"When I was a kid, my dad followed behind me, shutting off the incandescent lights I left burning around the house. “You’re wasting energy,” he’d scold as I tried to slip out of the room. He was right, of course. In the 1980s, 5 to 10 percent of an average household’s electricity bill went to keeping the lights on. So when my own son was born last June, my dad joked he was waiting for the day when his grandson would exact his revenge on my utility bill.Luckily for me, this day will never come. I’ve been rescued by LED lights, now the primary lighting source for about half of U.S. homes. LEDs are wafers of semiconducting material that emit as much light as incandescent bulbs while using about 10 percent of the electricity. Later this year, incandescent bulbs will disappear from store shelves for good as new federal efficiency standards take effect. If it isn’t already, your home lighting will soon be a rounding error on your energy budget.Yet many people still sound like my dad. When you ask Americans how they save energy at home, “turn off the lights” has been at the top of the list since the 1980s. But when it comes to actual savings, it doesn’t even crack the top 10. Like most conventional wisdom about how to reduce household energy and emissions, much of what we believe about our homes and appliances is wrong."
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Debunking some appliance use myths, some practical info on energy savings
Sunday, August 7, 2022
sign up for the Environment MA release of "Renewable Communities 2022" webinar on Aug 10
Via Environment MA (https://twitter.com/EnvironmentMA)
"Across Massachusetts, cities and towns are leading the way to a future powered by clean energy. Our new report shows how.
Join us for the release of Renewable Communities 2022 next Wednesday at 11 AM:"
Friday, July 1, 2022
CommonWealth Magazine: "State sets carbon targets for 2025, 2030"
"Hours after the Supreme Court dealt a devastating blow to the national climate effort, Massachusetts released an aggressive new blueprint that speeds up efforts to slash emissions by electrifying buildings and vehicles and transitioning the electricity supply rapidly from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.
The new plan offers a detailed path for what the state must achieve by 2025 and 2030, presenting a vision for accelerating climate action in Massachusetts.
“The Clean Energy and Climate Plan is a comprehensive and balanced plan that will serve as a guide for Massachusetts as we work to achieve ambitious emissions goals and reach Net Zero in 2050 in an equitable and affordable manner,” Governor Charlie Baker said in a statement."
Ted McIntyre and I have a series on "Making Sense of Climate." As it is based upon how the state is doing on meeting goals of the roadmap, this new update will be part of future discussions. You can listen to the prior episodes here
![]() |
CommonWealth Magazine: "State sets carbon targets for 2025, 2030" |
Thursday, June 30, 2022
Updated Stretch Energy Code Regulations scheduled for hearing & public comment
"Draft Stretch Energy Code Regulations have been filed with the Secretary of State on June 24th.These codes are now open for public comment. Please join the dates below and provide your feedback. Virtual Link for August 8th meeting:
![]() |
Updated Stretch Energy Code Regulations scheduled for hearing & public comment |
Saturday, March 19, 2022
International Energy Agency releases "10-Point Plan to Cut Oil Use"
"We’ve just released the @iea 10-Point Plan on actions advanced economies can adopt to cut oil demand by 2.7 million barrels a day. This would be a big saving - it's the same amount of oil currently consumed by all of the cars in China."
IEA => International Energy Agency "Shaping a secure & sustainable energy future. We provide data, analysis & ambitious real-world solutions on all fuels & technologies. "
The full press release behind this infographic -> https://www.iea.org/news/emergency-measures-can-quickly-cut-global-oil-demand-by-2-7-million-barrels-a-day-reducing-the-risk-of-a-damaging-supply-crunch
The full report with additional explanation and charts -> https://www.iea.org/reports/a-10-point-plan-to-cut-oil-use
10-Point Plan to Cut Oil Use |
Wednesday, November 24, 2021
Boston Globe: "A better future for heating your home"
"As we prepare for colder weather, the choice has already been made for many residents that they will be burning euphemistically named “natural gas,” or methane. This fuel, which is no more natural than any other fossil fuel, is not only responsible for massive property damage and loss of life following explosions, as we saw in the Merrimack Valley disaster three years ago — it is also a potent fossil fuel, responsible for 27 percent of climate-altering emissions statewide, second only to transportation and significantly greater than even the energy generation sector.If the state does not move away from our reliance on gas, we probably won’t hit our statutory emissions reduction goals set by the Global Warming Solutions Act and the recent 2050 net-zero roadmap legislation. Working in opposition to those goals, gas utilities are planning decades of new pipelines, projected to cost Massachusetts gas customers $20 billion — a Big Dig-sized project — according to a recent report commissioned by Gas Leaks Allies."
![]() |
Olivia Cerf and Ben Butterworth stand near the heat pumps they installed at their Melrose home.ERIN CLARK/GLOBE STAFF |
Monday, September 13, 2021
Recycling and Energy Drive - Sep 18
"We’re coming to Franklin!! And we hope to see you there! You most likely have several of these items in your home. Our team will unload them from your vehicle.
Click on the images to see more information about the Franklin Recycling and Energy Drive and bonus Dehumidifier Rebate.Set a reminder for September 18, 9 AM - 12 noon at Chilson Beach -Beaver St Recreation area.
It’s a drive through event through the Parking Lot.Please see the list of items being accepted below."
