Cohousing-L Mailing List: Sustainability committee

[Trudy Macdonald (trumac]

Hello Ruth, 

Here at Bay State Cohousing we have an Eco Committee that was established long 
before we moved in.  
Our Mandate and Charges:  To research ways to make our building a model of 
environmental sustainability.  We will explore all possible ways to reduce our 
use of fossil fuels and reduce our carbon footprint.  We will utilize all 
incentives available to reduce cost both in the short and long term. 

Since moving in, in Nov. 2022, we continue to meet monthly to explore ways to 
keep our community sustainable by reducing, reusing, recycling and composting.  
We confer with other committees, such as  meals task force, Common Spaces, 
Landscape and Gardening and Building and Maintenance committees.

We are spearheading the Solar Project and are in the process of installing 
solar panels on our roof.  We have a compost vendor to pick up our food waste 
and use composters on site for our yard waste.  We have volunteers who take all 
of our recyclable materials to the Dept. of Public Works on a biweekly bases.  
We use rain barrels to water our gardens.  We use bamboo toilet paper and paper 
towels.  We are exploring the most cost effective way of installing electric 
chargers for our 3 electric cars.   We encourage the use of eco friendly 
cleaning products and reducing the use of single use plastics by getting 
refills on products such as detergents, shampoos etc.  Our heating and cooling 
systems are all electric.  

We keep the community aware of local, city and state climate initiatives and 
encourage advocacy when needed.   

Let me know if you need further information and give me a call if you would 
like to chat.  

Best regards, 

Trudy Macdonald
Bay State Cohousing
368 Pleasant St. 
Malden, MA 02148
617-888-8788