RECORDING: Garden for Climate Resilience (Watch Anytime!)
2025-09-30 04:20 - 16:22 (America/New_York)
“A Part of Nature, Not Apart from Nature” Trevor Smith, Regenrative Land Expert
See Recording HERE.
From drought to overwhelming rain, the last two years have been tough on the New England region. Though we have not been hit as hard as some parts of the country and of the globe, the reality of our changing climate is evident in our own gardens and open spaces. Is there anything we can do to keep our home and local landscapes healthy and thriving? The answer is YES!
Join Trevor Smith for this talk about how to garden and manage landscapes for resilience. Trevor is the Design and Education Manager for Weston Nurseries, but he also has long experience in regenerative land care, from addressing urban heat islands with greening projects to designing rain gardens and managing stormwater runoff. A part of Trevor’s presentation will look at the key element of water extremes, i.e., what can we do about too much or too little rain? In addition, Trevor will address the living systems in our yards. How can we keep soils intact and vigorous? What plant species are most adaptable? And which species are key for maintaining the biodiversity on which our land depends?
Trevor’s joy in the natural world is as deep as his commitment to ecological principles. Please bring your questions as he shares his hope for gardeners in a warming world.
This event happened at the Acton Town Hall, 472 Main St., Acton, MA, Room 204, on Wed., April 24th at 7pm. EnergizeActon.org thanks our co-sponsors—the Acton Conservation Trust and the Acton Garden Club Shirley Towle Lecture Fund—for their generosity and their vision.
EnergizeActon.org is a joint project of the Town of Acton Sustainability Office and the Acton Climate Coalition.
We meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month. Interested in volunteering? Contact us HERE.

October Clean Energy Home Tour
2025-10-25 11:00 - 14:00 | North Acton neighborhood, Address sent upon registration., Acton, Massachusetts, US
Tour the Clean Energy Home of the Month
October Focus: Heat Pumps/Gas/Solar Multi-System House
Register HERE.

Concerned about the fossil fuels that heat your home? But not be sure how to incorporate unfamiliar renewable technologies? This month’s clean energy home is a great example of homeowners who have decided to address change one step at a time. They began by reviewing their home energy efficiency and doing a thorough project of insulation–with immediate results. Then, rather than redo their entire gas system, they decided the first step was a dual fuel combo of air source heat pump and natural gas furnace. Finally, a change in their tree canopy opened up space for their latest project, rooftop solar. Their experience has been so positive that one of the homeowners has become an Acton Clean Energy Coach!
Very few households have the resources to decarbonize their homes in one fell swoop. Come and talk with these Acton neighbors about creating a multi-year plan for transitioning to clean energy. Forward motion is the key. Perhaps year one is the affordable goal of an in-depth home energy audit and using the clothes dryer less in favor on drying racks. Year two might be another affordable goal of home insulation with great rebates from Mass Save. And so on, planning toward significant change. This home tour will give you good ideas about systems big and small, timeframes, and costs.
Register HERE.
The October Clean Energy Home’s Technologies

Mass Save Insulation Program
Ducted Bosch heat- pump and high efficiency gas furnace combo
Solar panels with majority of panels facing west due to trees on south side
Eco power lawn mower and leaf blower

When: Saturday, October 25, 11am and 1pm
Where: North Acton
There will be two 1-hour sessions to see the house at 11am and 1pm.
After registration you will receive an email with the house address and specific information about parking, etc.
Pumpkin give-away to celebrate the season! Along with cider, coffee, and munchies.

EnergizeActon.org is a joint effort of the Acton Climate Coalition and the Town of Acton Sustainability Office.
Interested in lending a skill? Contact us HERE. We meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month.

Discover STEM
2025-11-07 18:00 - 20:30 | Acton Boxborough Regional High School, 36 Charter Rd, Acton, Massachusetts, US
Energize Acton Demos Energy Efficiency Technology

Join AB STEAM for the DiscoverSTEM 2025 event, exploring science, technology, engineering, and math career options. DiscoverSTEM is set up like a trade show where local STEM companies exhibit the latest technologies for students in grades 7 through 12 and for the community. Exhibitors are representatives from diverse fields who showcase about their products, services, ideas, and inventions and share the real-world usage of STEM.
EnergizeActon.org will be one of the exhibitors, highlighting the tools used to increase home energy efficiency, such as infrared cameras to pinpoint heating/cooling gaps in home/building envelopes.
DiscoverSTEM 2025 is sponsored by AB STEAM (Acton Boxborough Science/Technology/Engineering/Art/Math). AB STEAM is a non-profit community organization dedicated to 1) providing family-oriented math, science and art activities and events; 2) collaborating with parents, students, schools, community leaders and business partners; and 3) promoting resources that enrich Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) education in our community.

