It’s nippy out there. Here are some books and e-books we recommend for DIY energy upgrades you can do before it really gets cold. Find a project that works for you and get started on it soon – you’ll thank yourself when you are toasty warm and saving money all winter long!

For homeowners:

Insulate and Weatherize by Bruce Harley ($19.95) – A primer on insulation and other weatherization techniques. This title is for anyone looking to insulate their home, either by themselves or by hiring someone.

Cut Your Energy Bills Now by Bruce Harley ($12.95) – Hard to argue with that title. Mr. Harley presents 150 ways to make your home more comfortable (for you and for the planet).

For renters and homeowners:

The Honest Book of Home Energy Savings: Energy Efficency for New England by HEET (a friend of the CEA) ($6 or less depending on format)  – This e-book is specifically geared toward New Englanders. It details a variety of energy efficiency projects that renters and homeowners can undertake and offers well-researched savings estimates.

These are just a few of many resources available to help you cut down on energy costs. You can see our interactive home map for a basic introduction to elements in the home that affect energy costs. And you can schedule a FREE home energy audit to see what improvements would benefit you the most. (Did we mention that it’s free? It’s also really easy.)

So, sit down with a cup of coffee, arm yourself with some information, and then dive in to an energy efficiency project!

Due to a grant the City of Cambridge recently received from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, owners of  Electric Vehicles (EVs) will soon have the option of charging at public stations throughout the city. Only awarded to 24 other communities in the Commonwealth, this advance in the City’s Climate Protection strategy will encourage Cambridge drivers to make the leap from the common and inefficient Internal Combustion Vehicles (ICVs) to EVs and/or plug-in hybrids.

Susanne Rasmussen, Bronwyn Cooke, and John Bolduc at the DOER grant award ceremony.

Electric vehicles have been known as eco-friendly products for years; long enough that they seem to have become an integrated part of our society. EVs and plug-in hybrid cars use electricity, which is still mostly sapped from the grid; made through the burning of coal in large power plants. What many do not know is that the burning of fossil fuels in power plants is considerably more efficient than the incineration of gasoline in the ICVs that we are all used to.

From a first look, there seems to be no barrier to purchasing an electric vehicle other than maybe lack of familiarity for some, and otherwise cost–but in reality, at least one inconvenience stands in the way for some: Charging.

Until now, EVs have required drivers to charge at home or at private charging stations.  While Massachusetts does provide a $2,000 incentive for home charging station equipment, a need to charge outside the home pervades.

When all is said and done there will be at least seven new stations in Cambridge, provided through a public-private partnership between Coulomb Technologies and the State of Massachusetts. Right now the stations are still being set up and agreed upon by partners with the City, but you can be sure that you’ll be able to charge in Porter Square, at the Cambridgeside Galleria, and in the DPW lot near Inman Square before long.  Hours of availability, pricing, and more exact locations will come out as they are locked down!

Keep an eye on Coulomb’s ChargePoint station finder as they start popping up in Cambridge, and use the locator to find nearby stations in the meantime.

The City is building a new “Net Zero” Martin Luther King Jr. School. There is a “Net Zero” petition before the Planning Board that would require that all new buildings in the city be “Net Zero”. The City Council will discuss the issue of “Net Zero” in a special Roundtable Meeting on October 10.

What does it all mean? Come find out at this panel discussion of experts hosted by Mayor Henrietta Davis.

Moderator: Henry Lee, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

Panelists:
•Jane Carbone, LEED AP of Homeowner’s Rehab. Inc., Cambridge, MA
•Rob Diemer, Architectural Engineer, LEED AP of In Posse LLC., Philadelphia, PA
•Eric Friedman, Green Communities Division, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources
•Stephen Turner, LEED AP, Commissioning Expert, Stephen Turner, Inc., Providence, RI
•Jana Silsby, AIA, LEED AP, Perkins Eastman, Boston, MA

RSVP by emailing: mayor@cambridgema.gov

Where: Cambridge Public Library – 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA, 02138

When: Wednesday, October 2nd from 6pm to 7:30pm

Earlier this month, the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) released its 2012 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard. The organization releases this state-by-state comparison of policies every year, and for the second year in a row, Massachusetts has clinched the top spot. According to ACEEE: “The report examines six of the primary policy areas in which states typically pursue energy efficiency: utility and ‘public benefits’ programs and policies; transportation policies; building energy codes; combined heat and power (CHP) policies; state government-led initiatives around energy efficiency; and appliance and equipment standards.” Massachusetts’ success is due largely to the Green Communities Act, passed in 2008, which requires ongoing efforts from utilities to be more efficient each year. The law also established the Green Communities program, which encourages cities and towns to carry out sustainability efforts in order to receive grant funding and other benefits. Cambridge has been a Green Community since May 2010 and has received over $600,000 in both designated and competitive grants to improve the efficiency of a number of city-owned buildings and sites.

