Boston GreenScene

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.

Dynamic and WAY Cool Mobility Solutions - Only for Europeans?

Jay Leno's Garage hosts EV Expert, Jim Motavalli!

by Heather Burns

Connecticut resident and former Editor for E the Environmental Magazine, Jim Motavalli, has been a long-time proponent and expert of EV's. Check out Jim's new book, High Voltage: The Fast Track to Plug in the Auto Indusry.

Jim predicts that by 2020, 10 percent of all new vehicles will be either electric or plug ins. Jay goes on to say that the Chevy Volt is "the perfect car because it's electricy when you want it and gas when you need it."

 

See more in this engaging video in Jay's garage.

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 

 

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.”

bGreen Mobile Showroom

Our friends over at bGreen have recently completed their mobile showroom and were just covered by the Boston Globe's Innovation Economy.  bGreen founders Barry Greenstein and Lee Schneider have been working hard to ensure that living green is second nature and we are excited to see this green Boston start-up getting recognition.  Check out bGreen for your green lifestyle and building needs and be sure to keep your eye out for the bGreen mobile showroom!

5 Ways Boston Could Be More Environmentally Friendly

by Louise Baker

The city of Boston, Massachusetts is one of the most historically significant in the entire United States. From the Boston Tea Party to the famous ride of Paul Revere, Boston was a focal point for America in its fight for Independence from the British. Well known as a center for higher education, Boston and the immediate surrounding area is the home of Harvard, MIT, Boston University, Northeastern and dozens of other colleges and universities. It is also a very beautiful and picturesque city. While there is widespread consensus that it is important to keep Boston beautiful, talk is not enough. Following are 5 ways Boston could be more environmentally friendly. 

Alternative Transportation

The city of Boston could pass a law requiring more use of environmentally positive modes of transportation. They would reward good behavior and penalize non-compliance. You don't have to drive a car to get around the city. Cars are a major source of air pollution and discouraging their use could have a very positive effect on the environment. Boston has a very good public transportation system that can get you just about anywhere you want or need to go. Instead of driving, you could decide to take the "T" (Boston's subway system) when traveling around Boston and the surrounding cities. Buses can move a large number of people in a much more efficient way than an automobile. As a college town, taking a bike to get from point A to point B, is pretty common and it is environmentally friendly. Finally, Boston is a great walking city. Quincy Marketplace, Cambridge and the riverfront are great places to take a stroll and leave the car behind. 

Driving Fuel Efficient Cars

Boston could have an incentive system for driving more fuel efficient cars. They might offer free parking if you have a fuel efficient car or give you a break on your city taxes. Most people still need to drive. If you are going to drive around the city, think about replacing your gas guzzling SUV with a more efficient, smaller car. If you can get 30 miles per gallon, you'll be using less fossil fuel and also saving a bunch of money at the gas pump. Small cars. Hybrid Cars. Electric cars. Buy one and you'll be doing your small part to help Boston be a little more environmentally friendly. 

Replace Incandescent Lighting with High Efficiency Lighting

The city of Boston could require all buildings to have energy efficient lighting or you could get fined. This is a very simple way to have a big impact on energy usage in Boston. Lighting technology has been advancing rapidly in recent years. Those "twisty" light bulbs are now selling for much more affordable prices then when they were first introduced. Fluorescent lighting consumes far less energy than incandescent lighting. The most promising new lighting that can have a mass appeal is LED lighting. If all the businesses in the tall buildings in the downtown area eventually converted to LED lighting, it would take only a small fraction of the energy it now takes to light up the city.

Recycle

The city of Boston could subsidize recycling making it more worthwhile to be conscientious and recycle. They might double the going rate for aluminum cans or set up special recycling stations where it would be convenient for the general public. Save your cans, save your bottles. Cardboard and newspaper can be recycled. Clothes can be recycled too. Instead of always going for "new", consider quality used merchandise. 

Stop Littering!

Heavy fines for littering would discourage the careless practice. The city could hire enforcement agents who would be ready to ticket anyone they caught littering. Take it upon yourself to make an effort to throw your trash in a garbage can. When you see a plastic bottle or a stray candy wrapper, pick it up! Deposit it in the nearest receptacle. Do your part to keep Boston environmentally friendly.

Louise Baker is a freelance journalist and blogger who most recently wrote about online degree programs for the Zen College Life blog.