RECORDING -- The Trees Are Speaking: Dispatches from the Salmon Forests
2025-12-31 00:05 - 23:55
The Trees Are Speaking: Dispatches from the Salmon Forests
SEE THE RECORDING HERE.

“What we’re really talking about when we talk about forests isn’t only about the trees, and it certainly isn’t only about the lumber; it’s about the relationships.” Lynda V. Mapes

Registration for this event has closed, however we are pleased to provide the recording HERE.
Unfortunately, we have only the author’s slides and audio. Her initial slide is up for quite some time, which might seem like an error, but please presevere! Lynda’s talk is wonderful! And varied slides do come up.

This work focuses on the critical role of forests everywhere, but especially on both coasts of the U.S., and on the role of indigenous voices in advocating for ecosystem integrity.
Do you look at your own yard and see stressed trees? Spruces dying back? Fir trees struggling? The heart-wrenching loss of beautiful beeches to beech leaf disease? What is the connection between our local trees and the health of our forests? Increasingly, we recognize the importance of forests for key ecological functions, such as clean air, clean water, important pollinator/wildlife populations, carbon storage, and a balanced climate. So how are our forests doing? And how can we advocate for trees, near and far?
Lynda V. Mapes, award-winning environmental journalist for the Seattle Times, was inspired to write The Trees Are Speaking after exploring the richness of old growth forests in the Northwest U.S. and Canada. But she also came face to face with the widespread destruction of these forests. Mapes writes, “The book therefore became a witness not only to the incredible ecological and cultural values of these forests but to the connected history of their loss, beginning on the East Coast in Maine and repeated across the United States and continuing over the border into Canada, even today.”
But not all is gloom. Mapes also outlines the resilience of nature, the insights and perseverance of First Nations people who have raised their voices to protect and renew ecosystems, understandings of our inter-relatedness uncovered by scientists, and even new approaches to commercial forestry.
Please join us.

This talk is co-sponsored by the Acton Conservation Trust, the Acton Garden Club Shirley Towle Lecture Fund, the Silver Unicorn Bookstore, and EnergizeActon.org.

EnergizeActon.org is a joint effort of the Acton Climate Coalition and the Town of Acton Sustainability Office. Interested in lending a skill? Contact us HERE. We meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month.

Biosphere Book Club - Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane
2026-01-30 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
The Biosphere Book Group is an experiment!
Join us to read authors who reflect on climate vis-à-vis the health of human and ecological communities.

Our first author is Robert Macfarlane who has received acclaim for his 2025 book, Is a River Alive?
We know that folks have many demands on their time. As much as we would like to read on a regular basis, this goal is often difficult. So, the Biosphere Book Group will be “text-based,” that is, each session leader will read the book, pull out key quotes, and plan questions or reflections that can involve all the participants, whether they have read the book or not. Of course, if you have time to tackle the book, that enriches the experience for you! But reading the book before our meeting session is not required. The session page of quotes and questions, along with the zoom link, will go out to registered participants the Friday before each session.
Our first session will be online, but perhaps we might meet in person at times, depending on our participants. The idea is to explore a different book every 2 months, for 6 sessions per year.
The true goal is to foster discussion about our extraordinary, yet endangered biosphere. What are researchers, scientists, journalists, and authors saying about the natural world? Can clean energy advances, government policy, and life style choices make a difference? What are we ourselves noticing and thinking? What gives us joy? What leaves us deeply concerned? Can we create a sense of community, however humble, that gives us strength? Can that sense of community help us to make a concrete difference? Big questions aside, pour yourself a cup of tea or other beverage, have a good time, and celebrate the written word!

Solar without federal incentives: why it still works and what options exist
2026-02-18 19:00 - 20:00
Thinking about solar but not sure where to start? Join our webinar to learn how solar works, what options are available, and how it can help lower energy costs while supporting a cleaner, healthier community!
Register: www.tinyurl.com/home-solar-webinar

Clean Energy Home Tour -- Focus: SOLAR SHINGLES!
2026-03-01 11:00 - 14:00 | Address shared upon registration, Strawberry Hill Rd, Acton, MA
Clean Energy Home Tour
March 2026 Focus on Solar Shingles
“David Martin was top notch! We will be following up with him.” 2023 Clean Energy Tour
“This went way beyond my expectations!” 2024 Clean Energy Tour
Register HERE.
People know about rooftop solar panels and the great long-term savings on electricity bills. But what about SOLAR SHINGLES? Is this the new way to save? Join the Energize Acton March Clean Energy Home Tour and see a house that has been a model for many clean energy innovations, now including solar shingles! Acton Clean Energy Coach David Martin is delighted to show you this new update to his home and explain how it compares with traditional solar. This house is also unique because it has both a standard mini-split heat pump and a larger heat pump to hot water system. Feel the comfort level for yourself and talk with David Martin about his experience moving the home from fossil fuel heating and cooling to cleaner energy systems. David has experience with a wide variety of clean energy technologies.
When: Sunday, March 1st with an 11:00am tour and a 1:00pm tour.
Where: South Acton (Address sent unpon registration.)
The technologies you will see in this home include:

