 “What‘s happening is a crime – a crime against all of our citizens, young and old, and a crime against our planet,” said Wellesley's Chief of Police Jack Pilecki in regards to the environmental crisis in his PSA a few years ago.
Wellesley's very own "Green Police Chief" Jack Pilecki will retire on June 30. His commitment to sustainability went well beyond the station's water hydration station and reusable water bottles. Chief Pilecki added hybrid and electric cruisers to the fleet; installed an electric charging station; took on idling at the schools; installed a bike repair station at the police station; and encouraged his officers to participate in the Rules of the Ride youth biking event. We wish the Chief all the best in retirement and congratulate the new Chief of Police, Scott Whittemore. We look forward to more emissions reduction opportunities with Chief Whittemore, a Wellesley native and 28-year veteran of WPD.  Wellesley Municipal Light Plant (WMLP) is anticipating a peak in the demand for electricity on June 19 and June 20 due to predicted high temperatures.
Electricity use is expected to peak between the hours of 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on both days. Customers are asked to voluntarily cut back on energy use during this time, to help shave the peak and save the planet. This does not mean there is a shortage of electricity. Reducing demand during this period will help reduce both energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Cut back electric use by turning up your air conditioner thermostat a few degrees, turning off car chargers, dehumidifiers, pool filters, clothes dryers, and other unnecessary appliances. By 8:00 p.m. the peak should pass and you can resume regular use. Please share this information with friends and neighbors.  From the Town of Wellesley:Electric Vehicle (EV) owners can now use two new Level 3 fast charging stations recently installed at the Wellesley Municipal Light Plant (WMLP).
The charging stations are located at 4 Municipal Way. Each station has two different charging cords and is designed to charge at 100 Kilowatts (KW). Payments must be made using the FLO EV Charging app which can be downloaded from either the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. As approved by the WMLP Board, the charging per kilowatt hour fees are based on the time of day: Time Days Hours $/kWh Off Peak Saturday - Sunday All Day $0.25 Off Peak Monday - Friday 9 PM - 6 AM $0.25 Mid Peak Monday - Friday 6 AM - 4 PM $0.50 Peak Monday - Friday 4 PM - 9 PM $0.75 Each station has a maximum charging rate of 100 kW. There is an idle fee of $1.00 per minute after a 10-minute grace period for a vehicle that has been parked at a station for more than 2 hours. These stations can be used by anyone with the FLO app and will show up on public charging station maps like Plug Share.  From the Town of Wellesley:
Mandatory outdoor watering restrictions are in effect for all Wellesley citizens and business owners for Summer 2024. The requirements include alternate day outdoor watering schedules for homes and businesses, a ban on outdoor watering between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and a request to reduce the amount of outdoor watering time by 20 percent. These efforts are needed to ensure that Wellesley’s water supply is sufficient to protect the health and safety of residents, including providing enough water necessary to fight fires. This is a preventative measure to ensure adequate water supply throughout Town while the PFAS filter media is being replaced at the Morses Pond Groundwater Treatment Plant. Typically, this treatment plant supplies over 750,000 gallons of water per day to homes and businesses. We anticipate that the plant will be down between 1 to 3 weeks. If our region experiences drought conditions in the coming months, additional restrictions may be required. Outdoor Water Use Alternate Day RestrictionsBased upon street address numbers, essential and nonessential outdoor water use IS ALLOWED according to the following schedule:
Essential uses of water are:
To help maintain appropriate water levels in Town storage tanks, the DPW is also asking residents to reduce the amount outdoor watering time by 20%. For example, if you have an automated irrigation system with a 15-minute watering time in each zone, you should reduce each zone’s watering duration by at least 3 minutes. Additional water conservation recommendations include checking for and repairing any water leaks in irrigation systems, faucets, showerheads, and toilets.  The Wellesley Housing Task Force and Barrett Planning Group will hold an in-person community meeting on Tuesday, June 18 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Wellesley High School (50 Rice Street).
