Green Marlborough encourages residents to 'think globally, act locally'
By Angela Greiner Contributing Writer

Marlborough - The Climate Action Network (CAN) is a grassroots campaign that began in March 2007; its founders have a long-term commitment to stop global warming by reducing the amount of carbon emissions that the city pumps into the atmosphere.

Members of the group announced Aug. 2 at the bimonthly meeting that the increased interest in the ability to "offer a broad-based sustainable solution beyond energy saving" led to the expansion of the organization to "Green Marlborough." Green Marlborough will be an umbrella encompassing CAN and other environmental groups in the city.

At the meeting, CAN members also discussed the "Grove" cleanup Saturday Aug. 18 beginning at 9 a.m., followed by a barbecued lunch and fun prizes. The members of CAN will join the Recycling Center and the Conservation Commission to support the clean-up hosted by the Litter League, a division of the Marlborough Community Development Corporation (CDC).

Litter League member Brian Palmer said volunteers would meet at the conservation land known as the Grove near Fort Meadow Reservoir off of Bolton Street and he hoped many hands would make the clean up go quickly.

"August is hot," Palmer said. "So we will hopefully have a quick in and out."

The group wants to clean up the boat launching area, remove fishing line along the edge of the water and address the problem of trash blowing in from the neighboring Wal- Mart store.

CAN is continuing its effort to encourage homeowners to conserve energy. The group will continue its light campaign through the fall, hosting several events including a green workshop for homeowners in September. In addition they are currently collecting energy-efficient light bulbs to donate to the Food Pantry to be distributed with food orders.

The organization has a full schedule for the next month, including the research and implementation of a new campaign to encourage residents to adopt the habit of using reusable canvas tote bags for shopping. They are also preparing to target the children in the community through Green Education puppet shows, and are designing an energy-efficient float for the Labor Day parade.

Along with targeting homeowners, the group has also teamed up with Michael Manning from Keyspan Energy Delivery to work with the city to convert 28 of the city traffic lights to energyefficient LED lights. The LEDs will not only reduce the amount of emissions being produced, but it will save the city money. Manning is also proposing putting the homes in Marlborough on a lowcarbon diet. The plan would consist of taking a few homes and making them models of energy-efficient homes.

Green Marlborough recently launched a Web site at www.greenmarlborough. org with information about energy savings, buying green, recycling, water conservation, education and more. The Web site off ers links to local organizations such as the Recycling Center.

Often, conservation equals monetary savings for the consumer. The Web site provides information about free home audits that might reduce the homeowners' energy consumption and in turn save them money.

For more information about any of the programs listed above, visit the Web site or stop by a meeting held at the Marlborough City Hall the first and third Thursdays of the month at 7 p.m.

Paula Silver, a Marlborough resident with a long career in wildlife education, said she joined CAN because she wants to follow David Brower's (the founder of Friends of the Earth) advice: "Think globally and act locally."