Welcome

Green Acton is a group of volunteers working to conserve resources and encourage sustainability in Acton, Massachusetts. More

Join

Let's make Acton a better place to live—for current residents and future generations. Please join us.

Meet

Green Acton meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, except August, in one of the Acton Memorial Library meeting rooms from 7:00pm-8:50pm. All are welcome!

2013 Meetings
June 11
July 9

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Contact

For more information, please email: info@greenacton.org or join us at our next meeting.

In the News

Green Ribbon Award to ABRSD-APS

On April 22, 2013, the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District and the Acton Public Schools were awarded the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Award (ED-GRS). The ED-GRS award honors schools that are exemplary in reducing environmental impact and costs; improving the health and wellness of students and staff; and providing effective environmental and sustainability education, which incorporates STEM, civic skills and green career pathways. ABRSD-APS is one of only fourteen school districts in the US to receive this "first-ever" honor. Read the boston.com article. Find out more.

Ongoing Initiatives

Zero Waste Research and Advocacy

The Drop & Swap and Acton Clean-up Day teams are working on a new project—to understand the flow of stuff through Acton and to reduce the amounts that are thrown out. We have started looking at how to:

Increase recycling & composting
Get gently used items into the hands of people that want them
Make this all happen in Acton where we have both private haulers and a town transfer station.

One of the first projects is to find a permanent Drop & Swap location. To join this working group or to find out more, contact the zero waste group .

Solarize Acton

The Solarize Acton Community Team, staffed by Green Acton members, wishes to thank everyone involved. Acton will have 179,122 new watts of solar photovoltaic (PV) power and 200 square feet of new solar hot water panels, for a total equivalent to 188,232 Watts from 34 PV and 3 hot water contracts with 35 households and one business. We reached Tier 4 pricing, bringing the basic price per watt down from $4.89 to $4.14. New England Clean Energy, the hardworking company chosen as Solarize Acton's installer, has finished two of the installations already, and will be busy over the next 12 months finishing all the others.

Nearly 500 households asked for solar power assessments, and many more learned about solar power. By October, almost every Acton resident we asked had heard of Solarize Acton. Some households that couldn't be served by New England Clean Energy because of the specific terms of the Solarize Acton contract found other installers, and other households are in ongoing conversations with New England Clean Energy about future installations when trees get cut down or when financial circumstances change. The impact of the momentum we created together will continue for years into the future. Well done!

Acton Transition Study Group

Local Residence & Relocalization

The idea of Transition movement is to help communities find ways to deal with the large and layered challenges of peak oil, climate change, and the economic crisis. Find out more about Acton's Transition Study Group.

Rail Shuttle and Dial-a-Ride

The Town of Acton started two new shuttle bus services that benefit commuters and help the environment. Read the Beacon article.

The MinuteVan Commuter Shuttle helps alleviate parking problems at the South Acton train station. The van runs from the West Acton Fire Station on Central Street to the MBTA Commuter Rail Station from 6:45–9:25am and 5:10–7:30pm.

The MinuteVan Dial-A-Ride Shuttle takes residents anywhere within Acton and to a few locations in Concord, Boxborough and Maynard. The service runs from 8:00–11:00 AM and 3:15–8:15 PM Monday through Friday. Call 24 hours in advance to book your trip.

Outdoor Lighting

Light pollution from excess articial light causes problems for people and wildlife. Sometimes we cannot even see the stars because of unnecessary artificial lights shining upward. We can reduce the problem through community awareness, legislation (for example, requiring shielding on outdoor lights), and improved lighting technology. Read about Good Neighbor Outdoor Lighting.

Community Events

Acton Invasive Plants

Garlic Mustard Removal in May & June

We need your help—please sign up for one or more picking sessions in May and June at Acton Arboretum. Our goal is to minimize the impact of invasive plants in Acton's Conservation Areas. Read the blog about water chestnut pulling in June and July at Ice House Pond and get Jim's garlic mustard pesto recipe.

Time Trade Circle

Bartering System

Consider joining Time Trade Circle, a barter system where neighbors help neighbors. When you spend an hour of your time performing a service for somebody, you get a credit of one Timebank Hour. Whether you give a music lesson, take care of someone's pet, volunteer at a community center, or help someone get to a doctor's appointment, one actual hour equals one Timebank Hour. Find out more.

Acton-Boxborough Farmer's Market

June 16–October 20, 10am–1pm

The Acton-Boxborough Farmers Market hosts local farmers and specialty goods producers each Sunday from 10am–1pm.

Recap

Film: The Economics of Happiness

Thank you for viewing of The Economics of Happiness with us. This documentary film compared economic globalization to localization with voices from six continents including Vandana Shiva, Bill McKibben, David Korten, Samdhong Rinpoche, Helena Norberg-Hodge, Michael Shuman, Zac Goldsmith and Keibo Oiwa.

ABRHS Green Flag Award Ceremony

Acton-Boxborough Regional High School won the prestigious international Green Flag award. ABRHS was the 4th school in the United States to receive this honor! The award recognized significant success in energy conservation and other green initiatives. See the ABRHS sustainability website, and this coverage in the Acton Patch, and an article and photos in the Beacon.

Acton Clean-up Day Recap

Thanks to all who participated in the 17th annual Acton Clean-up Day from 10am to 4pm. Green Acton and AB PIP STEM donated compostable cups for the event. Special thanks to those local businesses who picked up trash near their workplace.

Green Acton's Drop & Swap

Thanks for attending Green Acton's 3^rd annual Drop & Swap at Conant School on Saturday, May 5. This FREE EVENT was an opportunity for the community to recycle and repurpose usable items.

The Great Acton Energy Challenge

Sign up and your Acton household can geta free thermal image!

Every house leaks energy. But where, and how much? That's your money radiating away from your home. Green Acton,Town of Acton and AB PIP STEM teamed with Sagewell, Inc. to offer a FREE, non-intrusive Energy Analysis to Acton homeowners. More than 600 households have joined. Find out more or sign up for The Great Acton Energy Challenge! Watch the The Great Acton Energy Challenge video.

Reuse & Recycle Tennis Balls

Ace reDeucers Show Us How

A team of four RJ Grey Jr High students called the Ace reDeucers attended the February Green Acton meeting and educated us on how and why to reuse and recycle tennis balls. Visit the Ace reDeucers Website and Take Their Survey.

  Updated: January 29, 2013

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