Green Living With Ample Green

Green Living
Green living in Pittsfield, MA is a flat out success according to rankings produced by Country Home Magazine at http://www.countryhome.com. In the 2008 listing of "green cities" in the U. S. , Country Home fixed Pittsfield, MA at #24 giving it a position higher than any other east coast community and indicating that it really is possible for people who want to live "green lives" to find an obliging community in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. How can it be that Pittsfield, Massachusetts managed to edge itself into a top spot among other communities located west of the Mississippi in states like Oregon, Colorado, California and Washington?

There are a number of ways by which to evaluate how "green" a living area truly is. Whether you are talking about your own home, office space, a school or an entire city, there are some elements that give a tip off to the green quality of the area under consideration. When Country Home magazine evaluates towns and cities across the U. S. in its 2008 survey it indicated that it was looking for what communities offered by way of green power, energy policies, green buildings and the availability of locally grown food. Pittsfield exceeded expectations in several of these area and also added some green elements of its own

Green Power - In some ways local municipalities are limited in how much actual change they can make in the kinds of power upon which they rely. What cities and towns can do, in a sense is what we all can do, is to make better use of the power they have by investing in energy efficient equipment for town use. When Country Home magazine investigated Green Living in Pittsfield, MA they discovered that the town had moved ahead on the concept of amping down city equipment. Unlike many other communities , in Pittsfield all city stop lights and the city's waste water treatment can claim to be using less energy due to the use of energy efficient equipment.

No doubt those reviewing the community of Pittsfield for its green components also stumbled quickly upon the support that has been shown in Pittsfield for the use of bicycles in place of automobiles for in town travel. Bike racks have been installed in some bank parking lots and encouragement and support are given to community members who take up the two wheeler instead of burning fuel each day. Pittsfield, MA has taken the important step of working towards receiving a "bicycle friendly community" designation. While there is work yet to be done, the town of Pittsfield, MA is definitely moving in the right, that is the green, direction.

Town Energy policies - Perhaps the most visible aspect of the green trend in Pittsfield MA is the physical presence of the Center for Ecological Technology located right in the community. Its central location helps to keep citizens aware of the town's bent toward living green. Developments coming out of this center help to keep residents in Pittsfield, MA on the cutting edge of green technology with all its local applications. The town has also taken the step to work on its energy policies by joining the International Cities Local Environmental Initiatives orgainization to work on sustainability and climate related projects at the city level.

While you may not call it an official policy, the "Green Drinks" gatherings on the third Tuesday of each month in Pittsfield are unlikely to have escaped the notice of the investigating staff from Country Home magazine. "Green Drinks" serves as an early evening opportunity for those interested in environmental issues to gather together and discuss green possibilities in an informal but often productive way. It says something positive and green about the town of Pittsfield that this informal gathering has been in place for more 2 years.

Finally the activist mayor of Pittsfield, MA has put the country and his residents on notice that Pittsfield is serious about global warming by signing on to the U. S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement ( http://www.coolcities.us )

Green Buildings. Encouraging green buildings in the city of Pittsfield starts at the top, that is it begins with investing in green buildings with public dollars. One clear sign of the commitment made by the city of Pittsfield,MA to the green philosophy in building can be found in the Conte Community School. Among other positive community projects in action at the school, named for former legislator Silvio Conte, Pittsfield has installed solar panels at the Conte Community School and has ready information about the power generated through this program. As green buildings begin to grrow up across the state and the nation, having solar panels in an elementary school is certainly a commendable way to provide a very "teachable situation" for community young people in attendance.

Availability of fresh, locally grown food. Surely the selection committee working for Country Home magazine could not have mssed the ongoing farmers market in Pittsfield Throughout spring, summer and continuing until Novemeber local shoppers can get the best of locally produced fresh foods right in their own backyard. Farmers markets have been growing in popularity across the state and Pittsfield has joined the list of cities and towns where Farmers Market is both a shopping and a social experience.

Besides meeting the basic criteria for a green community, Pittsfield simply looks the part of a green community . With state and local parks abounding and a Massachusetts Audubon sanctuary in the community, people living in Pittsfield have no difficulty in picking up the theme of green. The city of Pittsfield has earned its ranking as a Top 25 Green City in the nation as well as the respect of its neighbors across the state of Massachusetts. Go green.


Green Living