SUSTAINING COMMUNITIES

An Event of Boston University EE538, “Research for Environmental Organizations and Agencies"

April 28, 2:30-5:30pm (ET) By Zoom (see below)

Municipalities, counties and neighborhoods, with equitable state and federal support, could have the ability and resources to move positively towards sustainability. Adequate staff, training and resources for regularly engaging with new issues and the public would accelerate policy development and progress in transitioning to cleaner and safer communities. We are convening a public discussion of some key aspects of this effort. Brief reports of student research and student interviews of experts will be followed by open discussion.

2:30 Welcome and Introductions

2:40 – 3:40 Transitioning to a Community-Focused Energy System

A community-focused energy system is one that is in rapid transition to cleaner and safer energy and which is designed to provide benefits to the local economy and foster continuous innovation. Creating one involves learning about Microgrids, Grid Modernization, Community Choice Aggregation, Distributed Energy, Virtual Power Plants, System Efficiency Pricing, and Public Interest Engagement with DPUs and ISOs, among other things. Interviewers: Susan Shobeiri, Matthew Siegal, Sarah Allam, Lily Hall. Discussants: clean energy professionals James Dodenhoff, Baird Brown, Craig Lewis. Brief Research Report: Using old mines for residential geothermal. Lily Matthews.

3:40 – 4:50 Prioritizing Prevention of Common Threats to Communities. 

The value of effective Safety, Health and Environment initiatives has been proven but not every community has capacity to address long-standing threats, or new issues. Brief Research Presentations: Lead, Nathalie Chateauneuf, Katherine Rees; Engineered Nanoparticles, Anya Pimenta; Wildfire Prevention, Paige Dong; Reduction of Exposure to Asthmagens, Ramona Hoi Lam Leung. Ellen Goldberg of Clean Production Action will explain how CPA works with companies to reduce toxics in products, and discussants Elizabeth Harriman, Tiffany Skogstrom of the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction program, Julia Wolfe of the state Environmentally Preferable Purchasing program, and Bill Judd of Industrial Compliance Group will reflect on what they have heard, bringing to bear their experience in reducing toxic threats through safer substitutions.

4:50 - 5:00 Socio-psychological Aspects and Aspirations

Psychological Aspects of Our Dysfunctional Relationship with Nature: Jeremie Nsubayi. Steps to a Caring Society: Maria de Urioste Gonzales and BU Professor Ann Short.

5:00 to 5:10 – DEVELOPING APPS FOR SUSTAINABILITY - Measuring Sound to Reduce Noise, Tatiana Carrido; Avoiding Toxic Products, Makayla Gladden.

5:10 – 5:30 Open Discussion