To embrace October as Energy Awareness Month, Climate Is Everybody’s Business held a webinar “Save Money, Save Energy, Save the Planet” on October 15th. While the event was moved to a virtual format this year, Brookline, Massachusetts businesses, non-profits, faith organizations, and residents alike attended and took the first step towards energy actions of their own.
For the 32 attendees, the webinar focused on three areas for energy related action: energy efficiency, energy conservation, and “Opting Up” to green electricity. Tips included getting a free energy assessment from Mass Save to pinpoint areas for energy savings (more efficient lighting fixtures, insulation) unplugging electronics while they aren’t in use, upgrading to Energy Star Appliances, and moving towards 100% renewable electricity through the Brookline All Green community choice aggregation program (BrooklineGreen.com).
The webinar participants heard from a range of speakers, including Massachusetts State Representative Tommy Vitolo, Economic Development Director for the Town of Brookline Kara Brewton, and Program Manager for Eversource Energy, Maureen Kiely. After the presentations, attendees were able to attend one of five breakout groups with the presenters and additional experts, so they could ask questions and get a more tailored understanding for their organization or household.
One webinar participant and Brookline homeowner, Deane Coady, is featured in a display in the window of Brookline Bank’s Coolidge Corner branch. As part of a month long celebration of Energy Awareness Month, the window display showcases testimonials from faith organizations, businesses and homeowners in Brookline who have taken steps to reduce energy consumption and switch to renewable energy sources.
Coady recently had solar panels installed on her roof and commented, “I am doing my part to help clean up our electrical grid with local production of renewable solar energy. The 22 panels on the very top slope of the roof are barely visible from the street in my historic neighborhood.”
Deane Cody in front of her house with newly-installed solar panels
With next steps in hand, the webinar presenters sent attendees off to consider which actions make the most sense for their organization or household. The Climate is Everybody’s Business team can’t wait to see what energy accomplishments unfold in the remainder of the month and beyond!
Brookline’s Climate is Everybody’s Business is a project of Climate Action Brookline in collaboration with Mothers Out Front, the Brookline Chamber of Commerce, the Ad Hoc Committee on Climate Action Business Outreach, and Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants and is generously sponsored by The Hamilton Company Charitable Foundation, Eversource, Brookline Bank, Climate Action Brookline, Chestnut Hill Realty, the New England Grassroots Environmental Fund and the Brookline Community Foundation.
Additional partners for Energy Awareness Month include the Brookline Select Board’s Climate Action Committee, the Small Business Development Committee, the Coolidge Corner Merchants Association, the Brookline Village Business Association, Massachusetts Interfaith Power and Light and Brookline Rotary.
Written by Casey Maslan, a recent graduate of Boston College and contributing writer for Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants.
