Appoint an Energy Committee in your town.

• Interact with the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative for funding for renewable energy projects. www.masstech.org
• Always explore renewable energy possibilities and efficiency/ conservation measures for new municipal buildings and for renovations projects.
  
• Communicate with like groups on best townwide energy practices.
  
• Become a resource for the community.  
• • write an energy column for your local newspaper
  • develop a 'best practice' manual for the town
  • benchmark energy use for all municipal and school buildings
  • when building or renovating, seek out rebates from the gas or electric provider or through MMWEC.
    
• Arrange an energy audit of town buildings with your gas and electric company.
  
• Encourge energy efficient retrofits
•  motion detectors/senors for lights
•  programmable thermostats
•  energy efficient bulbs and state-of-the-art light fixtures
•  modernize boilers and cooling systems
•  add insulation and weatherstripping      

• Change traffic lights and exit signs to LEDs,
  
• Purchase Energy Star appliances, http://www.energystar.gov/

Transportation

• Replace fleet vehicles with the most fuel efficient models
• Encourage carpooling, biking, walking, use of public transportation
• Offer incentives to hybrid owners, i.e. free metered parking, reduced charge on parking permits
• Replace diesel buses with cleaner models, i.e. hybrid-electric diesel engines or compressed gas engines.
• Add or improve bike paths
• Encourage policing on bikes (also discourages crime)
• Enforce no idling laws
• Use biodiesel fuel
  

Renewables

• Explore possible sites and conduct feasibility studies for solar power, wind power and geothermal installations.
• Contact electricity provider at onset of capital projects for available funding, rebates and incentives for energy efficiency.
• Seek out grants for renewable energy features. Participate in the 'Clean Energy Choice' program and win $$ for a renewable projects. www.masstech.org

Education 

• Interface with schools, teachers and religious institution.
  
  
• Arrange for municipal leaders to visit 'green' buildings. i.e. Carlton School, Salem; Centerville School, Beverly; Holten-Richmond Middle School, Danvers; Boston Nature Center, Mattapan; Newton South High School, Genzyme Building, Kendall Square.
  
  
• Arrange for municipal leaders to visit renewable energy sites.  Hull – wind power; IBEW, Rt 93- wind power; Beverly's Solar Now Greenergy Park; Cambridge Savings Bank in Newton -  solar, Trinity Street Church – geothermal; Gorlov turbine in Merrimac –  tidal power; Brockton – solar array, Mass Maritime - wind turbine. 
  
• Pledge to reduce global warming carbon pollution and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Join the 200+ mayors across 38 states representing 42 million Americans in the "US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement" For info  www.seattle.gov/mayor/climate/

Essex County Communities