Lenox Environmental Committee makes more progress

LENOX – The town’s new environmental committee is moving along and has made progress on several fronts.

First, the group has decided to elect Lee Scott Laugenour as its chairman, in an organizational vote the board delayed until they were more “settled in.”

“It is an honor for you to place that faith in me,” said Mr. Laugenour after the vote.

One of the first actions the new board took at previous meetings was to begin a town composting program, which will offer subsidized composting containers to town residents.

Committee members approved purchasing the containers through a state contract for $40 apiece and selling them for $20.

The difference in the town’s purchase price and what they will be sold for is subsidized by funds from the committee.

The containers are being ordered now, and 35 people signed up that they are interested in the program at the Spring Tonic at the Lenox Library last week.

The committee will also be hosting a composting workshop, taught by the Center for Ecotechnology, on May 4 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Lenox Library to give residents more information about composting at home.

Green products

The committee’s program to increase the usage of green products, including items with lower phosphate levels, by the town’s inns and restaurants is also moving forward.

Contact has been made with several potential vendors of these products as the committee is seeking information about gathering the businesses together to bulk purchase items for lower prices.

“This is really moving along, and I will be able to have more updates every month,” said Committee Member Suky Werman.

She also explained that Haven Cafe and her business, Stonover Farm, will be purchasing green products through a company from Brooklyn called Eco Solutions as a trail run for this type of program.

Energy audit

The committee has also voted to recommend the town engages in an energy audit.

The last audit in the town happened in 2008 and pointed out several areas the town should improve and some of the solutions have been acted on.

“When I talked to [Town Manager] Greg [Federspiel], he agreed that this would be a good step for the town and that we needed a new audit,” said Board Member Jack Hackman.

Posted by Kameron Z. Spaulding on April 4, 2013. Filed under Community News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry