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March 29, 2023
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Ken Pruitt, Sustainability Director

Earth Day Cleanup, Sustainable Landscaping, Heat Pumps

Welcome to the March 29 issue of Winchester Sustainability News. Just as many of us venture out to our yards and gardens, in this issue you’ll learn about a perfectly timed sustainable landscaping training session the evening of April 11.  There's also information about an Earth Day Aberjona cleanup and ways to save money on electric landscape equipment. Drop me a note with any questions or with topics you’d like to see in a future newsletter at Kpruitt@winchester.us. (Note that replies to this newsletter are routed to an unmonitored mailbox).
Fish Sculpture

Help fill a heron or herring sculpture with trash (example fish sculpture from the same artist)

Earth Day Aberjona River Cleanup

Earth Day is Saturday, April 22. Join volunteers from Winchester's Conservation Commission and others from 9 a.m. to Noon to help remove trash or cut and remove invasive plant species. This annual event is a great opportunity for all ages to help beautify our town, improve the habitat, environment and water quality of the Aberjona River, and meet other residents who care. This year, the Winchester Cultural District and the Griffin Museum have commissioned two "found art" sculptures of animals native to the Aberjona - a herring and a heron - by Winchester resident & sculptor August Westner and photographer & conceptual artist Stefanie Timmerman. Fill up these art sculptures with the trash from your efforts. Meet at the corner of Mystic Valley Parkway and Main Street across from the Unitarian Church. Parking at McCall Middle School. For more information and to let the organizers know you'll be there click here. Questions? Email Conservation Agent Elaine Vreeland at evreeland@winchester.us 
A Sustainable Landscape Image

Free Sustainable Landscape Training Session is April 11

As noted in the last Sustainability News, Winchester received a grant to help homeowners, landscapers, and others learn how to maintain their properties more sustainably: saving water, reducing pesticides, improving wildlife and pollinator habitat, and reducing soil erosion. This year, with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council grant, Winchester, Arlington and Stoneham will create a Sustainable Landscape Handbook and hold training sessions on sustainable landscaping practices. There will be three sessions, one in each town (all three communities are invited to every session): Landscape Design in Stoneham, Construction in Winchester, and Maintenance in Arlington. If you can’t attend all three they will be recorded and available on this page later this year. All training sessions are free of charge. The first session on Landscape Design will be held Tuesday, April 11, from 5-7 p.m., Stoneham Town Hall Banquet Room, 35 Central St. For more information, click here.
Mass Save Logo

Rebates for Electric Lawn Equipment

Speaking of sustainable landscape practices: battery-powered lawn equipment has come a long way, both in power and affordability. You can reduce carbon pollution, breathe cleaner air, enjoy quieter yard work, and save money on fuel and maintenance by going electric. Now you can also save money up-front with Mass Save rebates ranging from $30 for an electric chainsaw, string trimmer or leaf blower to $75 for an electric lawn mower. Just purchase your equipment and then submit your a rebate form and receipt by mail or online. More details on the Mass Save website.

Winchester Sustainability Quiz


Question: On Earth Day In 2019, the Winchester Select Board voted to set a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for the Town. What target did the Select Board set?

Answer:
a) 30% by 2030
b) 50% by 2040
c) 80% by 2050
d) 100% by 2060

The answer is located near the end of this newsletter.
Central Heat Pump Condenser

Central Heat Pump Condensing Unit

Heat Pumps: The Most Important Climate Solution You've Never Heard Of

(OK maybe you've heard of them, but most people haven't). What if there were a magical machine that could heat and cool your home without burning fossil fuels? The good news: magic isn’t needed - heat pumps can do this today and are as much as five times more energy efficient than traditional home heating and cooling systems. Not only are heat pumps incredibly efficient, they’re increasingly powered by carbon-free electricity as the grid gets greener. For example, in Winchester, if you’re on WinPower Standard (most homes are), your electricity is at least 50 percent carbon-free, and if you’re signed-up for WinPower 100 it’s 100 percent carbon-free. (Click here to learn more about WinPower.) Heat pumps are fast becoming one of the most important tools to combat climate change. In addition, there are generous state rebates of $10,00-$15,000 and $2,000 federal tax credits to switch a home completely to heat pumps (smaller incentives are available for partial switches). Is a heat pump right for your home? To learn more, visit the Sustainability Department's Electrification web page here.

Winchester Sustainability Quiz Answer


c) The Winchester Select Board voted in 2019 to set a target of an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. You can see a list of Winchester sustainability milestones and goals on this page.


Sustainability Resources for Winchester Residents and Businesses

  • Sustainability Department Website

  • WinPower - Winchester's Community Electricity Program. (Sign-up for 100% carbon-free electricity and green your home!)

  • Climate Action Plan and Greenhouse Gas Inventory

  • Sign-up for this newsletter (if someone forwarded it to you)


Ken Pruitt
Sustainability Director
781-265-9730
Kpruitt@winchester.us
Town Hall, 71 Mt. Vernon St., Winchester MA 01890
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