CET will present a free solar energy workshop

Print Story | Email Story
The Center for Ecological Technology (CETsm) will present a free solar energy workshop on Tuesday, April 4th from 7-9 p.m. in the Fisher Science Center at Simon’s Rock College in Great Barrington. The featured speaker will be Chris Vreeland, a registered professional engineer. This informational workshop is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is encouraged. Skyrocketing energy costs and concern about our dependence on fossils fuels are leading many people to seek local, clean sources of energy. Recently, dozens of solar electric systems have been installed on homes, schools and public buildings in the Berkshires, and solar hot water systems are once again attracting attention. Grants and tax incentives now help offset the cost of investing in solar energy and other renewable technologies. CET’s solar energy workshop is a good way to discover if a renewable energy system is a good fit. Those who attend will learn the basics of using energy from the sun to create electricity or heat water. Participants will learn how solar panels work, the system components, how to determine whether they have a good site and how to gain additional benefits through energy efficient improvements. The workshop will also address average prices for solar electric and solar hot water systems and how to find local installers. The workshop will showcase systems in installed in the Berkshires. A highlight of the workshop will be information about financial incentives available from Massachusetts and the federal government. Mr. Vreeland will give an overview of tax incentives and will summarize a rebate program currently offered by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative to help homeowners and small businesses pay for renewable energy systems. Please pre-register if you are interested in attending. To find out more or to pre-register, contact Cynthia Grippaldi, at 413-445-4556 ext. 25 or email Nancy at: nancyn@cetonline.org. CET is a non-profit energy and resource conservation organization that has served western Massachusetts since 1976. CET receives funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. CET is an equal opportunity service provider. This workshop is made possible through grant funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

BVNA Nurses Raise Funds for Berkshire Bounty

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Massachusetts Nursing Association members of the Berkshire Visiting Nurses Association raised $650 to help with food insecurity in Berkshire County.
 
The nurses and health-care professionals of BVNA have given back to the community every holiday season for the last three years. The first year, they adopted a large family, raised money, bought, wrapped and delivered the gifts for the family. Last year, they sold raffle tickets and the money raised went to the charitable cause of the winner. 
 
This year, with food insecurity as a rising issue, they chose to give to Berkshire Bounty in Great Barrington.
 
They sold raffle tickets for a drawing to win one of two items: A lottery ticket tree or a gift certificate tree, each worth $100. They will be giving the organization the donation this month.
 
Berkshire Bounty seeks to improve food security in the county through food donations from retailers and local farms; supplemental purchases of healthy foods; distribution to food sites and home deliveries; and collaborating with partners to address emergencies and improve the food system. 
View Full Story

More Berkshire County Stories