Sustainable Winchester

www.SustainableWinchester.org
Winchester MA 01890

   
  

Cool Winchester Program
Local Green Tips and Resources for "Low Carbon Diet" Actions

This Local Green Tips and Resources list is organized by the 24 actions in the Low Carbon Diet workbook. It is intended to provide easy access to resources that can help you take each of the 24 actions; resources such as websites, local vendors, local guidelines, and additional tips. You can then contact the various sources and decide for yourself which one is most qualified and appropriate to help your household (when contacting vendors, it's especially important to ask for references).

We'll do our best to keep the information current so if you happen to come across anything that is out of date or inaccurate, please let us know so we can modify the website accordingly. And if you have suggestions for helpful additions, feel free to contact us.

We hope this helps you on your journey to "Low Carbon Living!"

  1. Dumping on Garbage - Reducing Solid Waste
  2. Am I Clean Yet? - Reducing Hot Water Used in Showers
  3. Scrub-A-Dub Tub - Reducing Water Used for Dishes
  4. Wear it Again Sam - Washing and Drying Clothes Efficiently
  5. Better a Sweater - Turning Down the Heating Thermostat
  6. Plug Your Electricity Leaks - Turning Appliances All the Way Off
  7. Chill-In - Cooling Your House More Efficiently
  8. Think Before You Go - Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled
  9. Drive Earth Smart - Fuel Efficient Driving
  10. Chew on This for a While - Eating Lower on the Food Chain
  11. Meet Your Water Heater - Making Your Water Heater Efficient
  12. Light of Your Life - Installing Energy Efficient Lights
  13. Chill Out - Sealing Air Leaks
  14. Furnace Fling - Tuning Up Your Furnace
  15. A Sustainable Energy Household - Achieving Maximum Energy Efficiency
  16. Green Power - Switching to Renewable Energy
  17. Is Your Car Physically Fit? - Maintaining an Efficient Car
  18. Befriend an Earth-Smart Auto - Buying a Fuel-Efficient Car
  19. Carbon Neutral - Neutralizing Your Carbon Footprint
  20. Psst ... Save the Planet, Pass It On - Encouraging People You Know to Go on a Low Carbon Diet
  21. A Cool Place to Work - Helping Your Workplace Reduce Its CO2 Footprint
  22. A Cool Community - Empower Your Community to Go on a Low Carbon Diet
  23. A Cool Citizen - Helping Your Community Set Up CO2 Reduction Systems
  24. A Cool School - Helping Children Adopt Environmentally Sustainable Lifestyles
  1. Dumping on Garbage - Reducing Solid Waste
     

    Comments about this tip?

    Transfer Station Recycling Guidelines:
    • Have your recycling ready in separate bags/bins for either the paper materials container, the plastic bottles/metal cans container or the glass bottles/jars container.
    • Fluorescent light bulbs and CFLs contain small amounts of mercury so it's very important to recycle these at the transfer station instead of throwing them into the trash.
    • Winchester recycle bins may be obtained from the Town Clerk's office in the Town Hall or from Cool Winchester for $15 each.
    • See the Winchester Transfer Station website for more options and details

    Click here for information on the recycling process as well as an article on the Economics of Recycling.

    Transfer Station Trash Guidelines:
    Local private Haulers:
    To reduce junk mail and catalogs:
    • OptOutPrescreen.com is the official Consumer Credit Reporting Industry website to accept and process requests from consumers to Opt-In or Opt-Out of firm offers of credit or insurance.  There is a lot of information on the site, but basically you can instruct the major credit reporting agencies not to share your information with financial institutions. This is how most credit offers find their way to your mailbox long before you've told your friends and family you moved. You can opt out for 5 years online, or permanently by filling out a form and mailing it in. You can opt back in at any time. It does require you to enter your Social Security Number; so far it's proven to be safe.
    • The Direct Marketing Association is good to help get rid of marketing junk mail (gym memberships, oil changes, etc.), catalogs, even marketing emails for your personal accounts.  The DMA is a major source of direct mailing address lists for companies.

    2.  
  2. Am I Clean Yet? - Reducing Hot Water Used in Showers
     

    Comments about this tip?