Solar Shingles
Hydronics whole-house heat pump
Mini-split heat pump
Heat pump dryer
Heat pump water heater
Induction range
EV and Electric car chargers
Battery-electric hard tools (lawn mower, snow blower, chain saw, etc.)

There will be two 1-hour sessions to see the house at 11am and 1pm.
Register HERE.
After registration you will receive an email with the house address and specific information about parking, etc. Coffee and snacks will be provided. Also, there will be handouts about state incentives as well as background material about the technologies you will see..
EnergizeActon.org is co-sponsored by the Acton Climate Coalition and the Town of Acton Sustainability Office.
Do you have ideas or a talent you would like to contribute? Please contact us at EnergizeActon.org@gmail.com. The Energize Acton team meets the 1st Wednesday of each month.

From Gas to Induction: Cleaner Cooking for Your Home and Climate
2026-03-19 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Explore the Wonderful World of Induction Cooktops!
Learn, ask questions, and find out how incentives can help you make the change.
Registration at bit.ly/cleaner-cooking.
You may have heard more people talking about switching from gas to induction cooking—and for good reason. Induction cooktops offer a cleaner, safer, and more efficient way to cook, while helping reduce indoor air pollution and supporting your home electrification journey. Join Andee Krasner, of Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility, to learn more about health impacts of gas cooking and how induction is a comparable alternative.
Here’s why induction cooking is gaining popularity across Massachusetts:
Cleaner and healthier indoor air
Gas stoves release pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and methane into your home. Recent studies in Europe and the United States indicate that gas stoves have serious respiratory risks, including increased asthma rates for children, from the off gassing during cooking and even when the stove is off. (See The Stanford Report, May 4, 2024) Induction cooktops produce no on-site emissions, helping create a healthier indoor environment for you and your family.
Faster, safer, and more efficient cooking
Induction uses magnetic technology to heat your cookware directly, making it faster than gas and traditional electric stoves. The surface stays cooler, reducing burn risks and improving safety.
Save energy and reduce emissions
Induction cooktops are highly efficient, using less energy and supporting Massachusetts’ transition to cleaner electricity. They’re an important step toward an all-electric, climate-friendly home.
Incentives can help lower the cost
Massachusetts and local programs offer rebates and incentives that can make switching to induction more affordable than you might expect.
📣 Curious if induction is right for you?
Join our free webinar to learn how induction works, compare costs, explore available incentives, and hear answers to common questions from local experts.

Registration at bit.ly/cleaner-cooking.
. Sponsored by MassEnergize.org and EnergizeActon.org.

Biosphere Book Club -- Book #2: Abundance
2026-03-25 19:00 - 20:15 | Zoom
We Foster Reflections on Climate and Environment!
Our March 2026 Book is Abundance, by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson.
Please register HERE.
Of all the books that Energize Acton volunteers display at community events, this book–Abundance, by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson–has generated the most enthusiasm and interest.
The blurb that went out with the book calls it a “once-in-a-generation, paradigm-shifting call to renew a politics of plenty, face up to the failures of liberal governance, and abandon the chosen scarcities that have deformed American life.” Katherine Sypher, of NPR, writes, “The woes of the world can be paralyzing. It was refreshing, therefore, to be called to action by Abundance. Well-known journalists and podcast hosts Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson argue that, yes, we really can build and invent our way to the better future that we want and need.”
This title focuses largely on politics and economics, but it has many connections to climate and environment. We suggest that you approach the authors’ work with an open, but critical, mind. As with every Book Club text, it is great if you can read the book, but it is not required. The host will prepare a brief outline of the text with key quotes and discussion points constructed in a way that all can participate. The Biosphere Book Club will meet every other month in 2026–January, March, May, July, September, and November. In May, we hope to try for an in-person or hybrid meeting.
To whet your thoughts for this month, here are a few initial questions.

What does abundance mean to you?
Do you or others in your family experience scarcity? E.g., related to consumer goods, healthcare/health insurance, housing, childcare, etc.?
What are the ecological and human costs of material abundance?
Have you heard of the concept, “Joy in enough”?

