 We are finally getting together in person and all are welcome to talk about win-win opportunities of sustainable living. The Town of Wellesley’s Climate Action Committee and Sustainable Wellesley invite you to an informal meet-up June 22nd from 7 to 8 p.m. at the new summer gathering space at the intersection of Cross and Central Streets in Wellesley (next to where the Gap used to be). Talk to fellow residents who have changed their homes or habits in a variety of ways to save energy and money, improve health, and build resilience while mitigating climate change and its critical consequences. Meet neighbors who are considering making a change but have questions and are looking for resources. Find out about Wellesley’s significant new rebates and incentives! All are welcome regardless of where you are on your sustainability journey. Conversations will center around:
Write to info@SustainableWellesley.com for more information.   A whole lot of middle school students came out for the The Wellesley Rules of the Ride biking event earlier this month. They are excited to explore the town more independently and safely on their bicycles. Thanks to volunteers and the Wellesley Police Department, the students now have more skills and confidence to do so.
Parents that stayed while students rode in the bike trains discussed other mobility opportunities including Catch Connect which offers FREE van rides around Wellesley and useful neighboring spots for folks 12 and over Monday-Friday 6.45am-6.45pm. Learn more about the biking event, Catch Connect and the other mobility options in town here.  With the midterms coming up, how can climate activists best help get like-minded voters to the polls all over the country? Join the Wellesley Democrats on Thursday, June 23rd at 7PM on Zoom to hear the Environmental Voter Project (EVP)'s Organizing Director Shannon Seigal discuss the invaluable and important work they do.
Register Here Get ready to be inspired! The EVP estimates that over 8 million environmentalists did not vote in the 2020 presidential election and over 12 million skipped the 2018 midterms. The Environmental Voter Project identifies millions of non-voting environmentalists and turns them into consistent voters. With a 6-year track record of success, they are accurately identifying these non-voting environmentalists and efficiently converting them into a critical mass of consistent voters that will soon be too big for politicians to ignore. Feel free to email AuliBatts@gmail.com with your ideas, questions and comments.  The Ocean River Institute will be at Morse’s Pond on Tuesday, June 21st from 10AM-2PM handing out stickers and information about their Natural Lawns for Healthy Soils campaign. They are encouraging people to let their lawns grow naturally and stop the use of quick-release fertilizer and excessive watering. Natural lawns build soil, draw carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, stop harmful algal blooms, restore local water cycles to slow sea level rise, better protect homes from extreme weather events, and provide flowers for 93 species of Massachusetts bees. The event will be covered by Erika Tarantel of Channel 5 News for Chronicle. Please join them.
 The weather is good, so this is the prime time to try out new mobility options in town. More than 30% of our emissions come from transportation in and around. Like what you say? How about FREE rides around Wellesley and useful neighboring spots on the Catch Connect van service for folks 12 and over. Try taking the train to Natick or Boston; the T to the Red Sox game; walk, scoot, or bike to work, to friend's houses and to do errands this month.
While you are trying new transportation options, try combining your Amazon deliveries (maybe your neighbors too) to 1 x a week to reduce truck deliveries in town. These are all part of Town of Wellesley's Sustainable Mobility Plan which also includes more sidewalk connectivity, new bike racks and bike repair stations, more road crossing lights, bike lanes, and electric vehicle charging stations.  Two local organizations are inviting you to Beacon Hill Lobby Day on June 22nd. This is an opportunity for you to encourage legislators to meaningfully address chronic underinvestment of nature and climate, clean up our air and water and landscapes, and build communities that are more resilient to a changing climate.
This Lobby Day is scheduled while the conference committee is deliberating this month, before the end of the session in July. Your input on June 22nd will help them understand your priorities. Here are two options for you to choose from: Join members from Mass Audubon, Mass Rivers Alliance, the Appalachian Mountain Club, and Mass Land Coalition in advocating for nature and climate funding. Meet with your state legislators and tell them why nature matters to you! Their Lobby Day Kick-off virtual event is on Tuesday, June 21, from 9:30-11:00 am, where they will review talking points and get folks excited. This will be recorded and sent to any participants who can't make the kick-off. Sign up here. Mass Power Forward will be sounding the alarm (bring pots, pans, drums, noisemakers) to wake up legislators to do more for environmental and climate justice! They are advocating for air quality, siting reform, housing justice and retrofits, 100% Renewable Energy, a just transition for workers and indigenous justice! Here is the full list of bills on a letter they delivered in May. In Person Program (please wear a mask): 3:00 - 4:00 Optional Pre-Rally Lobby Visits inside the state house 4:00 - 5:30 Rally/Make Noise/Chalking 5:30 - 6:00 Social in the Common Online (For disability justice and accessibility) 4:00 - 5:00 Livestream and Tweeting RSVP to the Day here: https://forms.gle/Ksd1hncqRSZCcd2D6 Facebook Event Link: https://fb.me/e/2oqdVpXTo  Another opportunity to learn about electric vehicles is coming up on June 26th from 9-2 at the Medfield Energy Committees's Electric Car Show.