Keep in mind that Wellesley has a goal adopted by Town Meeting in 2021 to reduce town-wide greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 (with interim targets to reduce these emissions 50% below a 2007 baseline by 2030 and 75% below the 2007 baseline by 2040) and dense housing can help us meet this goal. The public, and especially residents, developers, business owners, and service providers are encouraged to attend. The meeting will include a presentation on the current state of housing in Wellesley and the opportunity for all participants to provide insight on a new Strategic Housing Plan for our community. Wellesley's existing Housing Production Plan was approved in 2018 and was intended to guide the Town for five years. Despite meeting many of the recommendations in the 2018 plan, the housing market in Wellesley has evolved and Massachusetts has passed new regulations, such as the MBTA Communities Law, that impact housing. As a result, the Town has determined it needs to develop new strategies to create the varied housing needed to support our community. This meeting is part of a planned community engagement program to gather input and feedback as the Town develops its new Strategic Housing Plan.  Do you need to upgrade your heating system? It might be a good time to consider heat pumps, a super-efficient heating option that also provides cooling in summer. There are big rebates & incentives to install heat pumps, but not every HVAC technician knows how to install them correctly. Hear from EnergySage about trusted installers and advice when it comes time to compare their quotes. They’ll get you oriented so you can ask the right questions and find the best answers to suit your home.
Join the popular and informative Heat Pumps webinar for a conversation with Caleb Pulliam from EnergySage and Loie Hayes, Energy Efficiency Coordinator at Green Energy Consumers, and plenty of time for questions after the presentation. Wednesday, June 5 from 12-1pm. Register here for this online event. Register even if you can't attend, and they'll send you a link to the recording afterwards.  Navigating the Metro West using Public Transportation: An MWRTA Travel Training Program for Increasing Independent Mobility
Register for this event on Tuesday June 4th 2-3pm The MetroWest Regional Transit Authority proudly offers a comprehensive travel training program to empower individuals with the skills and knowledge to navigate public transportation confidently and independently. Join us for an informal session where you will learn about our personalized training sessions, accessibility options, route planning tools, and more. Whether you are a first-time rider or looking to enhance your skills, this program is tailored to meet individual needs and support your journey towards greater mobility and freedom.  You may have heard or have been part of one of the three contentious housing submissions and zoning proposals in Wellesley over the past 12 months.
If you are interested in how other communities have internally collaborated to produce successful housing and land conservation projects, watch this recording. Examples from three communities were presented followed by respondents from Wellesley leaders at last week's panel discussion: "Housing and Land Conservation – It Does Not Have to Be Either/Or." Watch the recording here. Great food for thought.  Does the noise of the spring landscaping equipment have you a bit rattled?
Sustainable Wellesley co-sponsored an event earlier this month that offered options for making the shift to cleaner, quieter land care practices that are healthier for you, your neighbors and your landcare professionals. For ideas and inspiration, watch the recording here.  The Wellesley Food Waste Outreach Program has begun.
Help out on Saturday, May May 18 or Saturday, May 25th from 8:30-11:00am at the RDF ("dump"). We are looking for a few volunteers to share the news about the Town's Food Waste Program. Organizers will be there to help and offer you the easy 'show & tell' kit ahead of time. You will simply be asking residents at the RDF if they know about the Town's food waste program and if they have not you can share a quick overview and offer them a no cost blue composting bucket and some material about the new partnership with Black Earth Composting. Why should you help out? Recycling food waste means:
Here is how to get started:
 Bring your family, neighbors and friends to walk with us in the Wellesley Parade this Sunday from 1-3pm.
