[act-ma] Energy (and Other) Events
George Mokray
gmoke at world.std.com
Sun Jul 24 19:46:01 PDT 2011
Energy (and Other) Events is a weekly mailing list published most
Sundays covering events around the Cambridge, MA and greater Boston
area that catch the editor's eye.
Hubevents http://hubevents.blogspot.com is the web version.
If you wish to subscribe or unsubscribe to Energy (and Other) Events
email gmoke at world.std.com
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4% from the Wealthiest 225 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/07/17/995693/-4-from-the-Wealthiest-225
Corporate Retread Futures http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/07/19/996468/-Corporate-Retread-Futures
Aging Nuclear Power: USA and Around the World http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/07/21/997238/-Aging-Nuclear-Power:USA-and-Around-the-World
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Monday, July 25, 2011
Five Capabilities for Enterprise Change: Approaches for Integrating
Continuous Improvement and Strategic Change Across
OrganizationsSpeaker: George Roth, Principal Research Associate, MIT
Time: 12:00p–1:00p
Location: Virtual - http://sdm.mit.edu/news/news_articles/webinar_072511/webinar-roth-enterprise-change.html
The MIT System Design and Management (SDM) Program Systems Thinking
Webinar Series
The MIT System Design and Management Program Systems Thinking Webinar
Series features research conducted by SDM faculty, alumni, students,
and industry partners. The series is designed to disseminate
information on how to employ systems thinking to address engineering,
management, and socio-political components of complex challenges.
This webinar presents studies of what organizations have done to
successfully extend their learning and change efforts to sets of
organizations, or enterprise changes.
Additional information is provided at the url below.
Web site: http://sdm.mit.edu/news/news_articles/webinar_072511/webinar-roth-enterprise-change.html
Open to: the general public
Cost: Free
Sponsor(s): Engineering Systems Division, MIT System Design and
Management Program
For more information, contact:
Lois Slavin
617.253.0812
lslavin at mit.edu
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Nerdnite
Monday July 25, 2011 — 8pm at Middlesex Lounge
315 Mass Ave, Cambridge
In Central Square
$5
Featuring Nerd-appropriate tunes by Claude Money
Talk 1. “Cyborgs R Us: How to Resist World Domination!” by Sara Hendren
Talk 2. “The ‘ME2!!!X’” by Charles Guan
For more information about the speakers and the talks: http://boston.nerdnite.com/2011/07/19/nerdnite-july-25-totally-awesome/
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The Open Technology Initiative: How Geeks, Wonks, & Field Operatives
are Fighting to Transform Inside-the-Beltway Policy-Making
Tuesday, July 26, 12:30pm ET,
Berkman Center for Internet & Society, 23 Everett St., Cambridge, MA.
RSVP ashar at cyber.law.harvard.edu
This event will be webcast live at http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/interactive/webcast
Since its founding in 2009, the New America Foundation's Open
Technology Initiative (OTI) has been a catalyst for innovative
technology and telecom interventions. OTI's formulates policy and
regulatory reforms to support open architectures and open source
innovations and facilitates the development and implementation of open
technologies and communications networks. OTI is committed to
maximizing the potentials of open technologies, particularly for poor,
rural, and other underserved constituencies. Through its work, OTI
promotes affordable, universal, and ubiquitous communications
networks. This talk will focus on three projects that have captured
substantial attention over the past year: 1. OTI is working in
Philadelphia and Detroit to build community wireless networks in areas
underserved by broadband providers. 2. OTI coordinates
MeasurementLab.net (M-Lab), an open, distributed, global platform for
Internet measurement tools. 3. Commotion Mesh Wireless Project
(a.k.a., "Internet-in-a-Suitcase") -- as recent events in Tunisia,
Egypt, and Libya have illustrated (and Myanmar demonstrated several
years prior), democratic activists around the globe need a secure and
reliable platform to ensure their communications cannot be controlled
or cut off by authoritarian regimes. Sascha Meinrath is the Director
of the New America Foundation's Open Technology Initiative and
Research Director of the Foundation's Wireless Future Program. Sascha
has been described as a "community Internet pioneer" and an
"entrepreneurial visionary" and is a well-known expert on community
wireless networks (CWNs), municipal broadband, and telecommunications
policy. In 2009 he was named one of Ars Technica's Tech Policy "People
to Watch". RSVP Required (ashar at cyber.law.harvard.edu). More
information athttp://cyber.law.harvard.edu/events/luncheon/2011/07/meinrath
>
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Boston Green Drinks - July Happy Hour
Tuesday, July 26, 2011, 6:00 PM
SELECTED BY: LYN
Kingston Station
25 Kingston St, Boston, MA (map)
SELECTED BY: LYN
Green Drinks Boston builds a community of sustainably-minded
Bostonians, provides a forum for exchange of sustainability career
resources, and serves as a central point of information about emerging
green issues. We support the exchange of ideas and resources about
sustainable energy, environment, food, health, education.