Big questions aside, pour yourself a cup of tea or other beverage, have a good time, and celebrate the written word!
Please register HERE.
EnergizeActon.org is sponsored by the Acton Climate Coalition and the Town of Acton Sustainability Office.
Would you like to help EnergizeActon.org? Contact us at EnergizeActon.org@gmail.com. We meet the first Wednesday of each month. However, there are many non-meeting ways to be involved. Thanks for your support!

Clean Energy SCHOOL Tour
2026-04-22 16:30 - 18:00 | 75 Spruce St., Acton, MA, 75 Spruce Street, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
The Boardwalk School Campus:
An Acton Clean Energy Success!

This April, EnergizeActon.org has a special treat—a Clean Energy SCHOOL Tour!

Please register HERE.
We like to offer home tours, so that local residents can see how clean energy technology actually works on the ground. It is also an important opportunity for people to ask questions of the host about what worked well, what might have been challenging, and what were the costs. However, seeing clean energy on a larger scale is also incredibly helpful. This event, co-sponsored with Mothers Out Front Acton, celebrates the expertise and success of leadership from the Acton-Boxborough School District alongside additional hard work and achievement from Town of Acton staff. Join us and ask how clean energy works in school and municipal buildings.
The new Gates and Douglas Schools (commonly known as the Boardwalk Campus) are an amazing accomplishment for the school district. When planners first envisioned the project, they estimated future energy efficiencies and savings. Well, the Boardwalk Campus has consistently outperformed ALL those estimates! And this is true even though not every element of the clean energy project was implemented. We invite you to tour the building and see how clean energy choices do indeed work.
In 2024, Mass Save recognized the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District as a Climate Leader for the Boardwalk Campus. Mass Save wrote that the award goes to “institutions that demonstrate excellence in reducing environmental impact and associated costs, fostering the health and well-being of students and staff, and implementing effective interdisciplinary sustainability education,” standards met by Acton “with flying colors.” The school project also won a Green Building Showcase Award, among other honors.
The Acton Exchange writes, “The building, which opened in 2022 and has drawn national attention, includes a fully electric, commercial-scale kitchen, enhanced insulation, ground-source heat pumps, demand-control ventilation, and energy recovery. Energy Use Intensity (EUI) goals for the building have exceeded state targets.”

Join us to celebrate this success!
Please Register HERE.
Apologies, but this tour is limited to 30 individuals.
We will keep a waiting list if we surpass 30 sign-ups.

Heat Pumps 101
2026-04-22 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Go Heat Pumps!

You may have heard more people in Massachusetts talking about heat pumps—and for good reason. Heat pumps are an efficient, all-electric system that can heat and cool your home while lowering emissions and improving comfort year-round. Join wonderful Bob Zogg of the HeatSmart Alliance and animated Kit Wu of the Laminar Collective to get an orientation to heat pumps, how they work, and how incentives can help you transition to clean energy.
Here’s why heat pumps are gaining popularity across Massachusetts:
Heating and cooling in one efficient system
Heat pumps provide both heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. They’re highly efficient, even in cold New England temperatures, and can help lower your energy use.
Lower emissions and a cleaner energy future
Heating with fossil fuels is one of the largest sources of climate pollution in Massachusetts. Switching to heat pumps helps reduce your home’s carbon footprint and supports the state’s transition to clean electricity.
Comfort, safety, and better indoor air quality
Heat pumps don’t burn fuel inside your home, which means no on-site combustion and fewer indoor air pollutants. They also provide steady, even heating and cooling.
Incentives can cover thousands of dollars
Programs like Mass Save offer generous rebates, 0% interest financing, and support to help make heat pumps more affordable. Additional programs through organizations like the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center may also be available.
📣 Curious if heat pumps are right for you?
Join our webinar to learn how heat pumps work, compare costs, explore available incentives, and learn how to get quotes from trusted installers.

April 22, 2026, at 7:00 PM
Register: bit.ly/heat-pumps-101
Together, we can create more comfortable homes and a cleaner energy future for our communities.

An Acton Clean Energy Coach explains his heat pump system. (Photo: K. Root Watkins)

Bioblitz! Nature of Acton and Boxborough 2026
2026-04-24 08:00 - 2026-05-04 20:30 | Acton/Boxborough Yards, Parks, and Conservation Lands, Acton, 01720, United States
Please join the Nature of Acton and Boxborough 2026 Bioblitz this April.

We invite you to document and celebrate biodiversity in Acton and Boxborough! Last year 26 participants made almost 1000 observations and identified over 500 species in the Acton and Boxborough area. Let’s make even more observations this year! How does one participate? You just need a smartphone, the directions below, and time outdoors between April 24–May 4, 2026.
Directions

To join, first create an account on iNaturalist on your phone at www.iNaturalist.org.
Then, join our Project. You can search for our Project on the Community tab on your phone.
Search for Nature of Acton and Boxborough April 2026 or click here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/nature-of-acton-and-boxborough-2026 (Please make sure you are joining the 2026 project, not the 2025 project!)

