SUSTAINABILITY & RESILIENCE NEWSLETTER

December 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Resilient Lexington Formally Adopted by Select Board

On November 13, 2023, the Lexington Select Board voted unanimously to adopt the Resilient Lexington Climate Action & Resilience Plan. The plan is the cumulation of a year-long planning process that brought together the voices of residents, Town staff, community organizations, and other stakeholders. The plan builds off of the community's past work and sets a path toward a more sustainable future. It sets ambitious goals, paired with achievable actions to help us reach those goals. Thank you to all who participated in the planning process and to all who are committed to its successful implementation.

Do you notice a rebrand of this newsletter? The "SustainabLEX" logo has been replaced with the Resilient Lexington logo to better reflect the connection between the sustainability news you find here each month and the ongoing efforts to implement the actions laid out in the Resilient Lexington Climate Action & Resilience Plan.

Drive Demand for Local Renewable Energy with the Click of Button

Support local renewable energy for the price of one large fancy latte a month! Opting up to the New England Green option in Lexington’s Community Choice Program would cost the average household an extra $8 per month.

By opting up, you drive demand for local renewable energy products and support local workforce development. Opt up and learn more at MassPowerChoice.com/Lexington. 

Minimize Plastic Waste with ZeroToGo Takeout Program

ZeroToGo™ is a pilot program for reusable takeout intended to significantly reduce the use of single-use plastic containers. It is run by the Lexington Zero Waste Collaborative.

Phase 2 of the program starts today (December 1, 2023) at no cost to Lexington restaurants and without any membership requirement or cost to all members of the community. For this phase of the pilot, LexZeroWaste is introducing a new container tracking app from Recirclable, LLC. Royal India Bistro will again participate.

Nearly 1 trillion disposable food service products are used each year in the United States, resulting in 7.5 million tons of waste. ZeroToGo is creating an alternative to the wasteful status quo.

Support for the initial six-month pilot program started by LexZeroWaste was provided by a grant from the Community Endowment of Lexington, an endowed fund of the Foundation for MetroWest.

LexSORT Delivers Big Results Thanks to the Lexington Zero Waste Collaborative

In 2021, LexZeroWaste partnered with the Town to launch LexSORT, a community composting drop-off pilot initiative. The program provides a no-cost option to households wishing to divert their food waste from incineration. Since its launch, the program has resulted in over 90 tons of food waste being returned to the earth as nutrient-rich soil instead of being sent to the incinerator.

After a successful pilot period administered by LexZeroWaste, the Town has now taken over management of the program. Town staff would like to extend a big thank you to everyone at LexZeroWaste for bringing this impactful program to the community.

If you were already registered under LexZeroWaste's management, there is no need to register again. We hope you continue to take advantage of the program.

Get Clean Energy Answers from MassCEC's Clean Energy Solutions Website

Ready to take a step to make your home more climate-friendly but not sure where to start? Visit the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center's Clean Energy Solutions website where you can get all your questions answered.

• Learn about clean energy technologies
• Understand the benefits of upgrading your home
• Identify financial incentives
• See example project costs
• Read about other households' experiences

If you are interested in heat pumps, the Lexington HeatSmart Program can offer you even more tailored support through a free consultation with an Energy Advisor.

Request a LexElectrify Lawn Sign

Have you taken a climate-friendly step you'd be willing to talk to your neighbors about? Invite neighbor-to-neighbor learning by displaying a lawn sign at your home that shares what steps you have taken:

• Weatherizing your home
• Installing solar
• Installing heat pumps
• Using an electric vehicle

Maybe all four! By displaying a yard sign outside your house, you make climate action visible and invite neighbors to learn more about what they can do.

Get a Yard Sign

1. Send an email to lexcleanheat@lexingtonma.gov to get a yard sign
2. Check the boxes for the actions you have taken
3. Display the sign outside your home and talk to your neighbors!

EVENTS

Massachusetts Residential Building Code Trainings

Updates to the Residential Stretch Energy Code went into effect on January 1, 2023, and the Municipal Opt-In Specialized Code will go into effect on January 1, 2024 in Lexington. The Towns of Acton, Concord, and Lexington are hosting two in-person trainings for building professionals that will cover the recent and upcoming changes to the codes and what it means for their work.

The trainings will be run by PSD Consulting and have been approved for continuing education for MA code officials and CSL licensees.

The trainings are free for participants, but registration is required and attendance will be capped at 50 participants. Please only sign up if you work as a building professional.

Course 1: Residential Stretch Code Overview

Tuesday, December 5

1:00 - 4:00 PM

Town of Acton Public Safety Facility

371 Main St, Acton MA

Course 2: Residential Existing Buildings

Tuesday, December 12

1:00 - 4:00 PM

Cary Memorial Building, Battin Hall

1605 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington MA

TODAY: Transit Explorers

A quarter of Lexington's greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector. Mainly from people driving cars. Opting for public transportation is a key climate solution! For young people especially, learning how to navigate public transportation can also increase independence.

The Transit Explorer series helps youth (6th-12th grade) learn how to get around via Lexpress and our local MBTA buses. The MBTA session was last month, but the Lexpress session is today! It costs $10 per participant and requires registration.

Transit Explorer: Lexpress (6th - 12th grade)

Friday, December 1

1:00 - 4:00 PM

Community Center

This event is co-hosted by Cary Library, Lexington Climate Action Network (LexCAN) and the Town of Lexington Sustainability.

Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks - a Cool History of a Hot Commodity

Join journalist and historian Amy Brady and author Tajja Isen for a conversation about Brady's new book, Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks—a Cool History of a Hot Commodity. They'll dive into the unexpected ways that ice has transformed America--from ice in drinks, to sports and food storage to medical uses. Amy and Tajja will explore America's obsession with ice and its future on a warming planet.

Tuesday, December 12

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Virtual

Amy Brady is the executive director of Orion magazine and co-editor of The World as We Knew It: Dispatches from a Changing Climate. Brady has published widely on how the climate crisis continues to influence art and culture and has made appearances on the BBC, NPR, and PBS.

Tajja Isen is the author of the essay collection Some of My Best Friends, named a Best Book of the Year by outlets including Electric Literature, The Globe and Mail, and CBC Books. She is the co-editor of the anthology The World as We Knew It: Dispatches from a Changing Climate and has also edited for Catapult and The Walrus.

QUICK LINKS

Questions? 

Maggie Peard

Sustainability & Resilience Officer

(781) 698-4538

mpeard@lexingtonma.gov

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