September 2010 updates from some of Green Needham’s partner organizations Bay Colony Rail Trail The Bay Colony Rail Trail project is an effort to convert seven miles of unused rail corridor between Needham Junction and Medfield to a shared use
Part 3: 10% Challenge Success Stories
Needham family begins with mouse problem, ends with big savings and a neighborhood garden. Read this and our other “10% Challenge Success Stories”.
Massachusetts Green Communities receive grants
Massachusetts Green Communities receive $8.1 million in grants
Green Kids Needham
Parent organization Green Kids Needham educates every Needham elementary student about the environment, acts as a model for other towns’ environmental education programs. Three years ago, a group of Needham parents joined together to create Green Kids Needham, hoping to
Part 2: 10% Challenge Success Stories
When Joanne Kneeland happened upon Green Needham Chairman Michael Greis talking about ways to save energy on the Needham Channel, she kept watching. The program sought to educate viewers about energy savings, rebates, and programs such as the HEAT Loan Program, which gives consumers a 0% loan to assist in the installation of qualified energy efficient home improvements. “That really piqued my interest,” Kneeland explained. “I found the show fascinating.”
Part 1: 10% Challenge Success Stories
Green Needham member takes 10% Challenge, finds new motivation and needed support to make dream of greener home a reality. As the first in this series of success stories, Bill Okerman’s experience resonates with those who have the firm desire
Letter to the Board of Selectmen on becoming a Green Community
Last summer, at the Selectmen’s Goals Summit, I urged the board to make becoming a Massachusetts Green Community one of its goals. I pointed out that many of the Selectmen’s existing goals – financial sustainability, energy savings, effective use of resources, increasing town revenue, economic development, improving health and welfare, instituting environmentally sound practices – are Green Community goals. Meeting the requirements to become a Green Community would in fact advance those goals.
Town Meeting approves zoning for Met Tower
Evaluation of the potential for wind power at Needham’s RTS took an important step forward when Town Meeting approved two zoning articles permitting the erection of a temporary Met Tower (“Meteorological Tower”) to measure the wind at the RTS. On
Home Energy Efficiency Improvement Seminars
Green Needham’s Home Energy Efficiency Improvement seminars are 1 1/2 hour sessions aimed at making it much easier for Needham residents to identify and implement high-value home energy efficiency improvements.
March 2010 Update on Renewable Energy Projects
Green Needham’s wind feasibility study to evaluate the possibility of generating wind power at the RTS took several steps forward this month while a companion project determined that the site could also support 1 MW (Megawatt) of solar photovoltaic energy