 David Green will be hosting his free "Zero Carbon, Zero Bills" webinar on Wednesday, June 15th at 7pm ET. Take 45 minutes of your day to learn about his "Fab Four" recipe and then stay on and ask your questions.
Not only will you learn alot, get inspired and giggle a bit, all attendees will receive a free copy (for iPad or Kindle) his book, Zero Carbon Home. Register here: David Green has a BA in physics from Oxford University and an MBA from Harvard Business and does not work for, or get paid by, any manufacturer or installer. Why you should take the hour? “Minute-for-minute, point-for-point, one of the best webinars I have ever attended!” “This is like a masterclass in ZeroCarbon” To read the written Q&A's from several of these webinars (this is a goldmine of useful information about cutting your carbon footprint and other building topics like humidity control and ventilation), please click here. To easily calculate the carbon footprint of your house, please click on this carbon footprint calculator.  At Wellesley High School Evolutions’ capstone showcase last month, numerous students focused on sustainability issues. WHS’s Evolutions Program challenges students to embrace their curiosity to take ownership of their learning, offering a rewarding experience. Read on to learn more. Kudos to our youth!
For her capstone, Sarah Dacey, a Wellesley High School Junior, created a video essay about the issue of marine pollution. She emphasized that although marine pollution is such a big issue and can sometimes feel paralyzing, it is important for all of us to take action as often as possible. Whether that means sacrificing the convenience of sipping out of a plastic straw, taking time to fill up a water bottle instead of grabbing a single-use plastic one, or studying and bringing awareness to this issue; it all makes a difference and we have the power to make a change. Alivia J’s capstone project focused on helping mitigate the global freshwater shortage crisis. Alivia designed a rainwater harvesting system using solar board, electric pump and a rainwater gathering pond made up of wires, rocks and sand. See photo above. Lucy Snow’s capstone topic was the negative impacts of fast fashion. She designed a website to educate the community about the issue surrounding fast fashion and to inspire people to buy pre-loved items instead. Never went to a thrift shop or consignment shop before? This site offers easy to understand information to help you make environmentally friendly choices as you start your journey. Sam M and Vanana M’s project was on farming, and Mac Munro focused on the climate change effects on snowboarding. Thanks WHS EVO students!  Big News!!
Both Wellesley’s Municipal Light Plant and the state’s MassSave Program have increased the amount of money a homeowner can get for home energy efficiency improvements. MASS SAVE REBATES If you live in a one to four unit home and get a bill from National Grid (for example, if you heat your home with natural gas or you have a gas fireplace or stove), then you are eligible for the larger rebates from MassSave. Before you can qualify for these rebates or incentives, you must schedule and complete a no-cost home energy assessment with an authorized Mass Save® home assessment contractor such as HomeWorks. Special financing options are also available through Mass Save®, including a” HEAT Loan”: 0% financing for qualified individuals. WELLESLEY MUNICIPAL LIGHT PLANT (WMLP) REBATES If you are NOT a National Grid customer, the WMLP’s new rebates are for you. The WMLP also offers a no-cost Home Energy Audit if you heat with oil, electricity or propane. Call 888-772-4242. Read on for specifics. WMLP Insulation and Air-Sealing Incentives - 50%, up to $1,500 max. for contractor installed insulation, following a home energy audit. Only for homes which are converting from oil heat to electric heat pumps. WMLP Heating & Cooling Rebates Air-source heat pumps: Up to $5,000 Only for MLP customers who currently heat with oil,electricity or propane. Contact cleancomfort@wellesleyma.gov for requirements. Pre-approval by Abode required. Integrated controls: $100 per, up to $400 Wireless-enabled thermostats: 50% up to $125 Electric Heat Pump Water Heaters: @ UEF≥ 3.2: $500 WMLP Rebates for EnergyStar® Appliances Dehumidifier $50 Refrigerator $50 Front-loading clothes washer $150 Dishwasher $50 Conversion of range or cooktop: $500 - gas to induction Conversion of range or cooktop: $100 - electric to induction Replace gas clothes dryer - with heat pump clothes dryer $250 Replace electric dryer - with heat pump clothes dryer $100 WMLP Additional Rebates Electric panel upgrade $750 Level 2 Electric Vehicle Smart WiFi charger 50%, up to $350 Electric lawn mower $75 Electric landscaping equipment $25 Guess what, there may be Federal Tax Incentives too for home energy efficiency upgrades.Go to Energy Star for details and availability. |
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