By Kathy Kurtz Ferrari
Staff Writer
9/17/09
What do plastic bags, bottled water and idling cars have in common? They are among the worst abusers of our environment, according to Sarah Mills, president of Sustainable Milton, the group dedicated to raising awareness in the community to the dangers of consumerism. The group seeks to protect our ecosystem from waste by educating the public about ways to recycle and cut down on consumption.
“Our main push is to lower our carbon footprint, to get people to look at their lifestyle,” said Mills. “For example, not using the dryer so much, and air drying your clothes. Installing a programmable thermostat. Buying more energy-efficient light bulbs. Riding your bike. There are so many things you can do that can lower your bills immensely.”
Mills assumed the reins of Sustainable Milton in April from longtime community activist Laurie MacIntosh, who started the group in 2006. Since its inception, the group has gained attention for spreading the news about solar and wind energy, and even succeeding in seeing the new Milton High School become a “green building,” mounted with components such as solar panels and an intelligent lighting system that uses energy more efficiently.
Currently, the message the group is trying to convey is the dangers of drinking bottled water.
“Bottled water is hugely popular,” explained Mills. “But its success is actually damaging the quality of municipal drinking water. …We are trying to get people to drink tap water, which is regulated.”
She stressed that the cost and amount of oil involved in producing a bottle of water has huge ramifications for the environment.
“By the time the bottle is produced, packaged, transported and eventually recycled, you could fill a quarter of the bottle with oil,” Sills said. “We’re trying to extend sustainable education to people, which is so interesting. People assume things magically appear, but we’re trying to get people to think a bit about what goes on.”
The message is one that is featured in the movie “FLOW: For the Love of Water,” which the group will screen for the public at the town library Wednesday, Sept. 23. Sustainable Milton will also feature a blind taste-test of various waters to see if people can discern the difference between the town’s tap water and bottled water. (See story on Page 13.)
Also of concern for Mills is the use of plastic bags, which are made of fossil fuels, and their damage to the environment, as well as the dangers of idling cars.
“Idling vehicles for more than five minutes is actually against the law now, and people need to realize how it is reducing air quality,” Mills added. “It’s another example of raising awareness.”
Sustainable Milton has a board consisting of 10 people from the community and has more than 150 members. Their meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the library.
“We invite anyone from the community to come to our meetings,” said Sills.
The group will be includeed at ¡Celebrate Milton! on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Milton High School, where they will be offering tours, led by Bill Ritchie, director of facilities for the Milton Public Schools. The date coordinates with Green Building Open House Day, sponsored by Northeast Sustainable Energy Association. The high school received its solar panels thanks to the efforts of the Milton group, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the panels will be held in conjunction with the event.
A local green home will also be holding an open house that day. Kathy Doyle, who lives at 1047 Metropolitan Ave., will showcase her energy-efficient home, as well as her two automobiles that burn recycled vegetable oil for fuel. (See Page 12.)
The group also offers ways for local families to calculate their carbon footprint through workshops. By looking at things such as heating bills and estimating mileage driven by car or traveling by airplane, residents can become more aware of ways to cut down on their impact on the environment while also saving themselves money.
“We had three families in Milton who put themselves on a low-carbon diet, and they saved themselves between $340 to $700 on their household bills annually,” said Mills. “I think it’s a great time for people to save money. They might want to consider looking at the options.”
For more information about Sustainable Milton, visit www.sustainablemilton.org.