Massachusetts State House

This year, for the first time, ACEEE also ranked 34 of America’s most populous cities according to their energy efficiency policies and performance. Although Cambridge was not included in the study, Boston claimed the #1 spot on the list. The calculations included local government operations, transportation policies, energy and water utilities and public benefits programs, buildings policies, and community-wide initiatives. Boston achieved its superiority through its Renew Boston program, which provides free energy assessments to homeowners and small businesses and low-cost upgrades, its efficient building codes, and concrete targets for reducing energy use.

All this good news goes to show that our state and local leaders are on the right track when it comes to energy efficiency at all levels- from large utilities down to single family homes and rental units. This kind of success is only possible through collaboration between different levels of government as well as partnerships between government and the private sector. Of course, we still have a lot of work to do. Many of our old and historic homes need upgrading, our public transportation system is aging, and the state needs to set more efficiency standards for many of the appliances we all use on a daily basis. Now that we’ve achieved #1 status in the country, let’s use the momentum and grow our reputation as a leader on this issue.

Shopping for friends and family during the holidays can be stressful, and sometimes it’s hard to think of something your recipient will really use and enjoy. With this gift guide, that won’t be an issue. There’s something for everyone- from the energy novice to the efficiency aficionado. And these gifts will keep on giving, as your loved ones save money again and again on their energy bills!

• The Belkin “Conserve” power strip is for that person who leaves everything plugged in, all the time.  Their electronics are sucking up energy even when not in use. The Master Outlet (green) detects when your TV is on or off and controls power to five controlled outlets (grey) for DVD players, VCRs, etc. Two uncontrolled outlets (black) give continuous power for items like cable boxes or phone chargers.

• The Belkin energy-saving outlet has a built-in timer so you can set it to shut off after 30 minutes, 3 hours, or 6 hours. This, like the smart power strip, helps avoid costly “vampire power.”

• The Nest smart thermostat is the latest thing in home heating and cooling. Developed by former Apple and Google innovators, its smart and sleek aesthetic mirrors how intelligently it learns your heating and cooling preferences. Nest learns your schedule, programs itself and can be controlled from your phone.

• The “Nest” is on the pricier end of smart thermostats. If you don’t feel like splurging, there are more affordable options out there, like this one from Hunter.

• 3M window insulator film, as mentioned in the last post, is a quick and low-tech way to seal up drafty windows.

• Under-the-door draft stoppers, like this snowman themed one, are both decorative and functional. Lots of different styles come up with a simple Google search.

• Energy Star products are always a green choice when gifting someone a DVD player, sound system, etc. In order for a machine to qualify, it must use less energy during all phases (on, sleep, and off) than non-certified products.

• CFL bulbs and LED bulbs are a great gift for those hold-outs on your list who are still using incandescent bulbs (and paying for it with higher electric bills).

• Does someone you know love to decorate their home or yard with strings of blinking lights? Those can hike up your energy bill, especially if they’re on all season long. LED holiday lights use much less energy and are just as festive.

Or, give to a worthy organization in someone’s name. Here are a few:

Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET)

 Interfaith Power & Light

 New Generation Energy

Have a safe, happy, and energy efficient holiday!

It has been two months since summer intern, Dana Rubin, launched the Energy Efficiency after school club in Holyoke, MA.  Located in the resource section on the CEA website, are the activities that Dana has been piloting to the 11-13 year old environmentalists at Peck Middle School. So far the students have learned about water conservation, compact fluorescent lighting and the benefits to contributing time to their local community.  The group is enthusiastic and ready to make small changes in their lives to make a big difference all together.

Most recently,  students undertook designing light-switch covers that were  posted around the school, to inform their peers and teachers about the importance of turning off the lights when leaving a room. In the weeks to come, the students will investigate passive energy, compost and recycling guidelines, and wind and sun energy.

Dana shares that piloting this program in Holyoke has been a great opportunity; the students give great advice about how they enjoyed the days’ lesson and have great ideas about what we all should do to reduce our energy footprint. On the first day, the youngsters made their own journals out of recycled paper and twine. Each time the club meets, the students journal one goal to accomplish during the week.  The kids are challenging themselves to turn the water off when they brush their teeth, take shorter showers, close the refrigerator promptly and remember to turn off their electronics.

Join the kids of Holyoke by writing your own Eco-Goal Journal. The smallest behavior changes make the largest differences. Stay tuned for more updates from Western, Mass!

One of the most exciting intern projects completed this summer is a new component of our website: an online Interactive Home.

Clicking on different household components will bring you to information about DIY energy saving projects and renewable energy guides. In the house you’ll find know-how to install just about every energy saving measure available from upgrading to solar lighting outdoors to sealing drafts. Check every section of your home –  including doorways, refrigerators, lamps, boiler rooms, laundry machines, and more!

For example, if you would like to learn about geothermal heat pumps, click on the image of red and blue lines buried underneath the home. Clicking will open up a new tab, with concise and helpful information including a general definition, two different types of systems (horizontal-closed loop and open loop), as well as guidance on how to finance a project with state and federal rebates.

Take a look through all of the projects you could tackle with the most visually engaging and interactive guide we’ve ever offered! If you have more questions about home energy improvements, contact our Energy Advisor.