Biking with The ‘Boston’: An Interview with David Montague

By Taro Muso and Sylvia Rozwadowska

Spurred by a summer day in March, we headed to our local bike shop where we happened across an unusually sturdy, rapidly folding bicycle, the ‘Boston’ by Montague. Thinking such a bike would be of interest to green-minded commuters, we visited the company’s Cambridge headquarters to meet inventor, entrepreneur, and MIT alumnus, David Montague, who founded Montague Bicycles as a graduate student 20+ years ago.

Why did you name your most recent model ‘Boston’? Do you think Boston is an especially favorable environment for cyclists?

Boston has become more bicycle friendly over the years, thanks to Mayor Menino’s initiative in establishing the Boston Bikes program, led by (2000 Sydney Games Olympian) Nicole Freedman, but Boston still faces some challenges before becoming a truly bicycle-friendly city.

Safety is the number one issue. An old city like Boston was never designed with bicycles and cars in mind. You can convince people that cycling is healthy, eco-friendly and fun, but Boston needs to address safety. Mayor Menino himself has been hit twice by cars while riding a bicycle, so we know that the Mayor is very interested in this problem.

How do other old cities address safety?

One way might be to increase taxes for automobiles, especially for the ones that operate near the city. Another way might be to designate certain streets for bicycles only and others for cars only.

How about safety features on the bicycles themselves?

Thirty years ago, my father Harry Montague invented a full-size folding bicycle that was both portable and high-performance. Since then, we’ve constantly innovated our technology into what we now call the F.I.T. System, which makes our bikes the strongest folding bikes on the market. In designing the Montague Boston, we asked our engineers in Boston, “What do you want to ride?”, and they built it.

Local, Sustainable, Foldable: Montague's Urban Bike

By Dan Burgess

  
 

If you live in Boston and a bike is your main mode of transportation, you know that daily storage of your two-wheeled chariot can be a pain.  You lug it up three flights of stairs to your apartment and have likely scuffed the stairwell or gotten grease on your pants.  When you finally get the bike into your studio, you lean it against your bureau only to have it fall down while you are cooking dinner.  This same series of events happens each morning on your way to work and every night when you get home.  The folks at Montague in Cambridge have aimed to fix your bike commuting conundrums with the release of their new foldable bike, the Boston.

Montague, founded in 1987 by MIT graduate David Montague, is a local company which specializes in producing full-size bikes that fold.  Since Montague started, they have partnered with General Motors, BMW and the US Military to produce bikes that integrate their Folding Integrated Technology (F.I.T).  Their new bike, dubbed the Boston after our amazingly active city, is the first ever 700c folding single speed bike and is perfect for the sustainably-minded urban commuter.  

Recently, I had a chance to see a demo of the Montague bike at our Green Mixer.  Before seeing the demo, I was skeptical that a bike could be sturdy enough for urban use and still fold.  After seeing it in person, however, I’ve added it to my birthday list.  The Boston is light, sturdy, and folds in 20 seconds.  As an added plus, the bike is attractive and has a simple, yet elegant design that any rider can love. 

The next time you’re squeezing your bike into the elevator or trudging it up your stairs after work, imagine not having to carefully maneuver it up to your abode.  Think about not having to scuff your walls or your pants at each flight of stairs.  Picture having a foldable bike that you can tuck away in your closet that doesn’t take up half of your apartment.  After your done day dreaming, visit Montague and get yourself the Boston.

For a video on how the bike folds, check out Montague’s online demo.

    

Boston Event: Green Mixer - March 18th at Cafeteria

 

You are invited to an exciting social event in Boston, the Green Mixer!  This event will bring Boston’s local sustainability-oriented companies and an eco-conscious crowd together in a friendly, intimate atmosphere.  In this setting, we can raise awareness of environmentally responsible consumer choices, provide an informal shopping experience, and socialize, have fun and make new friends. Cafeteria Restaurant will serve complimentary appetizers, and, at two cash bars, organic cocktails.

Who: You and your friends

When: Thursday, March 18th, 5-11pm - Show up any time, it's come and go!

Where: Cafeteria, 279 Newbury Street, Boston

Cost: FREE

Also, premiering at this event: The Montague Boston Bike!  The Montague Boston Bike is the world's first full-size single-speed folding bike!  It is cutting-edge, born from the mind of an MIT grad, and named after our city.  While it won't be released at Wheelworks until March, it will be available to try at the Mixer all evening!