Swing By Common Area @ Wellesley Free Library Today!

Sustainable Wellesley's Youth Leadership Team invites you to stop by the library to learn from their imaginative and enlightening series of educational displays about Wellesley’s Climate Action Plan. Swing by the Common area at the Main Wellesley Free Library to learn what small and big steps you can take to ensure Wellesley meets its greenhouse gas reduction goal.

After interviewing town board members and doing some research they created dazzling displays for the community to learn about the different pathways in Wellesley's Climate Action Plan. Below is a sneak peak into what they learned and shared. Thanks to the students for all of their hard work!

Energy:
The energy display case informs Wellesley residents about sustainability within the energy sector and the actions that can be taken to reduce emissions. Specifically, the Wellesley Municipal Light Plant, a government organization working towards reliable and non emitting renewable energy, has put into place multiple initiatives to reduce energy consumption like the Shave the Peak and the WECARE Program. Check out the lego log home with solar as you consider installing solar panels in your home —there are currently over 140 solar systems in town already with great ROIs!

Buildings:
The buildings display focuses on how to best practice sustainability within individuals' homes as buildings are the main greenhouse gas emitter (approximately 61% in our town) of which 37% is  residents’ homes. One key takeaway is the importance of updating to more modern heating and AC systems such as air source heat pumps (mini splits) to reduce energy costs, improve comfort and, most importantly, improve efficiency! Plus, the Town offers consultants at no cost to help you figure out what would work best in your home. Learn more today by calling: 339-707-0918!

Transportation: 
Transportation is the second largest source (34%) of energy consumption in Wellesley. For those willing to take the crucial first step of breaking their routine of driving, there are various ways to reduce personal transportation emissions. Walking and biking are an easy and accessible way to enjoy fresh air while reducing your environmental footprint. Furthermore, public transit, carpooling, or Wellesley’s no cost rideshare vehicle, CatchConnect, are similar to driving in their time commitment and protection from weather, but are far more energy efficient and in many cases can also be cheaper!

Governance:
This display delves into the section of the Climate Action Plan focusing on town government’s role in sustainability, specifically focusing on the important issue of gas leaks. The display case gives a comprehensive understanding of the risk of gas leaks and how to prevent them. (Hint: the only way is to get off gas!) Governance is crucial to the Climate Action Plan because each element requires citizens to advocate in support of its implementation. The first step you can take is to educate yourself on sustainability initiatives the town is considering and get involved to advocate for the ones you are passionate about! Learn more about the candidates before you mail in your ballot or go to the polls on Tuesday, March 7th to vote. Your voice is your vote!

Waste:
The display focuses on trying to convey statistics on waste, and what people can do to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills. Wellesley has a world class recycling and disposal facility and we need to take advantage of that to reduce our emissions from waste (approximately 6%) and as a way to make money for the Town of Wellesley as they sell our properly sorted recyclables. Wellesley residents and businesses can recycle their items, reuse items and compost quite easily if you give it a try. Waste is a very visible issue for students and often the gateway topic to sustainability. Grab a free food waste kit from the recycling center and start removing food waste from your waste stream today. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that more food reaches landfills than any other single material in our everyday trash, constituting 24% of municipal solid waste. Think about that!

Natural Resources:
The ultimate purpose of this display is to educate Wellesley residents on how their land care can contribute to climate action. From growing native plants to using electric leaf-blowers, there are so many actions we can take to build a more sustainable relationship with the land around us, which we share with other organisms. The top and middle shelves display tips, photographs, and artifacts to provide practical examples and straightforward ideas for Wellesley residents to rethink their land care methods and "re-naturalize" their landscapes. The bottom shelf of the display is like a mini kid-friendly exhibit, presenting fascinating specimens like animal skulls, nests, and preserved insects (just to name a few!) to illustrate that Wellesley has an incredible biodiversity worth protecting.