose any meaningful standards of carbon emission control, it now falls to the states to step into the breach and push for innovative advances in clean, renewable energy to safeguard our environment and revitalize our national economy.
-How can Massachusetts be a leader of the green revolution?
-What role can citizens, play in making this happen?
-How can we make our voices heard?
Dr. David Cash, Undersecretary for Policy at the Executive office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, will present the plan and discuss how we can help make the Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020 a powerful tool for dealing with climate change. Rep. Will Brownsberger and Eugenia Gibbons, Policy Coordinator of the Environmental League of Massachusetts will join Dr. Cash.
Come – state your concerns, ask questions and share your ideas! Learn how this issue affects you, and how you can get involved!
Take a moment and sign up for this exciting event here!
Organized by Cambridge-Somerville for Change and co-sponsored by the Cambridge Energy Alliance, the City of Cambridge, Environmental League of Massachusetts, Greenport, and the Cambridge Climate Emergency Action Group.
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HEET Barnraising
Make a hands-on difference in Cambridge!
Sunday, April 3rd
12:30pm-5:00pm
Seventh Day Adventist church housing, near Inman Square
62-64 Amory Street
The Home Energy Efficiency Team gathers community members together to work on a home or building belonging to single members or groups of community members (hence the name of the events). Specifically, they work to reduce the energy bills of the buildings they work on by installing energy efficiency measures that are tailored to each unique circumstance, often including caulking, insulating in other ways, installing CFL bulbs, installing faucet aerators and other water use reducers, as well as other measures. These events are a great way to learn how to make a difference in your own energy bills at home, while building relationships with your fellow weatherizers and broader community.
This barn-raising will be on a building that had a heating bill in February of over $1,500. This is a great site where we can make a huge difference. The site is a home where over 20 members of the congregation want to learn how to steward the planet. Help out one of the only all-vegetarian churches.
We’ll teach how to install programmable thermostats, use less water, reduce
drafts, and fix old replacement windows inexpensively.
There will be music and food afterward.
Please sign up here (and disregard the time given in the description on the sign up page)!
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Smart Building Workshop
High Performance Homes, Stretch Code, MA Base Code
Tuesday, April 5th
8:30-1:30pm
Cambridge City Hall Annex
334 Broadway, second floor meeting room
In this workshop you will learn how to build homes that are durable, healthy, comfortable, energy efficient, less costly to operate, are compliant with base and stretch energy codes, and discuss how to cost effectively go beyond the codes. The workshop is free for building code officials and $25 for other attendees. Please register with the Center for EcoTechnology at https://www.123signup.com/servlet/SignUp?PG=1533104182300&P=153310400 .
The CET calendar also lists workshops at other locations.
Co-sponsored by the MA Department of Energy Resources, Center for EcoTechnology, Conservation Services Group, and the City of Cambridge
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Jobs
Consortium for Energy Efficiency
Behavior Program Associate
The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) is seeking an organized, enthusiastic individual to help support the CEE Behavior Program.
*Posted February 18th
Greenhouse Gas Management Institute
Program Associate
The Greenhouse Gas Management Institute is actively seeking a Program Associate to support various organizational activities and operations.
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From the E2.0 Blog
Energy Star Rating Standards Tighten
Wild & Scenic Film Festival Comes to Boston
Japan Tragedy Highlights Nuclear Doubts
A Short-Term Answer to Reduce CO2 Emissions
Hydrofracking Poses Serious Concerns
Convincing Businesses to Go Green
Ultimate Greening Your Home Seminar
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Resources
• Carbon Salon is a great way to track your own carbon footprint easily online.
• Air sealing video instruction, via HEET: http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/how-air-seal-attic-introduction
• Home Owners Rehab is a resource for home improvement funds; you can contact the today to apply for free assistance to complete your home repair! Revitalizing Cambridge, One Home At A Time. *Please see attached flier
• New Generation Energy is offering 25% donation matches to all projects added to its green energy project micro funding site during the month of March. To see the Green Energy Project Microfunding site, go to http://www.newgenerationenergy.org/list-projects. For more information, visit newgenerationenergy.org or call 617-624-3688.
Thanks for taking time out of your day to read through this email!
Please feel free to pass this along to anyone you know who may be interested in attending our events or volunteering to help their community become more sustainable.
Others may subscribe to this mailing list by sending a blank email to updates+...@cambridgeenergyalliance.org
Jesse Gorden
CEA Outreach Coordinator
617-491-0488 ext.124
Cambridge Energy Alliance: Save Money. Save the Planet.
1385 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
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