Saturday, August 28, 2021
Report: "Massachusetts Cities and Towns Leading the Way to 100% Renewable Energy"
"Cities and towns are taking ambitious steps to increase renewable electricity generation, reduce energy use, and shift to clean heating technologies, according to a new report from the Environment Massachusetts Research & Policy Center.
“The best ideas for clean energy often start at the local level,” said Ben Hellerstein, state director for the center. “If we want to have cleaner air, healthier communities, and a safer future for our children, we need to move rapidly toward 100% renewable energy from sources like the sun and the wind. These communities are showing how to make it happen.”
The report, Renewable Communities 2021, features the following seven case studies of Massachusetts cities, towns and regional agencies that are leading the way to 100% renewable energy. "
![]() |
Report: "Massachusetts Cities and Towns Leading the Way to 100% Renewable Energy" |
Saturday, June 5, 2021
"the aggregation rate is often lower than the utility rate"
"AROUND THE WORLD, in the White House, and at our State House, leaders are finally beginning to respond to the climate challenge. Here in Massachusetts, we can take pride in bold new legislation to curb greenhouse gas emissions. And the nation’s first large-scale off-shore wind project, Vineyard Wind, has been given the go ahead by the federal government. Those are exciting developments, but there’s something happening at the local level that deserves our attention as well.
In Massachusetts, cities and towns are increasingly taking advantage of a process known as green municipal aggregation or community choice electricity, which allows municipalities to purchase electricity directly from suppliers (rather than relying on the utilities to do it for us). Through aggregation, communities can offer options that include more wind and solar than required by state law at affordable rates. Today about 50 cities and towns in Massachusetts have done so and dozens more are at various stages of the approval process. Communities that have been doing this for some time keep renewing and usually add more renewable energy as time goes on."
Saturday, April 24, 2021
Earth Day conversation starters for Franklin
Via Cobi Frongillo:
"Some thoughts on this Earth Day to get our brain's turning on opportunities for local advocacy..."
Friday, March 19, 2021
"Oil firms knew decades ago fossil fuels posed grave health risks, files reveal"
"The oil industry knew at least 50 years ago that air pollution from burning fossil fuels posed serious risks to human health, only to spend decades aggressively lobbying against clean air regulations, a trove of internal documents seen by the Guardian reveal.Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
The documents, which include internal memos and reports, show the industry was long aware that it created large amounts of air pollution, that pollutants could lodge deep in the lungs and be “real villains in health effects”, and even that its own workers may be experiencing birth defects among their children.
But these concerns did little to stop oil and gas companies, and their proxies, spreading doubt about the growing body of science linking the burning of fossil fuels to an array of health problems that kill millions of people around the world each year. Echoing the fossil-fuel industry’s history of undermining of climate science, oil and gas interests released a torrent of material aimed at raising uncertainty over the harm caused by air pollution and used this to deter US lawmakers from placing further limits on pollutants."
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Boston Globe: "a glimmer of hope for opponents to the Weymouth gas compressor"
"After years of protests, a glimmer of hope for opponents to the Weymouth gas compressor https://t.co/DWe9KVmz44 via @BostonGlobe"
![]() |
The Weymouth Compressor StationJOHN TLUMACKI/GLOBE STAFF |
Thursday, November 28, 2019
Happy Thanksgiving....from Enbridge and FERC
The compressor station would emit greenhouse gases equivalent to half the vehicles driven in Massachusetts and make it nearly impossible to reach carbon emission reduction goals in the state. And that's saying nothing about spewed toxic chemicals that would poison residents, leading to even higher rates of cancer, respiratory and heart disease in the community--already among the highest in the state.
|
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
In the News: sign bylaw up for change; energy saving tips
Sign Zoning Bylaw up for Town Council review/vote
"Regulations on signs in town are very loose, but that may soon change.
The bylaw, written in 2012, is up for a public hearing on Wednesday, during the next Town Council meeting.
Bryan Taberner, director of Planning and Community Development, said that the bylaw does not regulate how many signs can be in one plaza. For example, if a plaza in town had 10 businesses, there could be 10 different signs, one for each business.
That reason, he said, is why the pending bylaw is going to be important."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190107/franklin-sign-bylaw-to-change
- Zoning Bylaw Amendment 18-822: Changes to §185-20. Signs
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/zoning_bylaw_amendment_18-822.pdf
- Zoning Bylaw Amendment 18-823: Changes To Sign District Regulations
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/zoning_bylaw_amendment_18-823.pdf
- Zoning Bylaw Amendment 18-824: Changes To Sign District Overlay Map
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/zoning_bylaw_amendment_18-824.pdf
![]() |
Sign Zoning Bylaw up for Town Council review/vote |
Energy saving tips
"Massachusetts residents are no strangers to expensive energy costs, especially during colder months.
A recent report by Move.org shows Massachusetts residents on average pay the eighth-highest utility costs in the country -- $469 per month -- and the fourth highest in New England.
What some residents don’t know, however, is that there are several ways to make changes -- big and small -- around any home or apartment that could help lower those costs.
“Becoming more energy efficient is the single-most important step a homeowner or renter can take to gain control of their energy use and energy costs,” said Bill Stack, energy efficiency manager for Eversource, one of the state’s largest utility companies."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190107/tips-to-save-on-energy-costs-in-massachusetts
![]() |
Which states pay the most for utilities? |
Sunday, August 5, 2018
Changes to MassCEC's Woodstove Changeout and Air-Source Heat Pump Programs
|
|