THE GREEN CORNER - Dan Dibble 
With all the media coverage of new energy sources and all the
argumentation over which sources are really "Green" and which are just
"Greenwashing", you might get the idea that the answer to climate change
is in new technologies. But you would be missing the biggest and
simplest answer. Conservation of energy is the cheapest, fastest and
most sustainable option out there. It is available to all levels of
society, from the individual consumer, to businesses of all sizes, to
all levels of government. And it needs to be implemented at all those.

The Warwick Building and Energy Committee (WBEC) has done some simple
energy conserving work in town that has already made differences in both
comfort levels and money savings. The highway department did some simple
work on their buildings that has saved money. The Metcalf Chapel was air
sealed and insulated and has saved money.
 
These things are not rocket science. They are relatively cheap and easy
fixes. Some can be done by the handy person and some need specialized
equipment. For example, the WBEC insulated the basement band joists,
sealed many air leaks in the basement and kitchen and made "Winserts"
for the dining area. This was done with a small table saw and assorted
hand tools. The Town Hall was air sealed and insulated this summer by a
local company, CelluSpray. That was not a home owner project, but it
ended up being less expensive than if we had waited for the state to get
involved. We hope to do another "Winsert" workshop this fall, either at
the Town Hall or the Metcalf Chapel. Watch for the announcements and set
aside a few hours to learn how easy it is to save money, energy and the
world.
 
Don't put off those simple, easy energy conserving projects until it
gets cold. Look for the programs offered by local businesses as well as
the government programs and become a conservative.