    • Low flow shower heads range between 1.2 gallons per minute (GPM) and 2.5 GPM and can be found for $15 and up.
    • Fells True Value Hardware on 654 Main Street carries at least one model.
    • Tip: Turn off shower or lower volume while soaping and scrubbing. Some shower heads have a "pause" button.

    3.  
  3. Scrub-A-Dub Tub - Reducing Water Used for Dishes
     

    Comments about this tip?

    • Fells True Value Hardware on 654 Main Street carries faucet aerators.
    • A suggested method for washing dishes by hand : Briefly wet dishes in sink. Soap a batch (putting soap on the sponge only) and set aside next to sink. Rinse first batch (with low water pressure) over remaining dishes to wet them more. Soap another batch, etc.
    • If you are looking to buy a new dishwasher, check out the following green consumer guide.
    • The Winchester Transfer Station will accept your old dishwasher for recycling for a fee of $10.

    4.  
  4. Wear it Again Sam – Washing and Drying Clothes Efficiently
     

    Comments about this tip?

    • Drying clothes on racks indoors saves energy and gives the home extra humidity that's needed in the winter. (A.F./RE)
    • If you are looking to buy a new washing machine, check out the following green consumer guide

    5.  

  5. Better a Sweater - Turning Down the Heating Thermostat
     

    Comments about this tip?

    • Fells True Value Hardware on 654 Main Street carries programmable thermostats.
    • To landlords who control heat for tenants, please note there is a MA law stating the thermostat cannot be set lower than 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

    6.  

  6. Plug Your Electricity Leaks - Turning Appliances All the Way Off
     

    Comments about this tip?

    • Borrow a Kill-a-Watt device from Winchester Library to determine energy hogs.
    • Fells True Value Hardware on 654 Main Street carries power strips that you can turn on and off.
    • There are also power strips available that automatically stop electronics from using energy without you having to turn the power strip off each time.  These can be found online (Amazon.com and other large retailers) for about $30-$35.
    • Use motion sensors for briefly lighting areas.
    • You might have to go to a larger store like Home Depot to find a good selection of motion sensors.
    • A timer wall switch may help by turning off lights after a pre-determined period of time.  There are twist knob types ($15) and digital ones ($25+).  Available at electrical supply outlets, home improvement stores, some hardware stores and online (see an example here).
    • If you're looking to buy new electronics or understand what power your current electronics draw, check out the following green consumer guide.

    7.  
  7. Chill-In - Cooling Your House More Efficiently
     

    Comments about this tip?

    • For local vendors who can provide AC tune-ups, see "Air Conditioning Contractors" in the Yellow Pages.
    • Use fans instead of air conditioning when possible.
    • Set up an area in the basement to use on hot days.
    • For additional tips or if you're looking to buy a new air conditioner, check out the green consumer guide.
    • The Winchester Transfer Station will accept your old air conditioner for recycling for a fee of $15 (includes freon reclamation).

    8.  
  8. Think Before You Go - Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled
     

    Comments about this tip?


    9.  
  9. Drive Earth Smart - Fuel Efficient Driving
     

    Comments about this tip?

    • If you feel you need to speed because you're always running late, try leaving home earlier so you can be on time while driving the speed limit
    • Idling for over 5 minutes in Massachusetts is against the law (with some exceptions) and is punishable by fines of $100 or more.

    10.  
  10. Chew on This for a While - Eating Lower on the Food Chain
     

    Comments about this tip?

