Boston GreenScene

VERGE Boston, May 13th-14th

VERGE Boston

May 13-14

7:30 AM 14th-6:30 PM 14th

Renaissance Waterfront Boston

Boston, MA

Registration Required

VERGE Boston (May 13-14) will connect business innovators, entrepreneurs, and leading public officials to illuminate the business opportunities created by radical efficiencies in energy, building, and transportation technologies.  Connect with other thought leaders and practitioners working across the diverse VERGE program tracks, including executives in energy, building management, sustainability, fleets, logistics, government, corporate financing and more.  It’s a great opportunity to get out of your silo and see what happens when people, technologies, and ideas converge. Learn more and register here.

Early Bird Price (Before April 19th): $1195.00

General Registration: $1495.00

For a Full Program of the Event: http://www.greenbiz.com/events/verge/2013/05/boston/program

To Register: http://www.greenbiz.com/events/verge/2013/05/boston/registration

6th Annual Global Environmental Sustainability Symposium: Transportation, Human Mobility, and Sustainability at CCSU

April 4th, 2013

 9:45 AM-7:15 PM 

FREE, Registration Required

Central Connecticut State University

New Britain, Connecticut

The CCSU Global Environmental Sustainability Action Coalition invites the public to learn and to teach one another about the actions that we, as human beings, must take to ensure that we live in such a way that we are able to satisfy our needs while ensuring that our children and grandchildren will be able to satisfy their own. The symposium will offer 3 classes, 2 performances, a panel discussion, a tour, and an optional attendance at the town meeting, as well as opening and closing notes from distinguished professionals in sustainability. This event is FREE: anyone can register online to show up. *Exhibitor tables are still open

Schedule

9:45-10:00 AM: Symposium opening and welcome with Dr. Charles Button and Dr. Jack Miller (tentative) at Alumni Hall

10:00-10:45: Transportation, Migration, and Sustainability in Four Worlds Alumni Hall

Dr. John Kelmelis expands upon a possibility raised by the United States National Intelligence Council when they published Global Trends 2030: Alternative World. This work explores four very possible future worlds. Dr. Kelmelis will explain what each of these worlds might mean for our future as well as what strategies we might use to make the most of each circumstance at the local, regional, national, and global levels. 

11:00-11:45: Panel Discussion: Electric Cars and Alternative Vehicles Alumni Hall

The president of the New England Electric Auto Association ( Dave Oliveria), an environmental writer and speaker (Jim Motavalli), the Senior Associates Autos Editor for Consumer Reports (Eric Evarts), and a natural gas car owner (Joe Booth) all come together in one place to talk about the real value that hybrid, extended hybrid, and electric vehicles hold. This is a special opportunity to discover what users and reviewers genuinely think about these alternative vehicles.

12:00-1:45 (*with second free registration): Water Wars Performance and Lunch Alumni Hall

While you enjoy your lunch, the Sonia Plumb Dance Company will be performing Water Wars. This is an emotionally charged piece of art that exposes the very important and very tenuous relationship that human beings have with one of our primary sources of life: water.

Need an Easy New Year’s Resolution? Green Your Office Equipment!

Via our friends at Northeast Recycling Council

What is the Challenge? The Challenge takes the mystery out of buying green office equipment, using it efficiently, and recycling it responsibly by providing a simple, straightforward process.         

The Challenge is a free program that provides public sector entities with access to tools, resources, and technical assistance to green their purchase, use and/or recycling of office equipment.  It documents the success of participating programs and provides Partners with annual sustainability reports that detail reductions in energy use, GHGs, and waste.  Exemplary programs are acknowledged through the Challenge’s awards and recognition program.

To learn more about the State Electronics Challenge, register for an introductory webinar.  There are two webinars scheduled:

• February 12, 3 p.m. eastern

To register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2523028787997809152

• March 14, 3 p.m. eastern

To register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3635301347725787392

Who’s Eligible to Join the Challenge:

• State and tribal agencies
• Cities & towns
• Counties
• K-12 Schools
• Colleges & universities
• Public utilities
• Libraries

For more information, contact info@stateelectronicschallenge.net or visit the website.

The State Electronics Challenge is funded by a grant from the EPA Region 5 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and with the support of its sponsors—Samsung, Panasonic, Sims Recycling Solutions, the Consumer Electronics Association, and the ISRI R2/RIOS program.

RFP Open for Local Sustainability Community Matching Fund

JAMAICA PLAIN, Mass. -- In partnership with the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, the Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities has announced the formation of the Local Sustainability Matching Fund. The Fund has been created with leadership support from four Network members: the Kendeda Fund, the New York Community Trust, the Summit Foundation, and the Surdna Foundation.

The purpose of the Local Sustainability Matching Fund is twofold: to catalyze partnerships between local government sustainability directors and local, place-based foundations, including community foundations, and to advance important community-based sustainability initiatives. The Fund will provide partnership investments between $25,000 and $75,000, with a 1:1 match required by one or more local foundation. The Network anticipates that the Fund will support up to ten partnership projects in the first year in two rounds in the spring and fall of 2012.

