Sustainability Advisory Committee

Mission of the Dedham Sustainability Advisory Committee Dedham’s Sustainability Advisory Committee was established to advise the Town’s Board of Selectmen on strategies for advancing the Town’s commitment to renewable energy, at the municipal, business, and residential levels. The purpose of the Committee is to educate Dedham and encourage energy conservation and sustainability by addressing the long term impacts of fossil fuels such as pollution, global warming and climate change. By engaging the community in making smart energy choices we are forging the path for a sustainable Dedham that will have a long-lasting, positive impact on future generations. Sustainability Advisory Committee Short and Long-term Goals for 2010 Short-term Goals Continue to benchmark the energy usage of all municipal buildings, vehicles and streetlights utilizing EPA Energy Star and ICLEI CACP software. Action: Establish a baseline, gather data and create a Local Climate Action Plan for how to achieve these results. Continue to coordinate initiatives with the schools and other Boards and Commissions as part of the “World Tour”. Action: Conduct anti-idling campaign in partnership with schools Help raise awareness through a recognizable logo about the Committee and its mission. Action: Retain a professional to create a logo for the Committee Focus on organizing the Cool Mass Campaign Partner Recruitment Event and expand the EcoTeams to further reach all residents in Dedham. Action: This approach will be through the use of the Low Carbon Diet Books for Schools and Communities. Launch education and outreach program for residential renewable projects Action: Create educational brochures and host seminars to provide residents with information on how to finance and install renewables, such as solar on their home. Long-term Goals After conducting an energy audit of Town owned buildings, determine what retrofit and renewable energy possibilities exist. Explore grant funding for renewable energy technologies that would be applicable to reducing the Town’s energy consumption. Continue to work towards becoming one of the leading communities in MA in sustainability by implementing renewable energy initiatives and pursing LEED certification for new and/or renovated municipal buildings. Investigate the creation of a community garden in Dedham that would expand Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) to Dedham. Continue to work with MCAN and focus on the goal of the Cool Mass Campaign to help between 25% and 85% of the households in Dedham reduce their carbon footprints by 25% by 2012. 5. Explore with the Open Space Committee the creation of new bike and pedestrian paths that would connect people with Dedham’s natural Dedham Sustainability Advisory Committee Members Liz O'Donnell, Chair Carmen DelloIacono Deb Harrison Russ Poole Joanna Hamblin Steve MacAusland Jonathan Briggs Carol Hills Staff Virginia LeClair, Environmental Coordinator