RSVP at http://www.meetup.com/entrepreneur-1402/events/25847031
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Saturday, July 30, 2011
Asian Street Food Festival
Time: 7:30p–10:00p
Location: MIT NW86
Craving scallion pancakes, har gow, spring rolls, or chicken teriyaki?
Come enjoy free delicious Asian food, served street-market style in
the SP courtyard.
There will be representatives & performances from China (CSSA), Korea
(KGSA), Japan (JAM) & Singapore (MITSSS), so don\\\'t miss out on the
opportunity to learn about these cultures.
Sponsored by the GSC funding board and ARCADE
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Sidney-Pacific Graduate Community, GSC Funding Board,
ARCADE (Assisting Recurring Cultural Diversity Events), CSSA,
KGSA(Korean Graduate Student Association), MITSSS, Japanese
Association of MIT (JAM)
For more information, contact:
Jack Ahern
617-452-4753
spec at mit.edu
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Will Egypt Be the Next Iran?
WHEN Thu., July 28, 2011, 12 – 1 p.m.
WHERE Faculty Dining Room, Littauer Building, First Floor, Harvard
Kennedy School
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION Lecture, Social Sciences
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR Middle East Initiative, the Center for Middle
Eastern Studies Outreach Center, and the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal
Islamic Studies Program
SPEAKER(S) Tarek Masoud, assistant professor of public policy,
Harvard Kennedy School
COST Free
LINK http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/events/5541/will_egypt_be_the_next_iran.html
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The Ethical Society of Boston will be presenting a program, Sunday,
July 31 from 10AM to 12PM.
THE CAMPAIGN TO REVERSE "CITIZENS UNITED DECISION"
The discussion will take place at the Spiegel Auditorium, 56 Brattle
St., Harvard Sq. Cambridge.
The discussion will be led by the Ethical Society Program Director
Andrea Perrault
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Upcoming
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The Ethical Society of Boston will have a discussion on Sunday, August
7 from 10AM to 12PM.
THE TEA PARTY: IS IT AN IMPORTANT MOVEMENT? WHY? WHAT ARE ITS MESSAGES?
The discussion will take place at Spiegel Auditorium, 56 Brattle St.,
Harvard Sq., Cambridge.
The discussion will be led an Ethical Society member - Gaston de los
Reyes.