Observations can be uploaded from April 24–May 4, 2026. But the Boston Area City Nature Challenge will only count observations from April 24 to 27, so it’s important to make observations during that time period as well. For more information about the Boston Area CNC, visit: https://www.bostoncnc.org/
There are over 2,000 acres of conservation areas in Acton and Boxborough with a variety of habitats, such as cattail marshes, ponds, open fields and dense forests. These habitats host snapping turtles, reptiles, frogs, insects, birds, mammals, and many plant species. Another 3,000 acres of private land provides habitat for wildlife, including two steps outside your door! What kind of wildlife lives here? Let’s find out this April!
Then snap away at any plant, animal or fungus you see and get it on our list. Can we break 500 species this year? Who can ID the most? Taking observations of wildlife helps advance science too! According to National Geographic, “High quality data uploaded to iNaturalist become part of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, an open source database used by scientists and policy makers around the world.”
This is a fun activity for your family and to celebrate Earth Month.
This Bioblitz is a collaboration of people from the Acton Conservation Trust, the Boxborough Conservation Trust, Energize Acton, and the Town of Acton Sustainability Office, along with individuals from Green Acton, AB Steam, Acton Men’s Outdoor Club, Congregation Beth Elohim and the Discovery Museum.

Earth Week MiniFest
2026-04-24 10:00 - 12:00 | The Red House, 468 Main St, Acton, 01720, United States
Crafts
Storytime
Free Seedlings
Tree Planting
and More!

Join the Acton Sustainability Office at the “Red House,” 468 Main Street in Acton for lots of fun family activities brought to you by municipal employees and community volunteers. Just come on over! Parking is available at Town Hall and the Acton Memorial Library.
Hooray for the Earth!

Climate Goals: Why Heat Pumps Matter
2026-04-29 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Massachusetts Heat Pump Targets:
Where Do We Stand and Why Are They Important?

As the MA legislature considers cutting clean energy incentives, do climate goals still matter? Join Amanda Barker, of the Green Energy Consumers Alliance, as she looks at a specific slice of the climate picture–how we heat and cool our homes and buildings. What are Massachusetts heat pump goals and are we on track to meet them? Can heat pumps work in the north? Outlining Maine’s success story with cold weather heat pumps, she looks at new Massachusetts heating and cooling solutions, including the heat pump discount rate and the New England heat pump accelerator program. Please join us for this hopeful talk about heat pumps as part of a strong, reliable energy future.
Energize Acton is celebrating heat pumps this month (ground source heat pumps—geothermal—in the Boardwalk Campus and air source heat pumps for households). Amanda’s talk will give us a bigger view as the State of Massachusetts takes on both the challenges we face and the potential for success.
Some Background
Last fall, a Massachusetts House of Representatives committee floated the idea of a significant step back from state climate goals. After an outcry from the environmental community, this winter the Mass House of Representatives passed its new proposed climate bill* that saw improvements over the fall version. However, it still includes major funding cuts to Mass Save. In effect, without an alternative to Mass Save, this is a step back from state climate targets for clean energy. (*The Massachusetts Senate will do its own version of a climate bill and the two versions, House and Senate, will have to be reconciled.)
Some voices in the media—and in the legislature—are saying that clean energy is too costly. They claim that, by cutting back on Mass Save and slowing the transition to clean energy, the state government can lower energy costs.
Massachusetts energy costs are an incredibly valid issue. The question is, “Will reducing our commitment to clean energy also reduce heating, cooling, and electricity costs for Massachusetts residents?” Energy in New England is a tough topic! But the Green Energy Consumers Alliance will lay out the argument that achieving climate goals for heat pumps and other forms of electrification will save costs in the long run and, for many, even in the short run.
Current events bring home the reality that we live in a complicated world. Committing to renewable energy brings New England a higher degree of energy stability and reliability. Plus, the western United States (really, the west of all the Americas, from Canada to Chile) just experienced an extraordinarily hot March, racing past all previous records. This reminds us that fossil fuels also have costs. As much of the world is successfully implementing clean energy, let’s remember . . . We can do this! And it could even be affordable!