    Eating Locally:
    • The only producing farm in Winchester has U-Pick organic raspberries during August-October:  Wright-Locke Farm: 78 Ridge Street. Check www.winchester.us during season.
    • Farms or Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms nearby:
      • Busa Farm, in Lexington, near Winchester (CSA): www.busafarm.com 52 Lowell Street, 781-861-1107
      • Waltham Fields Community Farm in Waltham (CSA): communityfarms.org 240 Beaver Street, 781-899-2403
      • A listing of CSAs in the area (many make weekly deliveries to pickup locations in Arlington or Lexington (or maybe where you work!)
    • Local Farmers Markets:
      • Winchester Farmers Market on the Town Common from mid-June through October.
      • Medford, Arlington and Lexington also have Farmers Markets.
    • Local Harvest.org is a website to find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in our area, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies
    • Local sources for grass-fed beef, poultry and associated products (cheese, eggs, etc): www.eatwild.com/products/massachusetts.html.
    • If you still enjoy an occasional non-veg (meat) meal, you should know that grass-fed animals produce far, far less greenhouse gas than conventional (feed-lot) animals. www.eatwild.com/environment.html
    • Sustainable and eco-friendly seafood choices are easy to find by checking out this link: http://www.blueocean.org/files/Seafood_Guide.pdf.
    • You can also text 30644 on your cell phone, type the word "fish" and a kind of fish, and in seconds you'll receive a rating on how well it's doing.

    Grow Your Own:

    11.  
  11. Meet Your Water Heater - Making Your Water Heater Efficient
     

    Comments about this tip?

    • Fells True Value Hardware on 654 Main Street carries foam pipe insulation and water heater insulating blankets. These could be installed by the homeowner (search on web for guidance) or by any "handyman" contractor.
    • Electric water heaters normally require no "tune-ups". Gas water heaters could be checked for flame function.
    • See the Yellow Pages for Gas Appliances-Servicing
    • For more information on solar hot water heaters, check out Nexamp in Andover

    12.  
  12. Light of Your Life - Installing Energy Efficient Lights
     

    Comments about this tip?

    • Compact Fluorescent lights (CFLs) use about 1/4 the power of incandescent bulbs. You can pick these up at Fells True Value Hardware (654 Main Street - 781-729-0902) and CVS in Winchester center. Some vendors also provide the MA CFL rebate forms in the store.
    • Light Emitting Diode lights (LEDs) use about 1/10 the power of incandescent bulbs, however are more costly than CFLs.  You can order these online.
    • To learn more about CFLs, check out the green consumer guide.
    • Dimmable CFLs are required if you have a dimmer on your circuit. A limited selection of dimmable bulbs are available at Home Depot and Lowes.

    13.  
  13. Chill Out - Sealing Air Leaks
     

    Comments about this tip?

    • Fells True Value Hardware on 654 Main Street carries weather stripping, outlet insulators, caulking, insulating foam, window putty and door sweeps.
    • To learn more about sealing air leaks, check out the green consumer guide.

    14.  

  14. Furnace Fling - Tuning Up Your Furnace
     

    Comments about this tip?

    • Contact your electric, gas or oil utility for advice about tune-ups, OR look up the many local contractors under "Heating Contractors" in the Yellow Pages or on the web.
    • Local heating contractors can also advise on duct and steam pipe insulation.
    • To learn more about various furnaces and boilers, check out the green consumer guide.

    15.  
  15. A Sustainable Energy Household - Achieving Maximum Energy Efficiency
    Updated Nov. 20, 2010
     

    Comments about this tip?

