Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light
row of tulips
March Newsletter

March, 2008
In This Issue
RENEWAL screened in area congregations
St. James Cambridge on PBS
GreenUp in Lowell
DON'T MISS IT! COMING EVENTS!

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Renewal: Stories from America's Religious- Environmental Movement

Renewal poster









Renewal is a new documentary on the "Faith and the Environment" movement in the US. The Boston Globe says Renewal is: "...earnest, idealistic, and fired with the righteous potential of making a difference." (Feb. 21, 08)

Check it out! Stop by the MIP&L website in the coming weeks for an updated schedule of  area showings. Schedule a screening in YOUR faith community! (Contact us for help on your screening!)

Learn more about the film on the Renewal Project website.

Schedule of Showings

Saturday March 29  
2:00 pm  St. Anne's
Episcopal Church,
8 Kirk St, Lowell

Sunday March 30
7:00 pm Eliot Church,                    
474 Centre St, Newton

Wednesday April 2
7:30 pm   Park Avenue Congregational,
50 Paul Revere Rd, Arlington

Sunday April 27 
7:00 pm  St. Paul's Episcopal,
39 E. Central St, Natick


Dear MIP&L Members & Friends,

hands holding earth
This month we see the energy transformation of St. James, Cambridge on PBS... we watch the inspiring movie Renewal at several greater Boston area congregations... and we bring you exciting news about environmental faith in ACTION in Lowell !!

Plus, a new, updated Everyday Environmental Stewardship (EES) tipsheet on monitoring your Utility Use & Cost...and the 3 Fundamentals of Environmental Stewardship!

May you have the Greenest of Springs!


 
MONDAY IS GREENUP DAY IN LOWELL!
WHERE?
CITY HALL
WHEN? March 31, 11AM-1:30PM
WHO? Mayor Edward Caulfield, Lowell energy officials & MIP&L...and YOU!
 
AWARDS! RECYCLING INFO & FREEBIES! LEARN HOW BUYING GREEN ENERGY CAN SAVE THE PLANET AND YOUR NEIGHBOR!

St. James, Cambridge Featured on PBS

2%SOLUTION
St. James, Cambridge is among the Cambridge energy success stories featured this Friday (March 28) on the PBS program NOW (channel 2 WGBH at 8:00pm). You can also watch on the internet anytime at www.pbs.org/now.

We know the Good News of St. James! Earlier this year we honored St. James with the MIP&L "You Finally Did It!" award for their great work in environmental stewardship.

From the award citation: "St. James was among the earliest of MIP&L members. The parish has been working hard to understand its environmental impact as a facility. As with many other congregations, St. James understands the cost of operating the building, including the capital costs of making major upgrades in equipment. St. James quickly made the "low-hanging fruit" upgrades. The parish has now made a major upgrade in heating equipment. They will continue to make other essential upgrades year to year. Doing the right thing is an every day, every year activity. St. James is doing the right thing! Thank you for your environmental leadership!"

Photos: St. James boiler room before (below) and after (above)

2%SOLUTION

GreenUp! Action in Lowell

Greenup logo

From MIP&L's Clean Energy Coordinator, Vince Maraventano:

The GreenUp program is available to residential and small business customers of National Grid. It provides an opportunity to do so in a way that will benefit Lowell and low-income residents in Massachusetts. When you sign up for GreenUp the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative will match each dollar you spend with up to $1 for Lowell to spend on renewable energy projects, and with up to $1 for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that benefit low-income residents. If 150 people or businesses sign up for Greenup, a free solar panel will be put on a public building in Lowell. Purchasing clean energy helps to increase the demand for, and lower the costs of new sources of renewable energy.

 Here's how you can buy Clean Energy!

And don't miss GreenUp Day in Lowell Monday, March 31, 11-1:30pm at City Hall!


SAVE THE DATE!!

lowell city hall

Lowell City Hall
375 Merrimack St.
Lowell, Massachusetts




MONDAY, MARCH 31 (11AM-1:30PM) GREENUP LOWELL DAY 
Join MIP&L and Lowell Mayor Edward Caulfield at Lowell City Hall, in the foyer. Learn about Recycling, Reducing Toxins, buying Green Energy!
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APRIL 11-14 Massachusetts Power Shift (MAPS)
Massachusetts State House

Massachusetts Power Shift is a weekend-long climate change summit in Boston on April 11-14, 2008. This event will unite 1,000 students and community members from Massachusetts and beyond to bring about strong solutions to the climate and poverty crises through workshops, community strategy sessions, lobby training, and direct citizen-to-legislator lobbying around important climate legislation. Speakers include Rep. Ed Markey, former CIA Director James Woolsey. Mass Interfaith Power & Light will offer a Saturday morning workshop on Environmental Stewardship: Putting Faith into Practice.  REGISTER TODAY!



3 Fundamentals of Effective Environmental Stewardship

1. Know what you are doing -- The Utility Use and Cost form provides
the information so that you can know, and change, your use patterns. 
This Excel form is available at the MIP&L web site, together with an
explanation of how to use it. It automatically calculates your Carbon Footprint.  Use it, and encourage all to do the same. Click here to download.

2. 
Get help to change  - Have an Energy Audit done, then implement the findings. You'll save money and reduce environmental impact. What's not to like!  Click here to download your tip sheet.

3. 
Buy Clean Energy
- Now that you've done 1 & 2, you'll have all the more
 reason to go 100% green, easily. Go to the CleanEnergyChoice website and sign up now. 

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