Biosphere Book Club - May Title: Braiding Sweetgrass
2026-05-27 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants
“Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy. I choose joy over despair. Not because I have my head in the sand, but because joy is what the earth gives me daily and I must return the gift.”
― Robin Wall Kimmerer

Register HERE.
Another book that has received many comments at Energize Acton book displays is Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants, by Robin Wall Kimmerer. This book has been on the New York Times bestseller list for over five years! In this age of power politics and “the art of the deal” it says something that Braiding Sweetgrass has spoken to so many people for such an extended time.
The late Jane Goodall wrote of it this way. “Robin Wall Kimmerer has written an extraordinary book, showing how the factual, objective approach of science can be enriched by the ancient knowledge of the indigenous people. It is the way she captures beauty that I love the most—the images of giant cedars and wild strawberries, a forest in the rain and a meadow of fragrant sweetgrass will stay with you long after you read the last page.”
Many of you may have already read this text or parts of it. Whether you have read it or not, we invite you to join us for a discussion of some of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s guiding principles, exploring themes such as thanksgiving, reciprocity, and our relationship to the natural world. Our last book choice, Abundance, was reviewed as a “once-in-a-generation, paradigm-shifting call.” But Braiding Sweetgrass might better fit that description! Kimmerer, a trained botanist, knows the science of plants, but she also sees them as teachers. Rather than place humans at the pinnacle of all life, her First Nations perspective teaches that “humans are the younger brothers of Creation,” with a lot to learn from other species. That is definitely a shift in outlook!
As with every Book Club text, it is great if you can read the book, but it is not required. This month will be a zoom meeting. The host will prepare a brief outline of the text with key quotes and discussion points constructed in a way that all can participate. However, if you are able to focus on a handful of chapters, please consider the chapters listed below.

Skywoman Falling
The Gift of Strawberries
Learning the Grammar of Animacy
Allegiance to Gratitude
The Honorable Harvest
The Sacred and the Superfund

Thank you for caring about the natural world and for considering our small discussion! But big themes aside, pour yourself a cup of tea or other beverage, have a good time, and join us to celebrate the written word!
Register HERE.
EnergizeActon.org is sponsored by the Acton Climate Coalition and the Town of Acton Sustainability Office.
Would you like to help EnergizeActon.org? Contact us at EnergizeActon.org@gmail.com. We meet the first Wednesday of each month. However, there are many non-meeting ways to be involved. Thanks for your support!

Clean Energy Home Tour of the Month
2026-05-30 10:00 - 13:00 | Central Acton
See Energy Updates to a 1793 Farmhouse!
Register HERE.
The home is near Acton’s historic district, but the specific address will be sent after registration. There will be two separate tours – a 10:00am Tour and a 1:00pm Tour.
Do you have an older home? Are you thinking about replacing your oil or gas furnace with high-efficiency air source heat pumps? Come visit this historic property, with a large 1793 farmhouse, and learn about the steps taken to make this home more energy efficient, including new insulation, windows, air source heat pumps and solar panels. Your hosts are eager to share what worked, what was less successful, and what actions other residents might tackle first in their own homes. This is a great opportunity to explore the unique energy challenges that come with homes built in other eras. Plus, it is an awesome property that many of us drive past every day!
We hope that one of Acton’s Clean Energy Coaches will also be on hand for the tour. There will be a 10:00am session and a 1:00pm session. As usual, coffee and snacks will be on hand, along with the latest resources from EnergizeActon.org, including the most up-to-date information on incentives.
Register HERE.
When: Saturday, May 30th with a 10:00am tour and a 1:00pm tour.
Where: Main Street, Acton (Address sent upon registration.)
The technologies you will see in this home include:

27 panel rooftop solar system;
3 air source heat pumps (ducted);
Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV);
Ultra efficient heat pump hot water heater;
Rehabilitated historical windows with storms;
Induction stove and energy star appliances;
EV (2017 Tesla) and level 2 car charger;
Fireplace with top sealing damper and makeup air vent;
24W backup generator with critical-loads electrical panel; and
Water conservation measures inside and out.

After registration you will receive an email with the house address and specific information about parking, etc. Thank you for your interest!
EnergizeActon.org is co-sponsored by the Acton Climate Coalition and the Town of Acton Sustainability Office.
Do you have ideas or a talent you would like to contribute? Please contact us at EnergizeActon.org@gmail.com. The Energize Acton team meets the 1st Wednesday of each month.

Acton Emergency Preparedness Fair
2026-06-16 17:00 - 19:00 | NARA Park Bathhouse Pavilion, 75 Quarry Rd, Acton, Massachusetts, US
Be More Resilient in the Face of Emergencies!
Acton’s Emergency Preparedness Fair is an opportunity to learn a few basics about preparedness, including the types of emergencies we might expect in our area. Explore how residents can be ready for power outages and how to be more resilient in the face of weather extremes, such as windstorms, rain “training” and flash floods, heat waves, and even fire or hurricanes. Find out how to build a ‘go kit’, what supplies you might need to have on hand for different situations, and what extra preparations are needed for kids, pets, and older adults. Please come and share your questions with Town employees and local preparedness organizations.

