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sustainability

July 23, 2010 - 10:56am

Watch your Watts: Meter Available from Library

by Dave Atkins

Westwood Library now has a "Kill A Watt™" meter that may be checked out by library patrons. The meter can be checked out for a week - take the meter home, plug your appliances into the meter one-by-one and watch your energy consumption appear on the meter's screen. The meter has been provided by NSTAR.

Residents interested in conserving energy should also check out the Westwood Environmental Action Committee (WEACT) to learn more about efforts in Westwood to promote sustainability and energy conservation. For those who are interested in a "whole-house" monitoring solution, the PowerCost Monitor will give you real-time feedback on how much total electricity you are using at any given time...helping you know to turn off lights, appliances, etc.

October 8, 2009 - 2:51pm

Dedham-Westwood Water District Expands Water Conservation Rebate Program

by Dave Atkins

Dedham-Westwood Water District will pay you to save water. Replace your traditional washing machine with a newer, water efficient model, and you will receive a $100 rebate. Replace your old toilet with a new High Efficiency model and you will receive a $75 rebate. We are also continuing to offer the $50 incentive to replace an old toilet with a new 1.6 gallon per flush model.

The Dedham Westwood Water District is offering this rebate program to entice its residential customers to save water wherever possible.

Read more »
May 14, 2009 - 9:26pm

Webinar on Green Communities

by Dave Atkins

The webinar (slides PDF) for communities with population less than 35,000 was held May 15. More information is available at the DOER website.(to view the webinar on a Mac, you will need to download a plugin from Microsoft to allow playing the .wmv file with QuickTime.)

Friday, May 15, from 10am-11am, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources will present an online seminar about how communities of less than 35,000 (e.g. Westwood) can apply for Federal Stimulus grant money to invest in energy conservation. To view the webinar, you must register online in advance.

May 9, 2009 - 12:21pm

A Green Lawn Mower

by Dave Atkins

I've been looking at the Neuton battery-powered lawnmower for a while now and considering replacing my gas-powered mower to:

  • reduce noise
  • reduce carbon emissions and gasoline odor

I had concerns about the ability of a batter-powered mower to cover the entire yard, but Neuton has a new, bigger model that can supposedly handle 1/3 acre. Of course, these mowers are not cheap--$489 for the bigger model. It is possible to get a group discount and I believe some communities have organized large scale trade-ins.

Thoughts? Is anyone interested in organizing something to promote a switch from gas to electric mowers?

Check out this semi-amusing video:

 

May 3, 2009 - 11:00pm

Dedham Westwood Green Fair

by Liz

The Towns of Dedham and Westwood are hosting a joint event, the Dedham Westwood Green Fair, on Saturday, May 16 at the Dedham Middle School. The purpose of this free event is to educate and engage local residents on the benefits of sustainability. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. rain or shine inside the LEED certifiable school at 70 Whiting Avenue in Dedham.

Activities are planned for all age groups and both a D.J. and live music will set the stage for fun.

  • Children can plant seedlings, do arts and crafts, and hear from Hale Reservation's Nature Jay.
  • Senior citizens can learn about weatherizing their homes and saving money during a seminar at 10:30 a.m.
  • People of all ages can attend seminars and meet with vendors to learn about recycling, composting, solar power, energy efficient cars and more.

Vendors include Green City Growers, GoGreen Lawn Care, Simply Safer Lawn, Evergreen Solar, Solar Flair, Best Buy, Owens Corning Fiberglass, Prime Auto Group and Poirier.

  • Doc Shredding will be there all day to shred sensitive documents and later recycle the scraps. Residents are encouraged to bring documents for shredding.
  • Dedham Bike & Leather will conduct an all day bike clinic. Residents are also encouraged to bike to the fair.
  • Drawings will be held for an energy efficient television and other prizes.

At 1 p.m. local "celebrities" including Sarah MacDonald and Carmen DelloIaocono from the Dedham Board of Selectman, Nancy Hyde from the Westwood Board of Selectman, and Brad Hatfield, Westwood resident and Emmy award winner, will model "green" fashion from local thrift and consignment shops. State Representative Paul McMurtry will emcee the fashion show.

