Groton Local

Home Energy Efficiency and Green Building

The Energy and Green Building group is busily implementing its 2007 program. Actions include:

• Performing Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) installations for Groton Seniors through the Senior Center
• Conducted a tour of the Doyle Conservation Center in Leominster, MA as an example of "green" building.
• Conducted a "Green Building" information evening with expert panelists at Lawrence Academy.
• Presented Groton Local plans at a multi-town energy event hosted by the new Bolton, MA town energy committee.
• Conducted a workshop to build some solar hot water collectors.
• Conducted a pilot of the MCAN Low-Carbon Diet program. Will roll out the program in September.
• Establishing a household energy audit and tune-up program for seniors

Some Resources:

• Educational Series - A list of seminars and related presentations.
• MCAN - Mass Climate Action Organization
• Groton Energy Group: Low Carbon Diet
• Groton Electric Light's energy conservation page. Includes an energy calculator (gives the approximate energy consumption and cost for most home appliances) and information about Groton Electric Light's Energy Audit program and a watt meter you can borrow to measure the electric consumption of specific home appliances.
• General information about home energy audits. Note: we will have more on a Groton Local home energy audit program in the near future.
• An FAQ on Compact Flourescent Lightbulbs (CFLs)
• A checklist of actions you can take to reduce your energy use at home. Some of these tips were compiled by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, and by Rocky Mountain Institute.
• A 1-page Groton-Local list of electric energy saving tips (.doc).
• The Home Energy Diet: How to Save Money by Making Your House Energy Smart. A practical, comprehensive, and humorous book by Paul Scheckel, with just enough theory.
• Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings (8th Edition): All New Listings of the Most Efficient Products ou Can Buy. A condensed online version as well as a book by Alex Wilson et al. Great, practical advice from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.

Another online resource is Harvard Local's page on Home Energy Efficiency. (Note: Groton's situation is somewhat different, since we have our own electric department.)