If your father or brother was a devout Roddenberry fan, it most likely helps you to envision a better future world over the horizon.
A functional United Nations. The switch from fission to fusion technologies. Cleaner and renewable sources of energy for our buildings and various means of transportation. It is always surprising to hear that buildings actually use more energy than all transportation needs combined.
This long term conversion to buildings that actually produce energy instead of consuming it will be an important economic driver that creates meaningful jobs and real stability across various sectors and income groups.
Newburyport prides itself on being a progressive town with deep interest in Green Initiatives. Governor Patrick’s leadership in passing the controversial “Green Communities Act” and in naming Newburyport a “Green Community” has allowed the City to better investigate ways to become more energy efficient with provisions such as funding and no interest loans.
Neighboring Amesbury is also now close to being a designated Green Community in the Commonwealth. One requirement is adopting the State’s “Stretch Code”. This is an amendment to the State’s existing building code that emphasizes energy efficiency and has tighter building requirements for new commercial and residential projects.
This initiative has made Massachusetts a leader in climate change and building reforms – setting aggressive goals and paving the way for other State and National initiatives.
A recent article in Scientific American described how new IRS guidelines will stimulate growth in other states moving forward.
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From Scientific American
“U.S. investment in clean energy was down in 2012 after breaking records all through 2011, but rapidly declining installment costs mean deployments are likely to continue to rise, according to new analysis from Ernst & Young LLP, a multinational accounting firm. The report ranked the renewable energy “attractiveness indices” for all 50 states…”
Read the full RE story in Scientific American
What is the Green Communities Act?
Learn about the nonprofit group Architecture2030.org
Why Nuclear May be a Necessary Bridge