Green initiatives building momentum
Last night’s Lowell Green Drinks volunteer event at the Brewhouse brought dozens of folks out to learn more about how to get involved in this growing movement as well as get firsthand information from local groups working to improve our environment, such as Keep Lowell Beautiful, Clean Canals, Toxic Use Reduction Institute, Interfaith Power & Light, and members of the city’s new Green Building Commission (website under construction). The commission, which the city manager established in October to help make Lowell a “greener” city, is comprised of a public-private team of business professionals, concerned citizens, students, and university representatives. At last night’s meeting, they distributed a flyer of Ten Easy Steps to Save Energy and Money, which you can see for yourself by checking:
Ten Easy Steps to Save Energy & Money
1) Turn off the lights when not in use. Also turn off the cable TV boxes and phone & other battery chargers. They still use a lot of energy even if the TV is off and you’re not charging batteries.
FREE.
2) Turn off or turn down the heat and air conditioning when at work or bedtime, you could save 30%.
FREE.
3) Pull down your storm windows in the winter and replace screen with Plexiglas on storm doors. Check and/or replace weather stripping on doors and windows.
FREE-$30.
4) Close your window shades at night in the winter when using the heat, and in the summer during the day, when the sun is out, when you are using your air conditioning. FREE.
5) Install energy efficient florescent light bulbs. $5/ each.
6) Recycle more, separate your waste items. If Lowell were to recycle 20-25% more than we do today, we could save a $1M in waste disposal costs, citywide. FREE.
7) Get or give a ride to a friend. Take public transportation. If your car gets 15 mpg you save $1 buck for each 5 miles not driven! And we put one less pound of greenhouse gas into the environment, for every mile!! FREE.
8) Seal holes and cracks in your foundation and basement with expandable foam or silicon caulking. Seal around wires and pipes between floor levels. Insulate your hot water pipes and heating pipes or ducts in the basement. These steps will make your basement warmer, and prevent frozen pipes in the winter. $20-$300.
9) Insulate your basement perimeter and/or basement ceiling, your attic, and consider blowing insulation into the walls if you don’t have any. Get a home energy audit from your utility company.
FREE-$4000.
10) Install water efficient fixtures- faucet aerators and shower heads. Consider installing the brand new .8 gallon dual flush toilet. $10-$500. Buy Energy Star Appliances and heating equipment. $300+