Concord Sustainable Coffee
Building a Net-Zero School: Experiences from our Neighbors in Lexington and Nearby
Tuesday, May 21, 7:30 – 9 AM
Harvey Wheeler Community Center
1276 Main St., Concord
At the town meeting in April, Concord’s voters enthusiastically supported a feasibility and design study for a new middle school designed to be Fossil-Free/Net-Zero energy. What does that mean, and how do we get there? Mark Sandeen was recently elected to the Lexington Board of Selectmen. Previously he was the chair of the Sustainable Lexington Committee and has been a leader in Lexington’s climate planning and projects. These include two Net Zero schools and a detailed plan for their town to cut emissions dramatically. Mark will relate Lexington’s experiences getting the schools approved, designed and built. We expect that a second speaker will describe some of the architectural or technical aspects of these school projects.
The panel presentations will be followed by an ample opportunity for Q & A and discussion. This is a free public event. Hot beverages and delicious local goodies will be available at 7:30 AM at “The Climate Cafe.”
Cooler Concord
Sustainable
Landscaping Fair
Saturday, May 18,
10 AM – 2 PM
CCHS, 500 Walden St.
Come explore the many different ways you can make your own garden/yard more sustainable. Speak with landscaping experts & organizations to learn how to create thriving, healthy landscapes.
Discover ways to:
- Reduce your carbon footprint
- Support local ecology
- Conserve & protect water resources
- Avoid pesticides & other chemicals
- Provide hospitable habitats for native species
- Create resilient landscapes that are adaptable to climate change
Refreshments, raffle prizes, plant sale & fun activities for kids!
For more information: click here
Drop Off Swap Off
Volunteers Needed
Saturday, May 4,
DropOff: 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM
SwapOff: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
133 Keyes Rd., Concord
Concord Public Works (CPW) and ReUsIt sponsor annual drop-off days for a wide variety of recyclable and reusable items not collected at the curb. Alongside of drop-off is swap-off where Concord residents can bring things they no longer want or need and take away, free of charge, things they can use. Important specifics about how to prepare your items to be recycled or swapped, can be viewed here. Volunteers are needed. Click here to volunteer.
Concord-Area Interfaith Gathering
Environmental Potluck
Tuesday, May 7, 6 PM
First Parish in Concord,
20 Lexington St.
Come meet and share a meal with concerned environmentalists from the different faith communities in the area. Bring a dish or drink to share, learn about current issues and activities, and discuss local environmental projects. This dinner is restarting a regularly repeating series which may rotate between different congregations. For more information or to RSVP please contact: Brad Hubbard-Nelson
Massachusetts Climate Action Network, (MCAN)
A Net Zero Stretch Code for Massachusetts
Tuesday, May 7,
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
1000 Washington St., Boston
This Board of Building Regulation and Standards (BBRS) hearing offers a public comment opportunity for all those who want to see a Net Zero Stretch Code implemented in Massachusetts. This building code is an important step towards achieving our climate goals. The BBRS needs to hear why a Net Zero code is crucial for our communities.
RSVP to join MCAN on May 7th to tell the BBRS why we want a Net Zero stretch code NOW. Questions?Email us here
Add your name to MCAN’s organizational sign-on letter in favor of a Net Zero stretch code here.
We can’t wait for you to join us on May 7th!
Mother's Out Front
Door-to-Door Mobilization to protect the health and safety of our children
Now to Mother’s Day May 11
Your neighborhood
Participate in the Mothers Out Front national door-to-door mobilization for Mother’s Day. Join us here in Concord to reach out to your neighbors to help stop the construction of the Weymouth Compressor Station, natural gas / fossil fuel infrastructure.
Collect signatures in your neighborhood on postcards for Governor Baker, asking him to oppose the Weymouth Compressor Station. Email ASAP to Hewon or Rebecca, to let us know by Thursday 5/2 that you are interested. We will contact you to provide the materials and support you need. Also, let us know if your preference is to be partnered with someone else to go door-knocking with, so that you’re not on your own.
For more information about what compressor stations are: click here and about the Weymouth compressor station: click here.
Life in the Balance Film Series
Tuesday, May 14, 6:30 PM
CCHS, Auditorium
500 Walden St.
Filmmaker James Redford embarks on a colorful personal journey into the dawn of the clean energy era as it creates jobs, turns profits, and makes communities stronger and healthier across the US. Unlikely entrepreneurs in communities from Georgetown, TX to Buffalo, NY reveal pioneering clean energy solutions while James’ discovery of how clean energy works, and what it means at a personal level, becomes the audiences’ discovery too. Reaching well beyond a great story of technology and innovation, “Happening” explores issues of human resilience, social justice, embracing the future, and finding hope for our survival.
350 MetroWest Node Meeting
Community Choice Aggregation: Let’s Green Our Grid!
Thursday, May 9, 7 PM
First parish Church,
327 Concord Rd., Sudbury
The May MetroWest Node meeting will feature two local experts, Jillian Wilson-Martin, Natick’s Sustainability Coordinator, and Newton activist Cory Alperstein. They will share their tales of setbacks, persistence, and success, covering both town and city efforts to use Community Choice Aggregation, (CCA) to make a significant shift away from fossil fuels and toward renewable sources of electricity.
Monthly Meetings
Concord Natural Resources
Tuesday, May 7, 7:30 AM
141 Keyes Rd.,
1st Floor Meeting Room
Concord's Climate Action Advisory Board
Wednesday, May 15, 7:00PM
Harvey Wheeler Community Center,
1276 Main St