Residential

Not only is carpooling a great way to cut down on the nasty side-effects of gasoline emissions, but it's also a lot more fun to share the grueling Monday commute with a friend. Find Concord carpool options at: http://www.erideshare.com/carpool.php?city=Concord&state=MA&zip=01742

The phrase "carbon offsets" doesn't tell you a whole lot, which most likely accounts for some of the confusing around the topic. Carbon offsets are, in fact, purchased. Carbon offset organizations are essentially fund raising organizations which take the money you spend buying "offsets" and use it in big ways that individuals may not be able to -- for instance, to fund large alternative energy projects. So the idea is, if you drive your car 1500 miles and produce 1300 lbs of CO2, then you would buy enough carbon offsets to plant 82 trees and negate that 1300 lbs of CO2. Read More »

Retro truly is rad, especially these days, and so is putting a stop to the amount of trash our society creates. Instead of buying new clothing or household goods, why not check out a consignment shop the next time you need something? You can even make money consigning goods that you are no longer using (check with specific shops for their buying and selling arrangements). Some local consignment shops include: Read More »

Coffee, arguably America's most beloved beverage, has become a hot topic due to the incredible strain that growing puts on soil and increasingly unsustainable farming practices. The good news is that 'fair trade' eco-coffee is now widely available. See this comprehensive guide http://www.thegreenguide.com/products/Food&Drink/Coffee for a greener cup of joe and put your mind at peace.

If you're looking for a life revamp, check out the two Drop Off Swap Off days held each year by the Town of Concord to encourage residents to recycle unwanted household items. See: http://www.concordnet.org/Pages/ConcordMA_Recycle/dropoff

In about 85% of dry-cleaning shops, perchloroethylene (or “perc”) is used, a chemical that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers both a health and environmental hazard. So before you drop off that stack of shirts that will probably survive your delicate cycle anyway, learn more about the environmental impact of dry cleaning and about green dry cleaners: http://www.ucsusa.org/publications/greentips/do-green-dry-cleaners-exist...

"Massachusetts offers a personal income tax deduction for any income received from the sale of a patent or royalty income from a patent deemed beneficial for energy conservation or alternative energy development." -DSIRE site

For more information view Personal Exemption.

For homes with electric heat, rebates of up to $1,000 will be offered for the cost of certain weatherization measures, from the Concord Light Plant. Plans include rebates of 40% on the cost of ceiling, floor, wall, duct, and pipe insulation, HVAC dust sealing, and general air sealing including blower door testing. For more details, contact concordlight@concordma.gov or call 978-318-3151.

Learn about how much energy you're using -- for free! The Concord Municipal Light Plant offers free energy audits to residential and commercial customers. Residential customers call 888-772-4242 for on-the-spot energy-saving advice and/or to schedule an audit. Commercial customers call 978-318-3101 for details.

Other energy audit providers: Read More »

When you need good answers, go straight to the source. Call the Concord Municipal Light Plant for immediate answers to your questions on saving energy: 888-772-4242. Or visit Website Hotline.