More info from the 27 May 2004 column
State Climate Protection Plan PDF (852K)
Save Energy at Home PDF
Concerned about the mercury in fluorescent bulbs?
Hazardous waste facility schedule
The Lexington Green (27 May 2004)
There's a new environmental organization in town called Sustainable Lexington. We are a group of Lexingtonians committed to helping the town of Lexington and its residents be the best environmental citizens we can be.
So why do we call ourselves Sustainable Lexington? Since the early 1980's, "sustainability" has been defined as "meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
Basically it means not using up all the resources so there's nothing left for our kids and grand kids. It means saving some for people who come after you. It means not "soiling your own cage."
A current topic of sustainability is "Global Warming," more correctly referred to as "Climate change" or "Climate disruption" these days. Even though there is a consensus among climate scientists that the earth is warming due to increases of greenhouse gases, debate still continues in the public sphere about whether the earth is warming at all, and, even if it is warming, whether human activity is causing it. However, we like the perspective of the newly released "Massachusetts Climate Protection Plan" from Governor Romney's office:
The same policies that protect the climate also promote energy efficiency, smart business practices, and improve the environment in which our citizens live and work.
...what has often been missing from the climate change debate in recent years is a recognition that many of the protection measures one would take to alleviate climate impacts also bring with them significant other benefits.
So, our purpose is not to convince you that climate change is happening—rather, our message and mission is that if we all do the right thing environmentally (whether it's energy efficiency, buying a cleaner and more fuel efficient car, reducing waste, not idling our cars, or finding alternatives to household chemicals and garden pesticides), we can also save money, create jobs, spur the economy, and most importantly, help create a healthier environment for our town, our children, and our future generations. Think of this as a "no-regrets" strategy for the town and its residents.
Our group assumes that achieving and maintaining sustainability is the goal of every Lexington citizen, but it's hard for people to feel they can have any impact, and our very busy lives typically prevent us from thinking about what sustainable living means. But working together as individuals and a community, we can make a difference.
So what can a Lexington citizen do? That’s where Sustainable Lexington comes in, and that’s what this column is about. In this monthly column, we will highlight a local environmental issue, effort, or success story. We'll also provide a tip on a way to live sustainably, such as how to cut energy usage and/or produce less greenhouse emissions. And these tips will probably save you money, too.
EnviroTip of the month
Here's the first tip: Light bulbs: Turn 'em off if you're not using 'em. And don't forget about computers and TVs, too. Seems silly, but that's the single biggest way to save energy and money. You'd be surprised what a difference that can make. Saving energy reduces the greenhouse emissions of energy production, a large source of this global warming pollution.
Now, think about which lights you leave on for the longest time in your house. If these bulbs are regular incandescents, you can replace them with new compact fluorescents and pay 60% less to make the same amount of light. These bulbs are available everywhere these days including local supermarkets, Home Depot, CostCo, etc. These bulbs cost only a little more, but their use will noticeably reduce your electric bill. Another major benefit is that they only need to be replaced every five years or so! Compare that to how often you replace your regular incandescent bulbs and tell me which one is really cheaper. You can also find a big selection of bulbs and fixtures at great discounts from the Energy Star Light Catalog. Check out www.estarlights.com or call 800-473-9150. Also, for rebate information on other energy efficiency products (e.g., appliances) and local turn-in events for old room air conditioners or dehumidifiers, check out www.myenergystar.com. Be sure to bring old fluorescent bulbs to the Hazardous Waste Collection day coming up on June 19.
For more information on Sustainable Lexington, or if you are interested in joining our group, please visit our website at www.geocities.com/SustainableLexington or email us at SustainableLexington@yahoo.com.