Residential

So you want to give ... nothing to your loved ones this holiday season? Or at least nothing that'll end up on a dusty shelf or in a landfill? Consider these stuff-free gift alternatives.

Read about the ten ideas gift giving ideas at Gristby clicking here .

Green electricity is now available from Acton Hydro and the Concord Light Plant! Electricity generated from hydro-electric power stations produces minimal pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Sign up for Green Power today from the Concord Light Plant by contacting: Dale Cronan (978) 318-3102 or via email dcronan@concordma.gov.

Starting in early 2008 a limited supply of green electricity will be available in 100 kilowatt hour increments for $3 per increment every two months.

There are many reasons to buy local food, including reducing energy use, reducing sprawl and increasing connection to the environment as well as fresh food just plain tastes better.

Concord residents have many ways to participate and support the local food movement, including:

"KeySpan offers rebates to its residential, commercial, industrial, and multifamily customers for the installation of solar thermal technologies. KeySpan first conducts a free energy audit to interested participants to identify appropriate solar thermal technologies as well as estimated natural gas savings. Recommended solar thermal applications may include solar hot water heating, solar space heating, solar pool heating, and/or high temperature process applications." -DSIRE site

"MassSAVE, a residential conservation services program administered by Massachusetts electric companies, gas companies and municipal aggregators, with oversight provided by The Division of Energy Resources (DOER) and The Department of Telecommunications and Energy (DTE), offers no-interest and low-interest financing to help residential consumers increase the energy efficiency of their homes through their HEAT Loan Program." -DSIRE site

"This statute, enacted in 1979, provides a 15% credit against the state income tax for the cost of a renewable-energy system (including installation) installed on an individual’s primary residence." -DSIRE site

Click Personal Tax Creditfor more information.

"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.

“CONCORD CLIMATE ACTION” (CCA) LAUNCHED

CONCORD, MA – October 8, 2007 -- After last spring’s hugely successful Global Warming Symposium and Fair at CCHS, some of the planners of that event began to ask what could be done to build upon the amazing energy conveyed by Symposium participants. Over the summer, they worked to define and launch a new free-standing organization that will provide leadership for further community efforts to address climate change. That organization is Concord Climate Action (CCA).

CCA has defined its mission as:

Established in 1995, the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency [DSIRE] is an ongoing project of the North Carolina Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

The DSIRE database is a comprehensive list of financial incentives for lowering your impact on the environment. Visit DSIRE Massachusetts for listings.

Coffee has become a hot topic due to 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.