Enjoy the shout outs and cheers from friendly spectators along the route. You can feel the environmental enthusiasm in town. We will be encouraging actions that will help us meet the Town-wide goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Help us get the word out on fighting pollution on Sunday. We will be lining up at 12.45pm on the corner of Elm and Washington Streets (Pole #16). Should be fun. Strollers welcome. Email us at [email protected] or RSVP here docs.google.com/forms/d/1IRLZLOn9BOURn7sIPjloVwQztp5pZB6KFLRAABFNg7g/edit?ts=6639654a  Looking for a volunteer opportunity that has a direct impact? Town wide volunteers like you will be managing the recycling stations at this year's Wellesley Wonderful Weekend Picnic.
The first 10 volunteers that respond to this call to action will get a $10 gift certificates from Truly's Yogurt. Ask a family member, neighbor, or friend and give a helping hand sometime between 4-7pm this Sunday. RSVP at [email protected]. THANKS!  Two years ago I received an unusual Mother's Day present from my daughter, Maddy. She gave me a portable induction hot plate! I was surprised to get it as I did not ask for it, but it has turned out to be a very successful gift!
Initially I thought I would only use it as an extra hot plate, on special occasions such as Thanksgiving when we could use an extra cooking surface, but it turns out it is my preferred way of stovetop cooking! It is safer, as it doesn't get as hot as a stove, and so it is also cleaner because things that spill (like milk) don't burn. As an induction stove remains cool, it also keeps the room cooler, and there is no need to worry about gas fumes. Furthermore, an induction stove is faster and the heat control is more precise. And lastly, it is more energy efficient! The portable induction hot plate is now the first heat source we tend to use, and it has clearly cut down on our gas usage. I now am a convert from gas and I look forward to purchasing a new induction stove! Better cooking, cleaning, and safety AND better for the environment - a win/win for the modern kitchen!  You are invited to the next Wellesley Green Schools meeting next, Thursday May 16 at 9:30 am via Zoom. We will talk about plans for next year so please come share what is important to you and your school community! For those that have never been, feel free to join. Wellesley Green Schools is collaborative group of caregivers, students and staff working together to reduce Wellesley schools' ecological footprint and to inspire students to create a healthy sustainable world.
 The annual Bargain Haul at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church will be held Saturday, May 4th from 8:00am – 12pm. Bag sale 11:15. 79 Denton Rd., corner of Washington St. (Rt 16) and Weston Road, Wellesley. The enormous selection includes jewelry, clothes, toys, housewares, books, electronics and more! Admission is $2. RAIN OR SHINE!
 Volante's home field is now Certified USDA Organic! This certification is a rolling one, meaning the field will be certified piece by piece. By the end of the 2024 growing season, their entire home field will be certified. They also grow on two other fields in Needham where they will continue to use their sustainable IPM farming methods.
They will begin to harvest their first organic veggies over the next few weeks. First up are organic "garlic scallions" (a new crop for the farm), organic mint, organic lettuce and organic radishes, with more to come as the season progresses. They have posted a great deal of information on their website. Organic farming practices lower the risk of pollution in soils and waterways and capture and store more carbon. In addition by prohibiting the use of petroleum-based fertilizers and absorbing carbon dioxide from the air, organic farms have lower emissions and use less energy.  As Wellesley College graduation nears, we would like to share a poem from an incredible Wellesley College student who has been at the Wellesley Climate Coalition demonstrations on Friday's in front of Town Hall for nearly her entire college career. She is about to graduate and continue to do impressive things for this planet. Thank you Suzanna for being who you are, committed to climate action, and for sharing your many talents with all of us.