The event features demonstrations, giveaway items, and preparation resources, along with free food and fun activities for the kids. Find us under the eaves at the NARA Park Bathhouse Pavilion, next to the beach.

In the aftermath of an emergency, access to critical supplies may be limited. Find out how we can be better prepared, not just as individuals and families, but as a community. Indeed, as other United States and international emergencies have shown, our changing climate means that we must learn to rely on each other in new ways. The Acton Emergency Preparedness Fair is way to strengthen communication and cooperation as we move forward.
This event is sponsored by various Acton Town departments–the Sustainability Office, the Fire Department, and the Health & Human Services Department. Come by rain or shine.

The NARA Park Bathhouse is located at the first parking lot next to the pond.
Please join us! Drop in any time!

From Gas Pumps to Charging Stations: EV Basics for Everyday Drivers
2026-06-17 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Now Is the Time to Go Electric!
With local gas prices climbing toward $4.50 a gallon, the financial case for making the switch to an electric vehicle has never been stronger. Charging an EV at home on Eversource East costs the equivalent of just $2.80 per gallon – saving drivers roughly 38% per mile. And the savings don’t stop at the pump. Because EVs eliminate oil changes, spark plugs, and complex exhaust systems, they cost 30–50% less to maintain over their lifespan than gas-powered cars. All told, drivers can expect around $4,000 in total cost-of-ownership savings over the first five years.
Although the supply of new EV models is a bit unpredictable at the moment, there are still great options out there. And do not forget the used EV market, where most vehicles are also eligible for the Massachusetts MOR-EV incentives ($3500). The volunteer inputting this information just turned in a 2023 Kia EV6 with only 17,000 miles. A wonderful vehicle at a HUGE savings. We bought a 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 to replace the leased car and got a very good deal on the new vehicle. Please do not let our topsy-turvy market circumstances prevent you from finding a vehicle that you will love!
Whether you’re looking to purchase or lease, now is a great time to lock in immediate, predictable savings. Hear directly from EV drivers, get your questions answered, and take the next step to going electric. Register for the MassEnergize online webinar on June 17, 2026, 7–8pm: www.bit.ly/EV-101.
And stay tuned for the EnergizeActon.org EV Petting Zoo coming up in July. This is a wonderful yearly event for EV drives to meet up, plus potential EV drivers can check out the cars and ask lots of questions!

It's Electric! EVs, Your Home & More
2026-07-14 17:00 - 19:00 | Acton Memorial Library, 586 Main Street, Room Main Meeting Room, Acton, Massachusetts, US
Apologies, this event is POSTPONED due to the heat emergency. Please stay tuned for a new date!
Electric vehicle ownership is surging internationally. Talk with local EV drives about why!
Worldwide, households are going electric. Visit the Eversource “Energy Efficiency Experience” truck and find out how electric home heating, cooling, and appliances are healthier, more efficient, and more renewable.
OK, a lot of EV hype has disappeared from the U.S. marketplace, but electric vehicle owners still love their vehicles! With zero emissions, high performance, and low maintenance costs, EVs are fun to own. And, of course, they are critical to the effort to address our warming climate. Here in Massachusetts, there are good rebates for both new and used electric cars and trucks, plus the new managed home charging saves folks even more money compared to the gas pumps.
And this year, our EV Meet-Up will be joined by the Eversource “Energy Efficiency Experience” truck, where you can learn about other electric advances that can save you money at home, from smart thermostats to battery storage.
This celebration of EVs and all things electric is a chance for you to talk with local EV drivers and other experts, see a variety of electric vehicles—passenger models from Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet, Subaru, Kia, Hyundai, and more–along with electric vehicles purchased by the Town of Acton. We welcome all of you who are thinking about an electric vehicle. Plus, we welcome current EV drivers and folks who have recently purchased an EV. Please come and share your experiences. You can sign up to join us or simply come by!
Register HERE.
Resources will also be available addressing the following topics.

2026 EV pricing
Massachusetts incentives for new and used EVs
Increasing range of electric vehicles
Battery updates
Cost and incentives for home charging
Maintenance savings
Regenerative breaking
Vehicle handling

Look for special tips about the growing used EV market and other helpful organizations, such as the Drive Green program.
One Michigan car aficionado and EV driver, Jamie Racklyeft, wrote earlier this year, “I’m on my fourth EV now and I’m not going back: A 2025 international survey of 27,000+ EV drivers found 93% would choose another battery-electric EV, while only 1% would return to gas or diesel. . . So yes, 2026 may feel quieter than the hype years. But quieter isn’t weaker. It’s steadier. And steadiness is how lasting change actually takes hold.”
Thank you so much for your interest and expertise!
This event is part of our 2026 Climate Café summer series. The Climate Cafés aim to be an informal, helpful gathering place where Acton residents can discuss a fossil fuel free future, share experiences with clean energy technologies, and look at lifestyle choices that make a difference for our planet. Our next Climate Café is the “Celebration of Plant-Based Foods” community potluck picnic at the NARA Park Picnic Pavilion on Wednesday, July 22nd, from 6:00-8:00pm.
EnergizeActon.org is a joint effort of the Acton Climate Coalition and the Town of Acton Sustainability Office. Interested in lending a skill? Contact us HERE. We meet the 1st Wednesday of each month.

