The Cambridge Energy Alliance (CEA) has added a new staff member to help residents and businesses connect to energy efficiency and renewable energy services. The Energy Advisor position is a new addition to CEA and is a unique service not offered by most community-based efficiency organizations. Thanks to funding assistance from NSTAR, the Energy Advisor will enhance CEA’s ability to serve Cambridge customers’ energy efficiency needs. CEA is pleased to announce the hiring of Garrett Anderson, who will provide expert advice on programs, services, and products available to Cambridge residents and businesses, including: energy audit programs, project financing, utility incentives and rebates, contracting services, and other support services. Garrett Anderson comes to CEA with five years experience in home building and administering energy efficient construction projects. Prior to joining CEA, Garrett worked as a contract administrator for Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) where he led several energy savings capital projects in CHA developments. Previously, Garrett built energy efficient low-income homes for Habitat for Humanity as an AmeriCorps Volunteer in Denver, Colorado. In addition to his experience in the housing sector, Garrett has worked on political databases and provided support to campaigns across the country during the 2008 presidential election. Garrett earned his Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and his B.A. from Columbia University. Mr. Anderson has lived in Cambridge for over five years and comes to CEA with a wealth of knowledge and capability to serve Cambridge residents and businesses.

The Cambridge Energy Alliance donated the efficiency lighting supplies—bulbs initially provided by TCP, Inc.—and resources for the Area 4 exchange. In addition, Whole Foods donated food for the community volunteers and EFI provided discounts for the purchase of efficiency materials used in the community barnraisings. The communities of Reading, Boston, Waltham, Arlington, and Maynard will continue the spirit of the International Day of Action with weatherization barnraisings scheduled for the next 30 days. The buildings included homes for mentally disabled adults and a church. In addition, many houses of worship around the world and in Cambridge rang their bells 350 times on Saturday in a call for climate action. “We’re ringing our church bell because climate justice is a religious issue,” explained Rev. Fred Small, Senior Minister of First Parish in Cambridge (Unitarian Universalist). “The eighth commandment says, 'Thou shall not steal,’ and global warming steals from our own children and grandchildren. It harms most the poorest and most vulnerable people on earth, who are least responsible for causing it.” Many of the eastern Massachusetts community events ended the day by joining the Boston 350 Under Water Festival. Hundreds of citizens gathered en masse in downtown Boston's Christopher Columbus Park and engaged in positive attention-getting and imagination-catching activities. The Boston 350 event used the iconic image of sea level rise to draw attention to the threat of global climate change.