    Energy Audit Recommendations as of January, 2011
    • Energy Upgrades and insulation work via CoolWinchester/Next Step Living CoolWinchester strongly recommends using Next Step Living for getting an Energy Upgrade consisting of an audit and arrangements for subsequent air sealing and insulation, if recommended. In fact CoolWinchester is partnering with Next Step Living in order to get as many of these free Energy Upgrades as possible done in Winchester. Free audits, free resources and rebates may not be available when the CoolWinchester/Next Step Living option is not used.
    • By using CoolWinchester/Next Step Living, Winchester households will receive:* Free resources such as compact fluorescent bulbs and thermostats* Free home energy audits, with an initial visit and a more advanced second visit, if needed* A report of recommended insulation and air sealing measures* Rebates from utilities for certain work, such as:
      -up to 75% off for insulation, up to $2,000 rebate
      -rebates for upgrading heating systems
      -rebates for certain large appliances
    • To learn more or get a free Energy Upgrade click here on Energy Upgrade or call Next Step Living at 866-867-8729.
      * The first (free) "Screening" visit (1-2 hours) would take a general look at the house and provide some free resources such as compact fluorescent bulbs, thermostats, shower heads, aerators and air sealing materials along with some installation assistance. A summary of actions taken will be provided and a determination will be made as to whether a more extensive "Diagnostic" audit is needed. In some cases, it may be possible to combine these two visits.
      * If recommended, a second (free) "Diagnostic" visit (1.5-2.5 hours) would likely include "thermal imaging" and "blower door" tests and a more detailed analysis. A report of recommended actions and applicable rebates would be provided. For major insulation work, you may want to get a second opinion or consult with CoolWinchester if you have any doubts about the recommendations. Next Step Living provides the insulation services at set rates. You may get a second quote on your own, but some rebates would not apply if you ended up not using Mass Save approved vendors, which include Next Step Living, Conservation Services Group and Green Guild.
      * For condominium residents, Next Step Living may need to get approval from the Condo Association before commencing on an audit.
      For low income households, even more free resources are available by going through the Tri-Community Action Programs, Inc at 781-322-6284.
      *In addition to rebates, State and Federal tax credits may be available for work done. If Next Step Living does not provide you such information, obtain it from web sites or other sources.*For major insulation work, the only Winchester contractor we know of at this time is Homeworks Energy (Scott Veggeberg) at 781-820-3475 or email at hmwrks@comcast.net. He should be on the certified contractor list for gas customers. If you wish, you could request that he do your work or get a quote for the work from him. (He also does energy audits, including blower door tests and infrared scans).

    16. Local vendors that insulate and also perform home energy audits:
    • Homeworks Energy of Winchester (Scott Veggeberg) does energy audits, including blower door tests and infrared scans. A four hour on site energy audit costs $400 (before rebates). 781-820-3475 or email at hmwrks@comcast.net.
    • Pegasus Design-To-Build LLC in Melrose does a combined blower door test with infrared camera energy audit and report for $550. If they do subsequent work, part or all of the $550 fee could be credited. (781) 662-1593.
    • GreenGuild in Brookline, MA Perform a Whole House Energy Audit - including a blower door test, infrared scan, and combustion analysis - to pinpoint the leaks and problems in your home. 617-277-0290.

    Resources for renters:
    • According to Planet Green: "One of the biggest obstacles to living green in a rental property is the feeling of powerlessness to make changes. It's important to remember that as a tenant you are a customer and you deserve decent service. A good landlady or landlord should work with you to make your home as pleasant as possible. So talk to them if the property is drafty, the toilet keeps running, or heating systems are inefficient - after all, investing in improvements will help them to retain tenants, attract new ones, and it will increase the value of their property. The owner might be particularly amenable to funding improvements if you do the math to show them the return on their investment, and offer your labor free of charge, creating a win-win situation for all concerned."
    • If you're looking for a new apartment, check out the following before signing a lease:
      • Previous few months' energy bills for the apartment
      • Efficiency of the air conditioner, furnace, water heater, and other appliances
      • Amount of insulation in the walls and attic
      • Does the apartment have a programmable thermostat?
      • Does the apartment need caulking around the windows and doors?
      • Point out to the landlord that by improving the energy efficiency of the apartment it makes it more desirable to potential tenants.

    Resources for condo owners:
    Resources for retirees:
    Resources for low income housing:
    • Tri-City Community Action Programs, Inc. (TRICAP): Tri-CAP's energy efficiency programs serves low-income residents of Winchester with various services including insulation and heating system improvements. For Energy Conservation Weatherization/Heating Systems contact 781-322-4190.

    For people looking to design / build green homes or rooms:
    • Mary McKenna & Associates is a local architect who does small and large sized projects.
    • Green Depot at 100 Fallon Road, Suite A in Stoneham provides all green building materials (781) 914-3300.

    If you're looking to buy a new refrigerator:
    • Check out the green consumer guide.
    • The Winchester Transfer Station will accept your old refrigerator for recycling for a fee of $15 (includes freon reclamation). Doors must be removed.

     
  16. Green Power - Switching to Renewable Energy
     

    Comments about this tip?

