A good summary of the info we heard at a recent Porter Square Neighborhood Association meeting: * Live Better Porter Square project Meghan Shaw, who is Community Outreach Director for the Cambridge Energy Alliance, spoke about CEA's new 3-4 month pilot project. "Live Better Porter Square" is intended to bring together faith groups, schools, community gardeners, business leaders, students and more, to encourage thinking and acting locally about energy efficiency. They have chosen to start in Porter Square because of the existence of active neighborhood groups and involved merchants. Last year 550 Tags Hardware customers took advantage of CEA's $125 voucher offer to swap old air conditioners for new ones. The core of the program is free energy audits for homeowners. Tags and other stores will give you a $10 coupon for signing up for an audit. Or, you can sign up local schools which then get the $10. You have a choice of auditing companies. After assessment you may be eligible to receive free CFL's, free targeted air sealing, discounted insulation, and rebates on high efficiency equipment. CEA is looking for volunteer "Neighborhood Captains" to promote the program through advocacy, word of mouth, arranging tours, and similar activities. There will be an information meeting for potential volunteers at 6:30PM on Wednesday, February 22, at the City Hall Annex. CEA also has a solar hot water grant program to help residents and businesses to install solar hot water heating. Even here in New England a solar heater can provide 50 to 75 percent of hot water needs. References: - http://cambridgeenergyalliance.org/resources/calendar - http://cambridgeenergyalliance.org/resources/additional-resources/solar-hot-... - http://nextsteplivinginc.com/ **************************************************************************************************** Begin forwarded message: From: "Shaw, Meghan" <mshaw@cambridgema.gov> Date: February 22, 2012 12:33:51 PM PST Subject: Live Better Porter Square Bill Deignan at the City of Cambridge mentioned that you’ve been active in the Mass Ave project. I just wanted to touch base to let you know about the Live Better Porter Square program the Cambridge Energy Alliance is launching. Live Better Porter Square is a brand new pilot project to make Porter Square and its neighborhoods a better place for residents and businesses. Over the next four months we’re getting neighbors to boost the local economy by lowering their energy bills through energy efficiency and renewable energy, so more money stays in our local economy. We are recruiting people who are interested in promoting community involvement and highlighting Porter Square as a model for the rest of the city in terms of thinking locally. Neighborhood Captain Training Saturday, March 3rd Main Library – Beech Room 449 Broadway, Cambridge MA If you would like to share this opportunity with your connections in the community, please pass it along. Here’s a sign –up form for those who want to get involved or learn more. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGpiWnFVaXgzTktsM3pkeTR... Best, Meghan Shaw Cambridge Energy Alliance: Save money. Save the planet. www.cambridgeenergyalliance.org <http://www.cambridgeenergyalliance.org/> -- Meghan Shaw, Community Outreach Director 617-349-LEAF office NEW! 344 Broadway • Cambridge • MA • 02139 NEW! mshaw@cambridgema.gov <mailto:mshaw@cambridgeenergyalliance.org>