In devising the myriad events, "we just wanted to put it on people's radar to think about things" when it comes to conserving, said Stephanie Ciccarello, the town's energy conservation coordinator. "There's always more that people can do."
October is the time of harvests and Halloween, but
environmental groups here are calling October Energy Awareness Month as well
and are sponsoring activities all through the month.
In devising the myriad events, "we just wanted to
put it on people's radar to think about things" when it comes to
conserving, said Stephanie Ciccarello, the town's energy conservation
coordinator. "There's always more that people can do."
Ciccarello and the town's Energy Conservation Task
Force has been working with the HitchcockCenter for the
Environment, which she said "has been incredibly helpful." So this
year "we've expanded the offerings to make it better."
Highlights include an evening of "Energy
Awareness through the Arts" being held at the HitchcockCenter
on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The
event features a dance performance by Alicia Morton called "Celebrating
Minimalism."
AmherstRegionalHigh School students Solomon Goldstein-Rose and Jonathan Simonds
will show films they produced on energy conservation, among other highlights.
"It's just a fun night, a good family outing," Ciccarello said.
On Oct. 21 at 7
p.m. at Merrill Science 4 at AmherstCollege,
people will have the chance to learn about what the town's two colleges and the
University of Massachusetts are doing to reduce their
carbon footprints because what they are doing "ultimately impacts the
quality of life."
Other highlights include a workshop on "Asthma, Indoor
Air Quality and Energy Efficiency" at Cowls Building Supply Oct. 16 at 10 a.m. Health officials will also be
there to talk to people. Circcarello said people will be able to learn about
products to help them improve air quality.
For people who want to become energy efficiency
leaders in their neighborhoods, there's a workshop Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. sponsored by Cozy Home
Performance that "will train people to be community leaders ... to show
them the tools that can be used to help" their neighbors save energy.
The month's activities end Oct. 28 with a presentation
by Hampshire College professor Steven Roof called, "Climate Change: What's
Happening Now?" in Bangs Community Center at 7 p.m.
"Roof does climate research and he'll talk about
where we are now with climate change and what we can expect in the
future," Ciccarello said.