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| Fostering a Greener Greater Newburyport |
October 5, 2009 |
A Collaboration Among the City of Newburyport, Greater Newburyport
Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Greater Newburyport Eco Network |
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Newburyport Working to Be Designated as a “Green Community”
By J.J. Huggins
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NEWBURYPORT – The city and the state are taking a slew of steps toward becoming more environmentally sustainable, from doling out grant money to turning off unnecessary street lights, two officials told business leaders last week.
Molly Ettenborough, the city’s recycling coordinator, and Joanne Bissetta, the northeastern Massachusetts regional coordinator for the state Department of Energy Resources, addressed the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce at a breakfast last Thursday at Mission Oak Grill. The Greater Newburyport Eco Collaborative sponsored the event.
Ettenborough reviewed steps Newburyport is taking toward becoming a Green Community. The city’s energy advisory committee has been revamped and now has 11 members, the city is working with the Environmental Protection Agency, the city has completed an energy audit of municipal buildings and is auditing the 1,700 street lights with a goal of reducing the annual $250,000 light bill by 20 percent, Ettenborough said.
Ettenborough said Phillips Drive, which has 19 street lights, is an example of an area where some lights could be shut off. “If you do have any lights you don’t think are needed, let us know,” she said. Chamber member Bob Keller suggested turning street lights off one hour earlier in the morning and turning them on one hour later at night.
The crowd applauded when Ettenborough announced that Newburyport’s single-stream recycling saved the city $80,000 in its first six months. The program helps the city because more recycling means there’s fewer materials being thrown in the garbage, which decreases the city’s trash disposal bill.
Ettenborough said the 500 kilowatt solar panel array on the roof at Nock Middle School is up and running. Of all city buildings, Bresnahan Elementary School is now most in need of energy conservation, Ettenborough said. “That’s one of the schools we’re really going to take a hard look at,” she said.
Other highlights include boy scouts working on eliminating plastic bags, schools having green teams and Newburyport High School having an Environmental Club. “The kids are making the adults do a better job of recycling,” said Mayor John Moak, who was in attendance.
The city’s Energy Advisory Committee and the Greater Newburyport Eco Collaborative are working on an energy plan for Newburyport, and the city will work with the Department of Energy Resources to secure grant money, Ettenborough said.
Bissetta reviewed environmental legislation and grant opportunities for things such as solar panels, clean energy technology and training for building inspectors (click here to see her PowerPoint presentation). “We’re all partners in this,” she said.
Bissetta said that while constructing energy-efficient buildings costs more upfront, the price spike is offset by energy savings.
Greater Newburyport Eco Collaborative Program Manager Jenny Lamarre said the collaborative is looking at federal stimulus dollars with an eye toward what will work for Newburyport. “We really don’t want to miss out on any funding that makes sense for us,” she said.
“It’s not just about recycling anymore,” Chuck Withee, chairman of the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce and executive vice president of Provident Savings Bank concluded at the end of the event. “It’s about a sustained lifestyle.” | | | |
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