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Community Initiatives
- Residents
- Businesses and Organizations
- University Sustainability Activities
- Cambridge Energy Alliance
- Climate Protection Case Studies
- Green Buildings
- Renewable Energy in Cambridge
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Residents
Household activities result in greenhouse gas emissions. Oil and natural gas use for heating; electricity for cooling, lights, appliances, computers, and other devices; gasoline to run cars and trucks; and waste disposal all result in greenhouse gas emissions.
- Greenhouse Gas Emission Calculator
- NSTAR's Energy Efficiency Programs
- For an NStar energy audit, call 1-866-527-7283
Green Decade/Cambridge
Community organization working on local actions by residents and businesses to reduce Cambridge's contribution to global climate change
Go to Green
Decade/Cambridge Web Site
Ecoteam Pilot Project
The City is sponsoring a pilot project in which Ecoteams, small groups of people, get together seven times over a period of several months to discover and carry out actions to reduce their environmental impact. Team members use a workbook to determine their household’s environmental impact, pick steps they can take to reduce it, and track the results. Each team has about five to eight members and a coach, a volunteer who has gone through the process and is enthusiastic about spreading it to others. Team members take turns facilitating the meetings.
The teams may be based in a neighborhood, at a workplace, or at a place of worship, or they may be a group of people who have in common a commitment to taking steps to reduce their environmental impact.
For more information about the Ecoteam pilot project, call 617/349-4604, or email Rosalie Anders at randers@cambridgema.gov.
Businesses and Organizations
The following are resources for area businesses and organizations interested in reducing their environmental impact:
- Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light - provides services to religious facilities looking to assess their energy use, increase efficiency, and use renewable energy.
- NSTAR's Business Energy Efficiency Programs
- For an NStar energy audit, call 1-781-441-8592
University Sustainability Activities
MIT and Harvard are Cambridge’s two largest employers. Both are engaged in assessing their greenhouse gas emissions and have started various initiatives to reduce their emissions.
Go to Harvard
University Green Campus Initiative
Go to MIT
Environmental Programs
Cambridge Energy Alliance
On March 29, 2007 the City of Cambridge and the Henry P. Kendall Foundation launched a major new energy initiative to implement unprecedented efficiency improvements in energy, water, and transportation. A new, non-profit organization is being created called the Cambridge Energy Alliance, which offer services and financing to upgrade buildings of all types throughout the city. Where appropriate, renewable energy systems and combined heat and power systems will also be installed. To register your interest in the Cambridge Energy Alliance, see the initiative's web site at http://www.cambridgeenergyalliance.org.
Climate Protection Case Studies
These files are in PDF format and require use of the free Adobe Acrobat viewer.
Green Buildings
Cambridge has become a hotbed of green building activity. A number of buildings have used LEED and incorporate environmentally sustainable features. The Cambridge Planning Board also encourages developers to use the LEED rating system under the Project Review guidelines of the Zoning Ordinance. Special Permit applications are expected to include a preliminary LEED checklist and narrative.
- Learn more about Green Buildings in Cambridge.
- Learn more about about the City Hall Annex, a LEED Gold Green Building.
Renewable Energy In Cambridge
Many different types of renewable energy systems available that provide clean energy, avoid greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce monthly energy bills.
Go
to a Map
of Cambridge Renewable Energy Installations.
For More Information
For more information about climate protection activities in Cambridge please contact John Bolduc, Environmental Planner, jbolduc@cambridgema.gov, at 617/349-4628. The Community Development Department TTY line is 617/349-4621.
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