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Opportunity
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AC Swap – The Cambridge Energy Alliance’s window air conditioner swap
program is in progress. Residents can obtain a voucher for $125 if
they swap an inefficient window AC unit for an Energy Star rated
model This is a limited time offer. Go to the CEA website for
participation details: http://cambridgeenergyalliance.org/resources/a-c-swap
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Free Solar Panels for Houses of Worship
From a recent Mass Interfaith Power & Light (http://mipandl.org/) email
"We've recently been talking with DCS Energy (http://
www.dcsenergy.com/) who has an unbeatable offer: if your site
qualifies, they design and install the panels at no cost, don't charge
you for any electricity, and donate the system to your house of
worship after five years. Your only costs will be for a building
permit, possibly a structural engineer to verify that your roof can
support their weight, and any preparatory work such as roof work or
tree removal. If solar panels are so expensive how can anyone give
them away for free? First, there is a federal grant program that is
only available until November that pays for 30% of the cost of the
system. Then there is an accelerated depreciation option that gives
certain kinds of investors another tax advantage. Finally, the state
awards a special allowance called a "Solar Renewal Energy
Credit" (SRECs) to owners of solar electricity systems which are sold
at auctions to utilities who buy them to meet their requirements under
the Massachusetts' renewable portfolio standard. DCS is betting that
the price of these SRECs will remain high. Jim Nail, president of MA
IP&L, has talked to DCS Energy and is currently having them prepare a
proposal for his church, St. Dunstan's Episcopal in Dover. Jim says,
"The references I've talked to have been quite positive about the
program and the company has been very responsive. "If you think your
site might qualify, contact Peter Carli, pete at dcsenergy.com, with the
address of your house of worship and your contact information. He'll
take a preliminary look at your site and advise you if it meets their
criteria."
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Young World Inventors (http://yinventors.wordpress.com/) has started a
Kickstarter campaign (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1036325713/youngworldinventorscom
) to fund insider web stories of African and American innovators in
collaboration, whom Diane Hendrix will be following with her camera
from June 23 to August 2 in Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. They are
building a community and raising funds for production and editing.
One of the people she will be following is Bernard Kiwia, a Tanzanian
inventor who teamed up with MIT grad Jodie Wu to start Global Cycle
Solutions in Arusha, near the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro. They are
starting with ten insider stories of innovators (high and low tech) in
East Africa on a new interactive site, with collaborators who'll help
distribute stories, such as AITI, who who led us to some fascinating
projects (see our intro to AITI on YouTube).
Editorial Comment: I too have met Bernard Kiwia and am deeply
impressed by the variety of projects and collaborations happening
between Africa and the USA. Bernard's bicycle cell phone charger is
only one of the many innovative ideas coming out of young African and
American imaginations and expertise these days.
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What you need to know: The Staples Youth Social Entrepreneur (YSE)
Competition is a global competition created by Staples Foundation and
Ashoka to recognize exceptional young people using innovation and
technology to advance social change and improve their community and
the world.
Who’s eligible?: Young people (age 12-24), living anywhere in the
world, are eligible to apply.
Dates and details: Apply online between June 22 and September 19, 2011.
For more information: http://ashokayouthcompetition.org/
--
Laura Sampath
MIT International Development Initiative
77 Mass Ave, 10-110
Cambridge MA 02139
617.253.7052
Sign up for the 2011 Yunus Challenge Facebook page: yunus2011 at groups.facebook.com
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The Medford Farmers Market is looking for organizations, individuals,
chefs, nutritionists, educators, musicians, physical activity
specialists, gardeners, and other fun people who would like to do
educational activities on market days.
We are looking for activities that are interactive and enjoyed by all
ages. Demos, how-tos and games are encouraged. Should be somehow
related to sustainable living, health, nutrition, farming, gardening,
physical activity, sustainability, learning and development, music,
art, creativity. Most importantly it should be entertaining for people
at the market.
We are looking to fill 1, 2, 3 or 4 hour time slots. The Medford
Farmers Market is a great place for you to gain experience and
exposure - there are over 20 vendors signed up for the season
including local wine, meat, vegetables, honey, bread, art.....Your
activity/demo/gig will be well publicized via social media, as well as
local newspapers and newsletters sent to hundreds of people.
The market goes from June 16- Oct 13 at the Whole Foods Market Parking
Lot, 2151 Mystic Valley Parkway (Rt 16), Medford, MA 02155. Plenty of
parking and restrooms are available.
Please contact me if you are interested. Please feel free to forward
this e-mail to people who you think may be interested. Thanks so much,
have a great weekend!