Celebration of Plant-Based Meals!
2026-07-22 18:00 - 20:00 | NARA Park Pavilions, Acton, NARA Park Pavilions, Unit 25 Ledge Rock Way, Acton, Massachusetts, US
You can do something about our climate!
Eat more plant-based meals!

We all share one activity that can have a significant impact on climate change—the food we eat! Eating more plant-based meals is an immediate and DELICIOUS way to put less CO2 into the atmosphere. Making changes to your eating habits can be done at your own pace and with little financial investment. Plus, you get to celebrate the amazing bounty of the plant world!
Please join Energize Acton and the Town of Acton Sustainability Office for our 4th Annual Celebration of Plant-Based Meals. Everyone is asked to contribute to this potluck picnic, so please bring a dish based on veggies, fruit, grains, beans, or nuts. Your contribution can be as simple or as complicated as you like. Are you on the run between soccer games? Bring a bag of cashews! Are you a vegan chef? We look forward to a non-dairy extravaganza! Any vegetarian or vegan dish is welcome. The idea is to sample favorite plant-based recipes from across the community and to give thanks for the miracle of plants.
Besides food, if possible, we ask you might bring a few other items.

Two copies of your recipe;
Your favorite veggie cookbook or name of a favorite cooking website (just to share for the evening);
A napkin and cup.

We are trying to make this a low-waste event and the Church of the Good Shepherd has generously offered to let us borrow plates and cutlery from their plastics-free kitchen. We will have back-up cups and napkins, so no worries, but we thank you for helping keep trash to a minimum.
We hope to have at least one food demo to entertain us. Plus, inspired by the book, Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer, our theme will be “Plants as Teachers.” We will have 2-3 special displays about edible plants that make a difference in the world today.
Registration is helpful but not required.
Register HERE.

EnergizeActon.org is a joint effort of the Acton Climate Coalition and the Town of Acton Sustainability Office.

Biosphere Book Club - July Title: Here Comes the Sun
2026-07-29 18:00 - 20:00 | Address shared upon registration, Strawberry Hill Rd, Acton, MA
Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization
By Bill McKibben

“No one has done more to raise the alarm about climate change or to address the problem than Bill McKibben. In Here Comes the Sun, he shows that we all have the technologies we need to move forward. If any book could make a thinking person hopeful about the future, this is it.”
― Elizabeth Kolbert, author of The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History
“Compelling… A paean to the emerging dominance of renewable energy.”
― Kirkus Reviews

If you are a clean energy advocate in the U.S., it is easy to feel discouraged in the present moment. The current administration has been extraordinarily successful in undermining forward progress on renewable energy. The powers-that-be seem determined to squeeze every last penny of profit from fossil fuels, no matter the costs to our economy, our health, or our climate.
And yet one of the country’s major voices in the fight to address climate warming, Bill McKibben, sees reasons to be hopeful. In much of the rest of the world, the adoption of solar power is surging ahead. From China to Pakistan to Egypt, solar projects are generating significant energy. This year, one very small country—Vatican City—will be the first country to more entirely off fossil fuels. When Bill McKibben was at the Vatican to mark the 10th anniversary of St. Francis’s encyclical on climate change, Laudato ‘Si (On Care for Our Common Home), McKibben quipped “Let’s henceforth concentrate on energy from Heaven, not from Hell.”
In Here Comes the Sun, will we find inspiration from the rest of the world? Can we find ways, both at the grassroots and institutional levels, to recover the solar momentum for this country? Please join the July edition of the Biosphere Book Club and share your thoughts on Bill McKibben’s latest book. As with every Book Club choice, it is great if you can read the book, but it is not required. The host will prepare a brief outline of the text with key quotes and discussion points constructed in such a way that all can participate.
For the July session, facilitator Karen invites you to an in-person picnic version of the Biosphere Book Club. Come enjoy cool beverages and summer bounty to spark our brain power. We will start at 6:00pm to facilitate both eating and reflecting. The address will be sent when you register. We plan to be outdoors if the weather cooperates.
Register HERE.