    • How good is Nstar Green?
      • Is it expensive?
        • For most Winchester families 100% Green would represent only an increase in the 8% range.
        • Use our Nstar calculator to be more precise: Nstar Green Calculator
        • Consider 100% Green as it is less than double the cost of 50% Green.
      • Is it the "easy way out"?
        • No, not as long as you consider all the other measures listed in the Action Plan as well
        • Yes, if you do nothing else. But even so, it is a very effective action to take.
      • How is it effective?
        • It forces the energy generation industry to develop more renewable energy sources.
        • The more customers sign up, the more renewable electricity Nstar has to purchase.
        • It is well regulated so that Nstar cannot just fold the extra money into their existing plans
      • How do I sign up?
        • Go to the Nstar web site or phone them at 800-592-2000 and ask for "customer service". When you sign up on the web you will get the message, "Your account will be examined to ensure you meet Nstar Green's requirements"
        • The requirements: Nstar is both a supplier and deliverer of electricity. If you earlier chose an alternate supplier (like Dominion), switch back to Nstar as your supplier first and then enroll in Nstar Green. Also, if your account is delinquent, they will not enroll you until paid up.
        • You should receive confirmation of your successful enrollment on your next Nstar bill
      • To learn more about installing solar power in your home
      • Some local vendors that supply small wind turbines:
      • Some local vendors that supply geothermal solutions:
      • To learn more about other clean energy technologies: To learn more about federal and state tax incentives for renewable energy:

    17.  
  17. Is Your Car Physically Fit? - Maintaining an Efficient Car
     

    Comments about this tip?

    • Maintaining tire pressure:
      • You can find tire pressure gauges in local stores such as Fells Hardware located at 654 Main Street.
      • You might also be interested in valve stem tire pressure gauges. These devices, which replace the caps on your tire's valve stems (where you inflate the tire), display green or red to give you an at-a-glance indication of whether a tire's pressure is OK or low. A common brand name for this product is Tire Minder, and you can order them on the web from various vendors.
      • Modern computerized cars do not require annual checkups, so this question is a bit out of date. However some actions, such as changing the oil with the correct weight oil and being sure the oxygen sensor and catalytic converter are functioning properly can increase efficiency and reduce pollution.
      • If you improve either your car maintenance habits or tire pressure habits, but not both, take credit for the portion of the 1500 pound credit you deem appropriate, such as half.

    18.  
  18. Befriend an Earth-Smart Auto - Buying a Fuel-Efficient Car
     

    Comments about this tip?

    Websites that rank cars by fuel efficiency:

    19.  

     
  19. Carbon Neutral - Neutralizing Your Carbon Footprint:
     

    Comments about this tip?

    Local vendors where you can purchase trees:
    Local vendors that help maintain the health of trees:
    Some additional notes on planting trees
    • Proper selection, siting, and pruning of trees can provide cool shade in the summer and warm sun and/or wind breaks in the winter.
    • For trees to provide true carbon sequestration, an additional tree would need to be planted for every tree that dies or gets harvested to soak up the dying tree's sequestered carbon .
    • An even greater impact than planting trees is stopping the massive cutting of rainforest trees.

    Additional carbon offset resources:

    20.  
  20. Psst ... Save the Planet, Pass It On - Encouraging People You Know to Go on a Low Carbon Diet
     

    Comments about this tip?

    • Now that you've experienced how easy it is to lower your carbon footprint, encourage your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to do the same!
    • Or organize a Global Warming Cafe which usually results in a minimum of 10-12 eco teams being formed.

    21.  

     
  21. A Cool Place to Work - Helping Your Workplace Reduce Its CO2 Footprint
     

    Comments about this tip?

    Greening your office:

    22.  
  22. A Cool Community - Empower Your Community to Go on a Low Carbon Diet
     

    Comments about this tip?


    23.  

     
  23. A Cool Citizen - Helping Your Community Set Up CO2 Reduction Systems
     

    Comments about this tip?


    24.  

     

  24. A Cool School - Helping Children Adopt Environmentally Sustainable Lifestyles
     

    Comments about this tip?

    • "Journey for the Planet" books for elementary schools can be purchased at Book Ends in Winchester Center (781) 721-5933.
    • For more information on contacting the local schools:

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