Her poem may inspire you to swing by one Friday afternoon (3-4pm) and enjoy an hour on the lawn. Wellesley Climate Coalition Poem A space for friends to discuss all that ails them, A place to feel renewed and not alone, Every Friday, strong and true, We create this space together, A community- A home. I worry for what comes next, The disastrous floods and droughts, Weather events we cannot escape, Society caving in as conflict exasperates, No one is safe- This is known. At school, we discuss what is wrong. Systemic pressures Common action problems Corporations taking advantage of communities, Exploiting both people and environment. And it weighs on us, the next generation, Knowing our future and the places we come from will not be promised. So we fight, As we watch those around burn out and tire from all this grief and pain. And still every Friday, no matter what’s going on campus or in the world We come to this hill, We say hello, and question how our weeks went. Colleagues quickly become friends, Friends quickly become a family of activists, All fighting for tomorrow. In the hopeless of nights and days and weeks and years, You all still remain, Here, in this moment, where things slow down Where taking action has meaning. So from the bottom of my heart, Thank you for all that you have taught me That hope exists, and has great meaning. For in the darkest of nights, there is always light, A star that shows us the future, And here we come, Daring to dream.  The Town of Wellesley seeks a part-time Waste Reduction Coordinator (up to 19 hours/week) to
coordinate waste reduction for Town of Wellesley buildings and potentially coordinate waste reduction in other contexts, depending on Town needs and time availability, to include Wellesley Public Schools and other educational institutions, Town-led programs, and Town sponsored events. The incumbent will build on existing and new pilot programs to develop and implement standardized waste reduction programs across the Town. The work requires a strong understanding of the recycling and solid waste industry, strong project management and problem-solving skills, experience leading teams and working with a variety of stakeholders and excellent communication skills. The incumbent works with minimal supervision and must be able to effectively collaborate and build consensus among stakeholders. Minimum Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree in a field related to environmental studies, public policy, economics, engineering, education, or science; strong understanding of the recycling and solid waste industry; strong project management and problem-solving skills; experience leading teams and working with a variety of stakeholders; excellent written and verbal communication; ability to work independently and prioritize projects; ability to effectively collaborate and build consensus among stakeholders; proficient with computers and computer software. Preferred: non-profit or government experience; public speaking and presentation skills; valid driver’s license and regular access to a car; experience with graphic design; and experience putting together surveys and reports. The salary range is between $30 - $40 per hour depending upon qualifications. Flexible schedule available up to 19 hours per week. To apply, please submit a resume and a cover letter or a Town of Wellesley application to the Human Resources Department, Town Hall, 525 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA 02482 or e-mail as a Word or PDF document to [email protected] by Monday, May 13, 2024. AA/EOE  What a great community event yesterday at Wellesley’s Community Gardens. Our gardeners shared their green thumb expertise with lots of good tips on site selection, crop suggestions, growing tips, and more.
Although there is a wait list to have your own plot at either of Wellesley’s Community Gardens, you can always help out by volunteering at the Wellesley’s Natural Resources Commission plot who donates their crop to the Wellesley Food Pantry. Learn, play in the dirt and do something for others is a win-win. Email [email protected] for more information on helping and wait list. A last minute surprise was free tree saplings and there are extra's! If you would like to plant a tree in your yard, send an email to [email protected]. Thanks to all that came to and organized this event.  Make Your Next Car an EV to Take Advantage of Federal Tax Credits and State Rebates
Are you thinking about buying an electric vehicle (EV)? Register now for a free event where you can test drive up to two dealer EVs and chat with Wellesley residents who already own EVs and hybrids. Now is an ideal time to buy an EV, because federal tax credits, state rebates, and a Wellesley off-peak charging electric bill credit are available. The Wellesley EV Test Drive and Showcase takes place Thursday, May 9th, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the parking lot across from MassBay Community College at 50 Oakland Street in Wellesley. The rain date is Thursday May 16 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. You are invited, and test drives are available based on order of registration. A valid driver’s license is required. As of April 17, the following makes and models are expected to be available for test drive:
