Acton Climate Action Team

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3-January-2005

Minutes of the tenth meeting of ACAT: the Acton Climate Action Team

Attendees:

  • Steve Long
  • Matt Liebman
  • Warren Leon
  • Jim Snyder-Grant
  • Dana Snyder-Grant
  • Adam Parker

Warren says Douglas no teacher jumped to mind.  Merriam – might have a fifth or sixth grader. 
Warren researched the MTC, and found a guide to curricula.  There are 150 http://www.mtpc.org/cleanenergy/curriculum/about.htm

Steve Long will follow-up with Gates School (will check up on DEP Curriculum, Green Team)
Tom needs to follow-up with McCarthy-Towne
Dana Snyder-Grant will follow up on Merriam.

http://www.kidwind.org/

Service Fraternities at MIT

Potential competition between Merriam and McCarthy-Towne. 

Steve suggests an Action Plan. 

We will brainstorm with teachers.  We would putting in time and effort to help them with a project / curricula. 

Perhaps consult with Lincoln group on the retro-fit of lights in school that was more than a year payback.  Steve will follow-up. 

Tom will ask Mary about when the Update to Town Master Plan occurs, and how we can get energy efficiency integrated. 

We had a brainstorm on 'What would ACAT success be like?', to help re-energize and direct our efforts.

Roughly from short-term to long-term:

  • ACAT educates people and helps support effective actions to reduce greenhouse gasses in Acton.
  • ACAT grows. We are able to take on multiple projects effectively.
  • ACAT functions effectively with multiple leaders. No one member is critical
  • ACAT is known and respected as a source of know-how on greenhouse gas reductions.
  • ACAT has continued success at reducing GHG emissions in Acton.
  • ACATs success stories are a model for others beyond Acton.
  • Organizations in Acton, including the municipal and school governments, consider the effect on greenhouse gasses in all of their decisions.
  • A greenhouse gas reduction plan for Acton is created and bought-in to by the key segments of Acton.
  • Greenhouse gas reduction strategies are part of Acton's Master Plan.
  • Success at greenhouse-gas reduction is part of how Acton is known.
  • Knowledge and habits and rules and regulations concerning greenhouse gas reductions are so embedded in how Acton operates that ACAT is no longer needed as an independent organization.

Jim asks that he is not burdened with all the logistics of setting up the meetings.   Warren volunteers to help in February, and Tom in March.

For the schools, we should aim for the Fall, we need to speak with them now so they have time to integrate into the curricula.   MTC sponsors Summer Teacher Institutes on Climate Change, Renewable Energy.  Professional development points / Master Credits.

Get teachers to change the class room behavior is our goal.  Alliance to Save Energy is on curriculum on MTC website.  And probably has cool activities. 

Steve will contact – Gates Principal
Matt will contact – Merriam Principal

Steve created a matrix of activities over time.  Tom will enter.

Need to do more PR. 

  Teachers / Student Curriculum / Student Facility
Spring Outreach ID Teachers Meet Set Goals Select Curriculum Meet w/ facility manager & principal.  ID Needs Link curriculum to needs of School
Summer Institute (Alliance to Save Energy may have curriculum)   Activities ID Consultants Schedule energy audits
Fall PR – Coordinate with ACAT & Auditors Energy inventory  

Student conduct activities

Behavioral changes

Recycling

Bus Idling

Audits (w/ Students following)

Spring     Follow up work on audit recommendations

 

Monday February 7th is the next meeting
Monday March 7th is the following meeting.