Heat Pump Coaches at the “General”

Are you considering heat pumps for heating & cooling your home or heating your water – but don’t know where to start? The Harvard Climate Initiative wants to help. We host meet-ups with volunteer coaches a few times a year. Here’s your chance to get your questions answered.

Destination: Nature 2024

This exhibit highlights the beauty of the diverse environments of the Nashua River Watershed: the river with all its tributaries, its wildlife, plant life and the lands and communities it nourishes.

Coaching Programs Coming in 2025

Heat Pumps Coaching Meeting in January and Solar Coaching Meeting in March. Harvard neighbors will be there to help those interested in learning about the options.

Bromfield Student Builds Temperature Tower

Don’t miss this short video of the creative, self-directed project from Bromfield student Ibrahim Shabra. He has built a tower that represents the rising global temperatures over time. Congratulations, Ibraham, on an innovative and graphic demonstration of our planet’s temperature rise!

Zoom link 2024-09-19

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Specialized Energy Code Adopted @ Town Meeting

The Specialized Energy Code (Fall Town Meeting Article 13) was adopted! It enhances Harvard’s existing building code to promote energy efficiency, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and encourage electrification.

What Can One Person Do?

The climate crisis is a defining challenge of our time, one that demands our immediate attention and action. While the consequences of inaction may seem daunting, the urgency of addressing the crisis offers us an extraordinary opportunity to make a positive impact.

Harvard’s Small Farms: Spotlight on Good Spirits Farm

Learn about one small local farm that uses regenerative agriculture and permaculture. Good Spirits Farm co-owner was interviewed about organic farming and apiary and techniques used to avoid pesticides, fungicides or other synthetic chemicals and still grow healthy produce.

Bill McKibben

If you’ve ever had trouble explaining to people why climate change is not just important but urgent, this video might be useful.

Preparedness

Follow these advised preparations for snowstorms, hurricanes, flooding, extreme temperatures and other climate related events.

Take Action

Do you want to make a difference and improve your impact on the climate? We have all the tools you need to make improvements large and small. Come learn more!

Know Your Land Series

At the heart of this endeavor is the series’ mission: to empower our community with knowledge about Harvard’s natural environments. By understanding how to care for and protect our land, we can ensure its health and beauty for generations to come.

4th of July Parade 2024

The Harvard Climate Initiative entertained the crowds in the 4th of July Parade with an orchestrated brigade of electric lawnmowers and blowers, choreographed to “I’ve Got the Power.”

We Are Going Green Flags

The Going Green flags make the invisible visible. Being visible can encourage others to take positive steps to reduce their carbon footprint. 

Heat Pump Coaches

Replacing heating and cooling systems in a home can be daunting but we have coaches who can help you.

Progress

Check out the progress on addressing climate change locally, statewide, nationally and internationally.

Heat Pump Coaches at the “General”

Are you interested in installing a heat pump for your heating and cooling but don’t know where to start? The Harvard Climate Initiative wants to help. We host meet-ups with volunteer coaches a few times a year. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates.

Climate Interactive Simulator by Tamara Ledley

Acting like world leaders in deciding how to address climate change, Bromfield students and community members worked together in teams to explore dozens of policies that impact climate change. They selected some, and used the simulator to understand the worldwide impact their decisions likely make.

Our Team

Our organization is driven by a dedicated team of volunteers. We offer a variety of ways to get involved, from committee positions to project-based assistance. If you’re looking to contribute your skills and time, we welcome you to join us!

Town Resolution

At the October 16, 2021 Town Meeting, a clear majority of the citizens of Harvard voted for The Climate Initiative Town Resolution. The resolution acknowledges the impact of climate change on our town, supports the state’s goal to reduce greenhouse emissions by 80% by 2050, and requires that the town consider environmental impact in municipal “purchases, public projects, processes, and policies.”

Climate Action Plan 2022

On Dec 6 2022, the Select Board unanimously voted to approve a Climate Action Plan for the town. This plan was developed by the Climate Initiative Committee in conjunction with several other boards and committees in town.

Replacing invasives at Bromfield

The Bromfield Green Team and The Harvard Garden Club began the process of planning, securing grants, and replacing the invasive plants with native plants around the entrances of the Bromfield School.

Other resources

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Car Idling at Bromfield

The Bromfield Green Team wants parents to stop idling their cars when they pick up their children from school. Actually, they want you to stop idling your car anywhere. Hear what they have to say.

Community Voices

Stories from your neighbors, maybe your friends, of what impacts they are seeing in their own lives, be it school, farming, work or recreation. You will find articles, videos and photographs they want to share.

Initiatives

Our Initiatives are based on our Climate Action Plan and are comprehensive approaches towards reaching our goals.

HC2: Harvard Community Conferences – Climate Stories

This student conference focused on stories and observations of climate change seen through the eyes of local residents. These stories touched upon personal experience, thoughts, and reflections about climate change. Student organizer Michele Buni, a Bromfield student, gathered a great line-up of speakers.

Know Your Land / Conservation Restrictions

Protecting land in our Commonwealth is encouraged and supported by our state government. State laws guide these protections. The State also offers financial incentives. During this webinar, HCIC brings you two speakers who will provide information on these laws and opportunities.

Your Solar Solution

This presentation was given by Mark Durrenberger, President of New England Clean Energy and Sam Kooharian from EnergySage. The discussion demystified the solar options that are available to you. They covered Residential Solar, Battery Backup and Solar Farms.

Our History

Established in December 2021, Harvard’s Climate Initiative is working to make the Town of Harvard more resilient and sustainable in the face of climate change challenges.

Events

Learn about upcoming events or relive past events, some of them recorded by HCTV.

Earth Day Show & Tell Around Town

Events were held in 2022 & 2023. These events offered the opportunity for residents to meet and talk with fellow residents who have taken steps to reduce their carbon footprint through actions small and large.