There are plenty of great reasons to buy an EV beyond the discounted price as a result of federal and state incentives. EV owners save $500 a year to ‘fill it up’ at home because electricity is less costly than gasoline as a fuel source. Second, oil changes are eliminated and EVs require less frequent servicing, so EVs cost on average $8,000 less than a gasoline-powered car in maintenance costs over the life of a car. The initial purchase cost for eligible EVs vehicles can be offset by a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 at the time of purchase. In addition, the state of Massachusetts offers up to a $3,500 rebate (and an additional $1,500 for income-qualified applicants.) Massachusetts EV buyers who trade-in an eligible internal combustion engine, or gas-powered, vehicle qualify for an additional $1,000 rebate. The Wellesley Municipal Light Plant also offers a $96 annual electric bill credit for EV owners who charge their vehicles during off-peak hours. To learn more about sustainable mobility, including EVs, visit Get Around Sustainably. Vehicle exhaust accounts for nearly 40% of Wellesley’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Driving an EV is one way you can take personal action to reduce the emissions that lead to climate change asEVs do not produce tailpipe emissions. This event is hosted by the Town of Wellesley’s Municipal Light Plant, Climate Action Committee, and Sustainable Wellesley. About Climate Action in Wellesley The Climate Action Committee fosters awareness and mobilizes the collective action of residents, businesses, educational institutions, and town employees in Wellesley to combat the existential crisis of climate change. Through education and advocacy, we strive to reduce carbon emissions, promote renewable energy, and cultivate a resilient environment for present and future generations. The Town’s Climate Action and Sustainable Mobility Plans provide roadmaps for reaching the Town of Wellesley’s goal to reduce the town’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net-zero by 2050, in concert with the state of Massachusetts and the nation’s carbon neutrality goals. Wellesley Drives Electric, offered by the Municipal Light Plant, offers information about the savings and benefits of driving an electric car and one-on-one EV advice to residents. Sustainable Wellesley, is a nonprofit organization that engages Wellesley residents, businesses, and the Town of Wellesley to take sustainable actions to protect our climate; reduce pollution of air, land and water; preserve biodiversity; minimize waste; and ensure environmental justice. About MassBay Community College MassBay Community College is the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston, offering a robust portfolio of courses and more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Ashland, Framingham, Wellesley Hills, and online. To learn more about MassBay, visit www.massbay.edu.  Wellesley Energy Coaches are here to help you move to electric in your home, your car and your office. At NO COST.
They can offer advice about:
Get Started Here An energy coach will reach out within 48 hours to schedule a consultation. The local volunteers trained in clean energy technologies help residents explore, plan for, and initiate actions associated with home/building weatherization, efficient electric heat pump systems, solar power, electric vehicles, and other energy adaptations to save money, make our homes healthier and more comfortable, and address climate change. Questions? Email [email protected] Having a municipal utility in town, Wellesley is better positioned than other communities to transition to clean electricity. Two thirds of the Town of Wellesley's energy is from non-emitting sources, making moving to electric in our community, the healthy way to go. Transitioning away from gas is critical to meet the Town's, State's and Federal emissions reduction goals. Please try something new and do better for the next generation.  Happy Earth Day, Month, Year!
Collectively our high impact actions help increase clean and healthy air, protect our families, community and nature, while creating jobs and national security. This is the decisive moment for action, so please try something new. We can do better for the next generation. There is a lot of support in this community, so feel free to reach out to [email protected]. Let us know all you are accomplishing, big and small.  You are invited!
Monday, May 13, 7:00-8:30p Wakelin Room, Wellesley Free Library Please join a community forum – "Housing and Land Conservation – It Doesn't Have to Be Either/Or" – a panel discussion organized by the Wellesley Conservation Land Trust and co-sponsored by Wellesley Free Library, Building a Better Wellesley, and Sustainable Wellesley. Since in-person attendance is limited to 150 (Zoom is also available), please register at the bottom of the library's announcement page at https://wellesleyfreelibrary.libcal.com/event/12381780 The objective of the panel is to provide a forum for ideas as to how pro-active collaboration between community housing proponents and land conservation advocates can lead to successful outcomes. To start the panel, three individuals – one each from a land trust, a housing interest group, and a planning perspective – will describe their experiences along the way to a successful collaborative project. Each will describe their specific project and lessons learned. After the presentation of the examples, we will have three local responders – one each from our housing, land trust, and planning communities – respond to these examples. What lessons can be applied to pro-active planning for Wellesley's community housing and land conservation needs. Questions from the audience are welcomed. Since attendance is limited to 150, please register at the bottom of the library's announcement page at https://wellesleyfreelibrary.libcal.com/event/12381780  Thanks Green Needham for this story!
