“Go Green!” Wondering how you can play a role in addressing climate change? Curious about how to smoothly transition yourself and your family into new habits? Cooler Communities provides a free virtual platform for like-minded people to share ideas and accomplishments. And it also displays the collective impact of the efforts of participants to reduce carbon emissions. As more people join and take action, the impact increases for all to see.

Cooler Communities is an educational nonprofit program dedicated to building sustainability throughout Western Massachusetts. It connects classroom learning to climate change solutions. And now, individuals and families can join schools in pursuing solutions to create a more liveable world.  

Together with MassEnergize.org, Cooler Communities provides a virtual tool to track “Actions” that reduce personal and household carbon footprints. Each Action item includes a description of why it is a climate change solution as well as simple steps to take to accomplish it. The Actions also have activities for kids of all ages, empowering them to care for their communities.

Participants choose Actions that fit their values and lifestyles. The Actions pertain to energy efficiency, electric vehicles, solar energy, gardening, food waste, and reducing meat consumption.  

The Home Page at community.massenergize.org/CoolerCommunities has links to Events, Services, Actions, and Testimonials. Events will be added throughout the year. The Services page provides information about relevant businesses and organizations. The Actions page lists the Actions from which to choose. And the Testimonials page contains descriptions of the experiences of people who have participated in the program. Website visitors can freely explore all Pages.

Cooler Communities’ goal is to create momentum and show the collective impact, over time, of individual actions. Everyone can help make Western Massachusetts – and the Earth – a cleaner, healthier, and more beautiful place to live. 

Like the Lorax says: Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not!

To participate in the Cooler Communities program, join by clicking the green “Sign In” button on the Home Page. Participants create a profile by following the directions on the link. Cooler Communities tabulates the collective impact of participants and does not share their personal information. (The “Start Here” Action on the Action list provides more information about joining and the privacy policy.) For more information about Cooler Communities, see coolercommunities.org. 

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Submitted by Mary Jane Eustace.
Cooler Communities is a project of the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation.