On August 11, Governor Baker signed a comprehensive climate bill into law that will hasten Massachusetts’ transition to energy free of fossil fuels, including a pilot program allowing ten municipalities, including Newton, to ban fossil fuels in new multi-family buildings. Climate activists and legislators had expressed some concern that the Governor…
Posts published in “Environment”
The Newton Cemetery & Arboretum (NC&A) has written an open letter to the Newton community offering information and context regarding its request for a waiver of a strict application of Newton’s Tree Preservation Ordinance with regard to NC&A’s planned removal of 219 trees in order to develop more burial space.…
High up on a hill overlooking the area where Otis Pettee established the Saco Pettee Machine Shop sits one of the most important properties of Upper Falls history — the Otis Pettee Sunnyside House, at 277 Elliot Street. Now the centerpiece of The Stone Institute, the building will be up…
Newton Upper Falls Historic District Commission will meet virtually (Zoom Link) on Thursday, August 11 at 7:00PM. The Stone Institute is one of the petitioners seeking approval for a solar panel installation and window replacements. See agenda and Staff Memo.
The Newton Conservators are calling on all of us to watch out for Black Swallow Wort, a non-native plant that reduces biodiversity, degrades the environment, and is fatal to Monarch butterflies. This vine has blue-green, glossy leaves, small purple flowers, and large seed pods that hang like pea pods. Dig…
Acknowledging input offered by the Newton Conservators, Green Newton has written a second letter to the Mayor, this time expressing support for a request by the Newton Cemetery and Arboretum (NC&A) for a waiver from compliance with the Tree Preservation Ordinance for its Phase II expansion. The Newton Conservators had…
The City recently announced it has named Endless Energy as its vetted Home Performance Contractor as its partner in moving forward with the 4OurFutures project – a campaign designed to encourage and assist residents in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from their homes and combat the climate crisis. Endless Energy was…
The Charles River Regional Chamber is hosting a free webinar for members and non-members on August 11, 9AM-10AM: Dispelling Myths about Net Zero & Passive House Buildings. The speakers, Bev Craig (Senior Program Manager at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center) and Jonathan Kantar (principal at Sage Builders LLC), serve on Green Newton’s…
The Newton Rotary Club of Newton will be collecting lithium-ion batteries and spent rechargeable items for recycling at the Scandinavian Living Center (206 Waltham Street, West Newton) on Saturday, August 13, from 9AM to 12 noon. Unwanted clothing and textiles in any clean condition (see details) will also be collected. More info at https://www.lithionrecycle.com…
Single-family and multi-family buildings with four or fewer units may be eligible to participate in a new pilot program, Decarbonization Pathways Pilot, being launched by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). MassCEC seeks homeowners interested in decarbonizing their homes to test a new assessment protocol that it will use to…