Right down the street in Needham there is another example of net energy home. These super energy efficient houses generate enough solar power to provide all the electricity needed for the home’s heating, cooling, hot water, cooking, and other electrical systems. Green Needham has already profiled one family’s process of deciding to build a zero net energy home and condo neighbors who retrofitted their 1860-sq.-ft units to drastically reduce the carbon footprints. Now let’s take a look at another Needham home and learn more about the building techniques that create a home with no carbon emissions and no utility bills. The construction of this home, which uses the most energy-efficient technology currently available, differs from traditional construction methods in several important ways. It’s all in the envelope! The builder is paying great attention to the “envelope” of the house, the exterior shell that separates the home from the outside world. Energy efficient houses have tight envelopes to minimize the flow of air and moisture between the home and the outside. When the airflow in and out is minimized, a house needs much less heating and cooling, which saves energy and reduces costs. To achieve a tight envelope, the builder has created a continuous exterior wrap of foam over the house studs and foundation, to keep heat from migrating through the framing to the outside world. The wall framing uses a special stud called a T-stud. T-studs have spaces in the center to allow spray foam insulation to flow through the stud itself, which further helps to keep heat from leaking to the outside. In addition, the builder has installed triple pane windows that open like casement windows and provide a tight seal when closed. But won’t the house be too tight? Haven’t we been hearing about the importance of fresh air and ventilation? But no, an envelope cannot be too tight. A home with a tight envelope keeps the air quality healthy using ventilation and air filtration systems. A leaky house allows heat to escape and moisture and air contaminants to enter the home. A tight house manages the flow of air and filters it as it enters the home to ensure that the air is as healthy as possible. No fossil fuels! The house is powered entirely by electricity. Most, if not all, of the home’s electricity will come from a rooftop solar system. Because the house has a tight envelope, its energy needs will be modest for its size, and the electricity generated by the solar panels is likely to be sufficient. The home’s HVAC system will be a geothermal heat pump, powered, like the rest of the house, by the solar panels. In a geothermal system, water circulates in underground pipes, capturing the constant temperature of the earth below, and transferring the warmth or cooling to the building. Geothermal is the most efficient HVAC system currently available, and it has the lowest carbon footprint of any HVAC system. Energy Efficient Details. Finally, the home has many interior features that will increase its energy efficiency and the comfort of the family members. The house uses radiant floor heat in all living areas and the HVAC system has separate controls for each major room. The interior walls are well-insulated, which keeps the house quiet and allows the family to heat and cool only the areas that are in use. The plumbing drain incorporates a heat exchanger called a Power Pipe. This ingenious device captures some of the heat energy that goes down the drain when you are doing laundry or taking a shower. The captured energy, which is normally wasted, is used to preheat the water flowing into the water heater so the heater doesn’t have to work as hard. This beautiful home is large, but the same technology can be used in a house of any size. The advanced construction techniques and HVAC system allow any house to use less energy for heating and cooling. And the low energy use makes it much easier, in turn, to install a solar system that is large enough to power the home. The upfront costs to build this energy-efficient home are slightly higher than traditional construction, but the additional cost will be recouped over time, as an energy efficient building is economical to run. Think of your monthly utility bills. The goal for this home is to reduce that monthly expense to zero. These technologies are easier to install when a home is first built, but some of them, such as solar panels and electric HVAC systems, can be added during renovations or when systems need to be replaced. Moving toward net-zero housing is beneficial for both the homeowner and the environment! |
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