Earth Day: Green Action in Boston

You Are Here: April 22, 2012

In this episode we explore green action in Boston in honor of Earth Day. On this show explore what Bostonians are doing to go green and what challenges they face– from the hubway bike system to buildings that create their own energy. First we take a look at the politics of the environment. To make real change, it’s essential for0 lawmakers to be involved. But what effect does that have on community efforts to go green? We examine the relationship between environmental change and the local government, and look into greenwashing– a marketing strategy used by companies to appear environmentally friendly even when they’re not. We speak with local businesses and advocates to find out the presence of greenwashing in Boston and what local companies can actually do to go green.

Buildings that create their own energy are called energy positive– or e-plus buildings and they actually exist here in Boston. We discover the development of the buildings and their effect on the community. Later, we  discuss greening your commute. The Hubway– Boston’s bike sharing program, was completed this month. The system is helping commuters cut down on costs and the city cut down on pollution. We hear about the strides Boston’s biking community has made and how our system compares to others.

LISTEN: Intro- Earth Day: Green Action in Boston
Introduction to an Earth Day special on the actions politicians and residents are taking to make Boston greener one bike and building at a time.

LISTEN: Politics of the Environment
The lawmakers fighting for environmental change. (Reporter Kathryn Barnes)

LISTEN: Boston’s Hubway Bike System
Rental bikes make for an easy, green, and cheap commute. (Reporter Jessica Dyer)

LISTEN: Greenwashing
Companies falsely marketing products as green. (Reporter Alexis Weaver)

LISTEN: Going Green in Low Income Communities
What it takes for communities to fight for a greener community with limited resources and support to do it. (Reporter Joy Powers)

LISTEN: Extended Interview: John Dalzell
He’s the senior architect in a LEED green building and sustainable development initiatives for the Boston Redevelopment Authority. (Reporter Joy Powers)

LISTEN: Exclusive Interview: Barbara Kates-Garnick
She’s the Energy Undersecretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs and discusses sustainability and local efforts to go green in Massachusetts. (Reporter Dillon Rand)

 

Producer Alyssa Edes