SUSTAINABLE WELLESLEY
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Just Thinking About You & Smiling

11/22/2024

 
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Some of our leadership team members
The Sustainable Wellesley community (that includes YOU) is thankful to live, work, study, and play in a town with a strong commitment to reducing greenhouse pollution.  So, a big thank you goes to: residents, students, businesses, and municipal officials for the actions - big and small - that you all are taking.* More shoutouts go to the state of Massachusetts for its clean and efficient energy priorities. 

Clean energy costs across the United States are coming down while renewable technologies are booming to new heights. Solar and wind electricity is getting cheaper than fossil fuels and hyper-efficient heat pumps are outselling gas furnaces. Some of this is from federal policies, but much happens on the local and state level. That is why we need you.

More voices, more people, and more actions lead to more success.

If you feel the need to DO something find out how here!

There are teams in our community you can be part of to move things forward. What resonates with you?
  • plastic waste,
  • electric cars, 
  • energy coaching,
  • event organization
  • plant-based eating, 
  • re-use, 
  • advocacy and legislation, 
  • donating
  • electric lawn equipment, 
  • home efficiencies
  • clean tech, 
  • food waste,
  • fundraising,
  • idling, 
  • transportation,
  • gas leaks, 
  • etc… 

Reach out and let us know what you are considering, or what you want help with. Let us know what you like to do; what you want to do; what you are good at; or if you just want our advice and direction.

Many thanks to all of you and have a happy Thanksgiving!

Sustainable Wellesley Leadership Team,

Scott Bender, ​Philippa Biggers, Paul Epstein (NEW!), Mary Gard, Lisa Gieger, Trish Glass, Quentin Prideaux, Jeff Prowda (NEW!), Phyllis Theermann and ​Berry Witek

P.S. You can donate here to keep all of our initiatives (& more) going:  
  • Save the Stuff waste reduction 
  • Energy Coaching
  • Electric land care equipment campaigns
  • Mobility initiatives
  • Food recovery efforts to support food insecure via Wellesley Green Schools
  • Share local, civil action ideas in WHS students
  • Composting/food waste outreach 
  • Accelerate Climate Action Plan goals 
  • Reduce waste at Wellesley Wonderful Weekend
  • Stay active in the regional  Charles River Chamber’s environmental committee 
  • Participate in July Jubilation and other local merchant events
  • Elevate environmental justice communities in Wellesley and beyond
  • Be a resource for houses of worship

*Did you know that:
  • Wellesley’s power portfolio will be 80% non-emitting this year? This is a great time to electrify your home and car
  • 2 elementary schools are now all electric, net zero ready
  • Our Light Plant launched a nearly 5 megawatt battery energy storage system
  • The Town has a Climate Action Plan to get us to reach our goals
  • + so much more. Get our newsletter to find out what is happening in Wellesley

Olin College of Engineering and Sustainable Wellesley’s Tiny High Performing Home Wins Chairman's Award During Wellesley’s Annual Parade

5/24/2022

 
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Thanks to the design and construction skills of Olin College of Engineering students Suki Sacks and Daniel Jaramillo, Sustainable Wellesley’s tiny high performing house took home the Chairman’s Award at the Town of Wellesley’s 54th Annual Veterans Parade on Sunday, May 22, 2022.

In March, Suki and Daniel met with us to scope out the building project. The first year Electrical Engineering major and first year Mechanical Engineering major went on to plan and build the home at Olin’s campus with tools on loan from the library and school machine shop with funds donated to support Sustainable Wellesley's efforts. Once the house was built, the Sustainable Wellesley team added some home-like touches and signage. 

Since 63% of Wellesley's emissions come from buildings, this project aimed to educate and encourage residents to take actions that will make their homes more comfortable, less expensive to heat and cool, while helping the Town of Wellesley meet its goal to become Net Zero by 2050. 

Although Suki had returned home to visit family before beginning her internship at VEIR, Daniel was in town for his internship at BAE Systems and decided to join in the parade. 

“Helping Wellesley’s citizens understand the urgency of climate action within their own homes seemed even more pressing with temperatures in the high 90s during the parade,” said Daniel Jaramillo. “The worsening climate affects everyone’s health, resulting in dehydration, heat stroke, asthma, heart disease, Lyme disease, longer allergy seasons, eco anxiety, and much more,” Jaramillo said. 

“We took on this project for the design challenge but also the concern for significant extreme weather impacts that communities face, including wildfires, droughts, floods and more intense hurricane seasons. Creating this house to educate the local community was one way we felt like we could ‘do something’, and we had a lot of fun working on it together!” said Sacks.

The Olin students generously volunteered their time during finals, amid COVID challenges and during dorm move out. This successful student/community collaboration earned the float the “Chairman's Award” during the Veterans Parade that honored Wellesley residents who are recipients of the Purple Heart.

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  • About
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