For more info, please see the following:
website: www.medfordfarmersmarket.org
e-mail: medfordfarmersmarket at gmail.com
twitter: MedfordFarmMkt
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Medford-Farmers-Market/135452753138491
Address: Whole Foods Market Parking Lot, 2151 Mystic Valley Parkway
(Rt 16)
Editorial Comment: I have taken some of my solar displays to farmers'
markets from time to time and have advocated doing so as a way to
change US energy attitudes, policies, and realities as the people who
go to farmers' markets are a core constituency for renewable energy.
More at http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/5/27/870257/-How-to-Change-US-Energy-in-One-Growing-Season
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Resource
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Massachusetts Attitudes About Climate Change – An opinion survey of
Massachusetts residents conducted by MassINC and sponsored by the Barr
Foundation found that 77% of respondents believe that global warming
has “probably been happening” and 59% of all respondents see see it as
being at least partially caused by human pollution. Only 42% of the
state’s residents say global warming will have very serious
consequences for Massachusetts if left unaddressed. The 18 to 29 age
group is more likely to believe global warming is appearing and caused
by humans compared to the 60+ age group. African-American (56%) and
Latino residents (69%) are more likely than white residents (40%) to
believe global warming will be a very serious problem if left
unaddressed. The MassINC report, titled The 80 Percent Challenge:
What Massachusetts must do to meet targets and make headway on climate
change (http://www.massinc.org/Research/The-80-percent-
challenge.aspx), contains many other findings.
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The presentations from the recent Affordable Comfort National Home
Performance Conference are available online at
http://2011.acinational.org/downloadable_resources
Lots of good information from what some call the best energy
conference in the USA on Deep Energy Retrofits to Community Energy
Challenges with details on insulation, heat flow, energy metering,
ducting, hot water, and many, many other topics. If you are a
practical energy wonk, this should make your eyes light up.
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Free Monthly Energy Analysis
CarbonSalon is a free service that every month can automatically track
your energy use and compare it to your past energy use (while
controlling for how cold the weather is). You get a short friendly
email that lets you know how you’re doing in your work to save energy.
https://www.carbonsalon.com/
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Boston Food System
"The Boston Food System [listserv] provides a forum to post
announcements of events, employment opportunities, internships,
programs, lectures, and other activities as well as related articles
or other publications of a non-commercial nature covering the area's
food system - food, nutrition, farming, education, etc. - that take
place or focus on or around Greater Boston (broadly delineated)."
The Boston area is one of the most active nationwide in terms of food
system activities - projects, services, and events connected to food,
farming, nutrition - and often connected to education, public health,
environment, arts, social services and other arenas. Hundreds of
organizations and enterprises cover our area, but what is going on
week-to-week is not always well publicized.
Hence, the new Boston Food System listserv, as the place to let
everyone know about these activities. Specifically:
Use of the BFS list will begin soon, once we get a decent base of
subscribers. Clarification of what is appropriate to announce and
other posting guidelines will be provided as well.
It's easy to subscribe right now at https://elist.tufts.edu/wws/subscribe/bfs
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Artisan Asylum http://artisansasylum.com/
Sprout & Co: Community Driven Investigations http://thesprouts.org/studios
Greater Boston Solidarity Economy Mapping Project http://www.transformationcentral.org/solidarity/mapping/mapping.html
a project by Wellesley College students that invites participation,
contact jmatthaei at wellesley.edu
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Bostonsmart.com's Guide to Boston http://www.bostonsmarts.com/BostonGuide/
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Links to events at 60 colleges and universities at Hubevents http://hubevents.blogspot.com
Thanks to
Fred Hapgood's Selected Lectures on Science and Engineering in the
Boston Area http://fhapgood.fastmail.fm/site02.html
Boston Area Computer User Groups http://www.bugc.org/
http://www.mitenergyclub.org/calendar/mit_events_template
http://sustainability.mit.edu/
http://www.environment.harvard.edu/events/calendar/
http://green.harvard.edu/events
http://microsoftcambridge.com/Events/tabid/57/Default.aspx
http://pechakuchaboston.org/blog/
http://boston.nerdnite.com/
http://www.meetup.com/
http://www.eventbrite.com/
More information about the Act-MA
mailing list