The application deadline for the first round is March 5th, and the Request for Proposals can be downloaded here. Applications must be submitted in MS Word and use the application Cover Sheet. The Network will host a conference call to provide more information on the fund and review the selection criteria. The call will be held on January 24th, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern.

A selection committee comprised of foundation representatives and urban sustainability directors will make selection decisions on behalf of the matching fund, and awards will be announced on May 5, 2012.

SOURCE: Funder's Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities

Event: Greening Government Center

 

What will Boston's Government Center look like in the next ten, twenty, or even fifty years?  The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) is partnering with private firms and local experts to ensure that Government Center and City Hall Plaza is green and accessible to all.  In December 2010, a three-day charrette was held on the re-design and now the BRA and several key stakeholders want to share these plans with the local community at a public event on Monday, February 7th.

Tim Love of Utile Inc. will be presenting the key recommendations and ideas from the charrette, and Tim Love and Gary Hilderbrand of Reed Hilderbrand will discuss their thoughts on the next steps for the green redesign of Government Center. Alex Krieger of Chan Krieger NBBJ and Ted Landsmark of the Boston Architectural College will be sitting on a panel to provide feedback on the design and recommendations. As in the last symposium, the event will provide a chance for the public to ask questions of the presenters and panel, as well as share their thoughts on the Greening of Government Center.  Should be a great event and we hope to see you there!

 

Who: You, open to the public

When: Monday, February 7th, 4:00-6:00 PM

Where: Modern Theatre, 523-525 Washington Street in Downtown Crossing, Boston

Contact: Boston Redevelopment Authority

Cost: Free 

 

EVENT: Eco-Municipalities Lecture

What do Hanover, New Hampshire, Madison, Wisconsin, Lawrence Township, New Jersey, and over 70 cities and towns in Sweden have in common?  

Answer: They are all Eco-Municipalities. 

At this event, learn how eco-municipalities are taking a comprehensive approach to sustainable change, as opposed to carrying out a collection of disparate sustainable development projects.  This event will feature speaker Sarah James, Institute for Eco-Municipality Education and Assistance (IEMEA) and a brief report from Vice Mayor Henrietta Davis about her participation in the European Capital Cities Conference in Stockholm, Sweden. 

Who: You

When: Thursday, February 3rd, 7:00 PM

Where: Main Library Auditorium, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, Lowest Level (L2 in elevator)

Contact: www.instituteforecomunicipalities.org  

Cost: Free 

Reminder: Massachusetts State Primary Day

Don't forget that Tuesday, September 14th, is Massachusetts State Primary Day.  Polls will be open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM and you can find polling location and other election information at the Massachusetts Elections Division.  If you are looking for more information about what races are being held in your area, the Boston Globe's Voter Guide is a great place to start.  Over 4 million Massachusetts residents are eligible to vote on Tuesday, let's make sure we all turn out and support candidates who have green priorities!

Greening America's Capitals - Boston and Hartford

Two GreenScene cities, Boston and Hartford, selected for inaugural award.

By Dan Burgess

As recently reported by GreenBiz, Boston and Hartford have been chosen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as two of the five cities that will partake in the Greening America’s Capitals program.  This is great news as it means a team of EPA backed designers will visit each city and will create and design plans that promote smart growth and will help ensure the future sustainability for both capitals.  

 

In conjunction with the U.S Department of House and Development and the U.S. Department of Transportation, the EPA will provide all five cities with plans for “high-quality green development that includes cleaning up and recycling vacant lands, accessing and improving waterways, providing greater housing and transportation choices, and reducing infrastructure and energy costs.”  

Specifically, the press release notes that Boston “asked for assistance through EPA Greening America’s Capitals to create realistic greening options for City Hall Plaza that can be realized in the near term. Goals of the redesign will be to create well-defined edges and entrances, provide more bike access and parking, connect the plaza to existing streets, increase green elements such as trees and vegetation for better stormwater management, and support energy efficiency and green building improvements in City Hall and nearby buildings.”

Money for your old appliances.

by Sylvia Rozwadowska

NSTAR offers you $50, and helps you save an additional $150 dollars a year!

The Appliance Recycling Program offers NSTAR customers $50 and free pick up and removal of second fridges and freezers in your basement or garage. The program is a great way to remove your appliances safely and appropriately.

Chances are, the older second refrigerator or freezer in your basement or garage is costing you up to $150 a year to run. Instead, recycle it, reduce your energy use and keep harmful materials out of landfills. They'll pick it up free and you'll pick up $50.

To sign up for a free pickup, call 877-545-4113 or visit www.MassSave.com/recycle for more information and program requirements.

A Permanant Boston Public Market

Boston needs a permanent public market and now there is a coordinated campaign to make it happen.  An impressive list of entrepreneurs, businesspeople, government officials, farmers, and community leaders have all come together to form a coalition that is building a grassroots campaign to send the message to our elected leaders.

As mentioned on this site before, building a sustainable food system is crucial to the future of Massachusetts.  A vibrant Boston Public Market would be a vital, visible step towards reaching that goal and this coaltion appears to have what it takes to make a permanant public market in Boston a reality.  So, take a second to visit the BPM website to learn more and send an email to Governor Patrick to express your support!

UPDATE: The Patrick administration has pledged $10 million to make the Boston Public Market a reality.