The Dedham Westwood Green Fair is a joint effort of the Dedham Sustainability Advisory Committee and the Westwood Environmental Action Committee.

April 23, 2009 - 10:48am

Walk/Ride Day Tomorrow

by Dave Atkins

The last Friday of every month is a "Walk/Ride Day" for many towns and cities in the Boston area. Originally organized in Cambridge and Somerville, Go Green Streets has expanded participation to include other communities. The idea is to walk or ride a bike instead of driving, and to wear green. On Walk/Ride Day, people who wear and go green are eligible to partake in a host of rewards. These rewards include everything from discounts at local retailers, to the chance to win prizes in an on-line raffle.

March 2, 2009 - 5:37pm

Westwood Environmental Action Committee

by Dave Atkins

Meeting will be in the Selectmen's meeting room at Town Hall.

Agenda Topics

  1. EPA Community Energy Challenge
  2. NSTAR High School walk-through and recommissioning, Thurston walk-through
  3. speakers for March/Apr/May
  4. recycling project
  5. Energy Fair 2009
May 31, 2008 - 8:45pm

Powisset Farm CSA

by Dave Atkins
CSA Orientation

I'm lucky to be one of 200 shareholders in Powisset Farm's Community Supported Agriculture program. Today, I attended the orientation session and got a quick tour of the farm along with many other people excited by the prospect of fresh, locally-grown produce all summer.

The way a CSA works is each "shareholder" purchases a share in what the farm produces. So, for about $600 you get to go to the farm weekly and pick up...whatever they have available. This adds an "adventure" element to the experience. Will it save money? I doubt it, but what we are really doing is signing up to get a steady stream of good, quality, local food during the growing season--and to support the model which encourages sustainable practices. I blogged about this in more detail several months ago on davewrites.

Early produce growingWe are lucky to have this farm so nearby--just follow Dover Road up past Hale Reservation and High Rock, into Dover and past the Dover Transfer station. Many of the people I saw today are coming from Medfield, Holliston, etc., whereas for us, it is a 10 minute drive...or, if you're feeling really environmental, a bike+trailer ride. But I don't know where we'd put the three kids for that excursion.

 

The CSA program is full for this year, but the farm is open to visitors and I belive they will be selling and/or donating some surplus. The official opening day is Sunday, June 8 at 1pm where everyone is welcome to visit the farm.

Powisset Pig

May 8, 2008 - 8:43pm

Metal Recycling in Westwood

by Dave Atkins

One item that came up during the approval of the town budget was something related to metal recycling. I believe the resident who rose to speak on this issue said the town lacks the facilities to process small metal items or something like that, so metal is no longer being recycled? If anyone knows more, please comment here.

I've been really impressed with the recycling capabilities in town. Although we have to wait 2 weeks, they take almost anything it seems.

May 8, 2008 - 8:04pm

Buy a Westwood Reusable Shopping Tote and Use Fewer Plastic Bags

by jenatkins

Each year, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide. This means that over one million plastic bags are used per minute. Billions of bags end up as litter each year. You can reduce the number of plastic bags you consume by using a reusable bag when shopping.

To help reduce the amount of plastic bags used by Westwood residents, the Westwood Young Women’s Club is selling reusable Westwood multi-purpose tote bags. "Small everyday changes can add up to a big impact," said Mary Ellen LaRose, President of the Westwood Young Women’s Club. "If every Westwood resident used one less plastic bag a week for a year we would save over 728,000 plastic bags."

Printed with the Westwood town seal and "Keep Westwood Green," the ECOBAGS EveryDay Tote is the reusable bag you are looking for. Made from natural cotton canvas (unbleached and untreated) the bag is 19" wide by 15.5" tall with full 5" flat bottom gusset and 22" length carry handles/straps. All the seams and stress points are double-stitched for durability. Generously sized, the EveryDay Tote will hold as much as a full grocery bag.

The bags are priced as follows:

  • 1 bag for $10
  • 2 bags for $18
  • 3 bags for $25
  • 6 bags for $50

Proceeds from the sales of the bags will go towards environmentally-friendly initiatives in Westwood. To order bags download an order form from the Club’s web site at www.wywc.org.

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