Take Charge to Host Energy Saving Workshop Series

01:03PM / Friday, September 12, 2008Print Story | Email Story

North Adams - A workshop series will be held at the public libraries to educate residents on saving energy and money in their homes. Take Charge: The North Adams Campaign to Save Energy is stepping up efforts to help our community with the upcoming winter heating crisis.

These workshops will inform the community about ways to save money and energy in their homes during the approaching winter months and beyond. Everyone is feeling the affect of rising oil and gas prices and the cost of heating homes increasing exponentially. This series of free workshops will give residents the tools and information they need to battle their bills.

The first workshop, "Home Energy Use," is scheduled for September 18th at 6:30 at the North Adams Library. Mike Tillou will explore energy used in the home and educate residents on ways to save money on their home energy bills. The workshop will explore different areas of homes that use energy and ways to make this energy use most efficient.

"Insulation and Heating" will be held at the North Adams Library on October 2nd at 6:30. Bruce Harley, Technical Director for Conservation Services group, author and home energy expert will explain the importance of insulating your home. He will examine the trouble spots in homes where energy is lost and educate participants on ways to improve the insulation in their homes.

"Solar Power Options" with Chris Kilfoyle and Craig Robertson will be held on October 22nd at 6:30 at the Williamstown Library. This workshop will inform residents about solar power and the different options that are available with both solar electric and solar hot water systems. Kilfoyle, of Berkshire Photo Voltaic, installs solar electric systems across the Berkshires. Robertson, of Heliocentrix, works mostly with solar hot water and solar thermal.

The last workshop in this series,"Lowering Your Electric Bill," will be held at the Williamstown Library on October 29th at 6:30. Nancy Nylen from CET will help residents dissect their electric bill to finds ways they can save money.

All are welcome to attend and light refreshments will be served. For more information, visit the Take Charge website at www.takechargenorthadams.org.

Take Charge: The North Adams Campaign to Save Energy is committed to helping improve North Adams quality of life by making our homes and communities more energy independent. The campaign has distributed information to over 400 residents, handed out free energy saving light bulbs, and inspired the city to be more ambitious in its energy saving efforts.

Workshop Schedule:

Home Energy Use with Mike Tillou.
Thur. Sept. 18th 6:30 - North Adams Library

Insulation and Heating with Bruce Harley
Thur. Oct. 2nd, 6:30 - North Adams Library

Solar Power Options with Chris Kilfoyle and Craig Robertson
Wed. Oct. 22nd, 6:30 - Williamstown Library

Lowering Your Electric Bill With Nancy Nylen
Wed. Oct 29th 6:30 - Williamstown Library

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Extra Dalton Water Seats Stuck on Beacon Hill

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
06:21PM / Tuesday, March 03, 2026

DALTON, Mass.— The proposed amendment to the Fire District's Charter, which would expand the Board of Water Commissioners from three to five members, is still under state review.

With election season approaching, District Treasurer/Clerk Melanie Roucoulet said she has received several questions and concerns about when the Board of Water Commissioners will expand from three to five members.

During elections last May, voters approved a citizen's petition to change the board to five members in an effort to reduce the risk of Open Meeting Law violations. The change increases the number of members to have a quorum.

According to state Rep. Leigh Davis' office, the bill was passed to be engrossed in the House and is currently within the Senate Rules Committee, Roucoulet said.

State Sen. Paul Marks' office has written a letter to the committee asking for the bill to be released so it can continue through the legislative process. However, as of yet, there isn't an estimated timeline, Roucoulet said.

She said she was informed it could take up to two years.

Prudential Committee Chair Daniel Filiault explained that one challenge with the amendment is that it alters the charter, requiring a legal review to ensure it has the proper language .

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