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Newsletter & Updates

Tell Us About Your "Green Activities"

If you, your company, or your community is doing something to increase sustainability in our area, we would love to know about it. Please write us an e-mail and tell us what you are up to. We are also interested in receiving your "Green Newsletters".

Please send information and newsletters to: 
info@ecocollaborative.org



 
              Would you like to save money,
         make your home more comfortable,
              live more lightly on the planet?


Would you like to be part of the solution to our environmental challenges?  Taking simple steps empowers us to live well with the least possible impact on the planet. 


There are many ways to make our homes green, but where to start?  Here are a list of helpful resources for saving money and the Earth's natural resources.

        Photo Credit: http://www.homeenergyinspections.com

Get a FREE MassSAVE Home Energy Audit

MassSAVE offers a no-cost home energy assessment to help homeowners make home energy improvements that save money and energy.   Call 1-866-527-7283 to schedule or visit MassSave.com to learn more

Making our homes more energy efficient is easier than ever with great incentives from MassSAVE:
  • Save up to $2,000 on home energy upgrades
    Through MassSAVE, homeowners can take advantage of a 75% reduction on the cost of adding insulation and sealing air leaks
  • 0% interest loan (up to $15,000)
    Homeowners who qualify can finance recommended upgrades, such as insulation and air sealing, high efficiency heating and hot water systems, windows and solar hot water
Support renewable energy without making an enormous financial investment

Learn about Home Bio Heating Oil

Use Your Own Reusable Shopping Bags and Water Bottles


Nurture Earth Friendly Yards 

From reducing pesticide use to composting there’s a lot we can do to make our yards more earth-friendly

Install Rain Barrels 

Benefits of Collecting Rainwater with Rain Barrels
  • Saves money by lowering water bills
  • Provides ample free “soft water” with no chlorine, lime or calcium
  • Naturally complements recycling and composting
  • Helps decrease water demand during the sweltering summer months
  • Helps decrease the burden on water treatment facilities
  • A 60 gallon rain barrel can fill with less than  ¼ “ of rainfall
    (depending on roof size and gutter system)     
  • Link two or three barrels together to save up to 180 gallons of precious rain water

Photo credit: www.rfcity.org


Rain water is ideal for:
Planter beds, organic vegetable gardens, indoor plants, car washing & topping off pools 

To calculate your roof’s yield  and how many rain barrels you need:
Multiply the square footage of your roof by 623 and divide by 1000
Note:  1 inch of rain on a 1000 sq ft roof yields 623 gallons of water

Water shortage is a growing global concern
Residential irrigation can account for about 60% of domestic water consumption in a given municipality 


        Photo Credit:  greatamericanrainbarrel.com

Make a Healthy Compost


Create a Healthy Home

Simple Non-toxic cleaning products we can create and use at home

Reduce, Reuse & Recycle

Implement Easy Energy and Dollar Saving Ideas

Go on a Low Carbon Diet: Lose 5,000 lbs in 30 Days

We can get together with our friends and neighbors and go on the Low Carbon Diet: A 30 Day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds, published by the Empowerment Institute. The Eco Collaborative recommends this user-friendly workbook to help households reduce their carbon footprint and have fun doing it.

Build an Energy Efficient Green Home

Consult with LEED certified architects and builders to ensure you build the greenest, most energy efficient home you can.

To obtain certification, builders will have to follow the Thermal Bypass Checklist, a list of construction details that ensure a tighter home. Get the Thermal Bypass Checklist Guide from the Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR Homes Program.

See ENERGY STAR construction or LEED for Homes Program for more information.

Learn about incentives for installing solar, wind or small hydro at your home.


Obtain an Energy Efficient Mortgage

An Energy Efficient or Energy Improvement Mortgage might help you get into the home of your dreams.