ECO-ACTIVITIES

Education

Services

“The EcoStar program offers technical workshops on various areas related to the EcoStar standards.  These workshops provide a good opportunity for basic training and support for your coordinator and team members.  Each workshop includes an opportunity for networking with EcoStar members, so you can learn how other companies and organizations are implementing the standards.”- EcoStar Standard 4 Employee Training and Involvement in EcoStar, Page 27, EcoStar Action Guide.
Text Box: EcoStar Wins 2007 Massachusetts Smart Growth/Smart Energy Award Text Box: EcoStar was recently recognized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as one of the most innovative and effective smart growth/smart energy projects in the State for 2007. The award was presented at the Commonwealth’s 2007 Annual Smart Growth/Smart Energy Conference in Worcester on Dec. 7, 2007. The objective of this award is to draw attention to communities and partner organizations who have taken major steps to improve development and energy efficiency practices.

The awards provide an opportunity for the Governor to highlight advances in smart growth and clean energy from across the state, honor those innovative entities responsible, and hold them up as models for others.

 

The State has adopted 10 Principles of Sustainable Development that cover a broad spectrum of smart growth and energy efficiency concepts.  EcoStar compliments a number of these Principles by providing educational forums, technical assistance, networking and partnering opportunities that result in compact development and economic gains, along with pollution prevention, waste and toxics use reduction, and water and energy efficiency.  The 25 performance “Standards” that are used by EcoStar members as tools to integrate sustainability into their business and operations mimic many of the State’s Sustainable Development Principles of the Commonwealth, including:

 

Sustainable Development Principle #5 - Use Natural Resources Wisely:   EcoStar Standards promote building reuse, low-impact development techniques, and green building design and construction.  EcoStar members are also pursuing green building projects, integrated stormwater re-use, improved energy efficiencies, implemented multiple recycling services and waste exchanges between companies. 

 

Sustainable Development Principle #8 - Increase Job and Business Opportunities:  EcoStar helps organizations make more efficient use of resources in ways that decrease operational costs and strengthen their bottom line.  The program’s services and the EcoStar Standards help local businesses grow in a sustainable manner and become more viable entities for the community and Commonwealth. 

 

Sustainable Development Principle # 9 - Promote Clean Energy:  In 2006, Devens and EcoStar joined ICLEI’s Communities for Climate Protection (CCP) Program to demonstrate their commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions locally.  EcoStar works with local businesses to maximize energy efficiency and implement conservation measures to support this goal.

 

Follow this link to view a complete copy of the entire application submittal.

 

EcoStar is now featured on the Govenor’s website.  View the Commonwealth’s press release here. To learn more about the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Sustainable Development Principles and the Governor’s Smart Growth / Smart Energy Program, go to: http://www.mass.gov/smartgrowth.

 

 

Peter Lowitt, Dona Neely and Neil Angus Accept the 2007 Smart Growth/Smart Energy Award