Take Charge! campaign begins

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

WILLIAMSBURG - Today, Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, the Meekins Library will host the launch of Take Charge! Williamsburg, a 10-week community-wide campaign to reduce home energy use.

Participating residents will pledge to enact one or up to all five suggested energy-saving steps in their homes, which include scheduling a free home energy audit, switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs, turning down thermostats and water heaters, and taking a "kilowatt challenge" by clocking fewer kilowatt hours on a household's electric bill than in May and June of last year.

"This campaign is for every resident. There are basic no-cost or low-cost changes we can all make in our homes that can help us take control of our energy use," said Kim Boas, who chairs Williamsburg's Energy Committee. "We're challenging everyone to take the first steps and discover that saving energy means saving money too."

Local Hilltown businesses, including the local Florence Savings Bank, Brewmasters Tavern, Blue House Café, Lashco Tree Service, Williamsburg Pharmacy & Hardware, Joe's Garage and Cichy's Garage are supporting the campaign by donating raffle prizes. Raffle winners will be drawn July 4.

Residents interested in signing up for Take Charge can do so by picking up a brochure at the display at Meekins Library, or look for the Take Charge posters in Williamsburg businesses.

The brochure will soon be available on the Hilltown Sustainability Web site at www.ourworldbydesign.com, where visitors can track the town's progress and see a full list of raffle prizes.