MassEnergyInsight

Starting today, city and town officials throughout Massachusetts can use a free Web program to monitor just how much energy each of their public buildings uses and what the costs are. Peregrine Energy Group, a Boston consulting firm, developed the tool for the Department of Energy Resources, and gave municipal officials from across the state a preview at last weekend’s Massachusetts Municipal Association conference.

view the entire Boston.com Article here

Bill Gates on Energy and Climate Change

In this series of podcasts, Bill talks about why we need to develop new sources of energy that provide power without generating CO2. Among the topics he covers are the challenges with potential solutions such as carbon capture and sequestration, nuclear, wind, and solar; and why he believes the U.S. government should increase its funding for basic research in energy.

http://www.gatesnotes.com/Thinking/article.aspx?ID=104

BioChar Carbon Sequestration

This ancient technology practiced for 1000+ years by the Amazonians provides fuel, sequesters carbon, and prevents soil degradation. On a global scale, crop residue biomass represents a considerable problem as well as new challenges and opportunities. Bio-char soil management systems can deliver tradable C emissions reduction, and C sequestered is easily accountable, and verifiable. The described mixture of driving forces and technologies has the potential to use residual waste carbon-rich residues to reshape agriculture, balance carbon and address nutrient depletion.

For example, switching from slash-and-burn to slash-and-char techniques in Brazil can both decrease deforestation of the Amazon and increase the crop yield. Under the current method of slash-and-burn, only 3% of the carbon from the organic material is left in the soil. Switching to slash-and-char can sequester up to 50% of the carbon in a highly stable form.

Everyone should be stoked by this! (sorry for the pun!)

http://www.biochar.org

another link showing a step-by-step how to: The $365 BioChar Retort Kiln

Winter Farmer's Market this Thursday January 21

Please join Father Winter Thursday January 21, 3pm-6:30
for a food filled afternoon at Plimoth Plantation:

The Local Foods Winter Market will gather 3pm till 6:30pm with over 30 farmers, food makers and artisans. Sit down foods will be available to enjoy by the fire.
Sherry Malone, singer-songwriter, will perform her musical magic.
Plimoth Cinema will show the food film FRESH as well as the coming of age film, An Education at 4:30 and 7pm where Mayflower Ale, popcorn and Indian pudding will be available.
The new Plimoth Knitters Club will hold its first meeting at 6:30.
The League of Women Voters will present a Sustainability Forum on Agriculture and the Food Supply at 7pm.
The Plantation shops will be open.
Pre-orderd Local Foods may be picked up till 7pm.
Herbs, greens, root crops, pies, breads, honey, fresh eggs, dinners to go, cheeses, grassfed meats, preserves, smoked fish, etc.

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Admission to this special wintertime event is FREE with a donation suggested to see the film FRESH, to be shared with the

Greater Plymouth Food Warehouse.

350.org Vigil in Boston -Call for Climate Treaty Dec. 11th, 2009

350.org Candlelight Vigil in Boston a call for a science-based international climate treaty and effective U.S. legislation to get us below 350 ppm of CO2 in the atmosphere,because time is running out.



When: Friday, Dec. 11th 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Where: Cardinal Cushing Park in Boston (intersection of Cambridge St and New Chardon St.) accross the street from Sen. Kerry's office at One Bowdoin Square.

Green/Orange Line: Haymarket (2/10 mile)

Red Line: Charles/ MGH (half mile)

Blue Line: Bowdoin (next to park)



Post-Vigil Gathering: at the Beantown Pub, 100 Tremont St., between Park St. and Govt Center



350.org: http://www.350.org/node/13013

Grist.org is a refreshing website with environmental news

Check out http://www.grist.org/

Hopefully I can get a job writing for them.

Sustainable Marshfield News

Congratulations to our own Gia Lane and the Marshfield Energy Committee for passing the town energy audit at our special town meeting in October. The town will now go forward with a professional plan to assess ways to save money and save energy through this comprehensive audit of town buildings.
Marta McFarland attended the "Bioneers by the Bay" conference in New Bedford. She found the event to be transformative and motivating. Based on her experience, we plan to show the movie "Fresh", which is about our food system. Look for details as our friend from Trinity Church (and 350.org) has generously offered to have a showing there. Time and date to be announced!
Ned Bangs and the Marshfield Rec. Center now have a rain garden which works to eliminate pollutants from water run-off through the use of rain.