Spirit of Change - Winter 2008

into it. Be present. This will be an enormously valuable education.

At the end of this process the auditor offers recommendations. It keeps getting better, too. Upon leaving, many of the energy auditing companies will leave you with several compact fluorescent light bulbs just for having the audit. If you follow any of their recommendations, such as insulation or trading in old appliances for Energy Star appliances, there are major incentives and rebates for this. Remember the web sites!

So a major portion of your insulation costs and appliance replacement costs are covered, and your energy costs, along with your carbon footprint, are reduced significantly. This alone will save you thousands of dollars in energy-related costs and help to mitigate climate change. Many people and families are quite content with this, and that’s great. You’ve made a big step towards global stewardship. But wait, there’s more…

Now that your home is energy efficient, it is ready for alternative energy systems such as photo voltaic and solar thermal or wind turbines. Those of you who are better off financially may not need any further convincing about solar and wind energy for your home. For those who wonder how they will ever be able to afford this, take a look at the web sites. And if you’re worried about the paperwork to fill out for the financial incentives and rebates, most of the installation contractors help you through the process every step of the way. Recent legislation connected with the financial bailout package has further enhanced the incentives, to boot.

With all the financial incentives, many people can have solar-based systems
for between $5,000 and $10,000 out-of-pocket expenses. And the system will
pay for itself in a matter of a few years, partially depending on fluctuations in
conventional energy costs. With oil and gas, your payments last indefinitely.

Along with further reducing your carbon footprint, installing the likes of solar thermal water heaters or radiant floor heating systems or photo voltaic panels for electricity, offers a measure of independence from fossil fuels and supports the local economy, creating local jobs for installers and an increasing number of local manufacturers such as Evergreen Solar in Marlborough, MA, which manufacture photovoltaic panels. You are literally helping employ your fellow New Englanders while helping yourself and the global environment. This is a win, win, win situation!

As part of my course work, I’ve visited numerous solar and windmill
installations, and without formal statistics, it is clear there is a very high
satisfaction rate among alternative energy users, both domestically and com-

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Last Chance

to become a Massage Therapist in 500 hours. New regulations passed by the Massachusetts Board of Massage Therapy will cause our Massage Therapy training programs to be significantly longer and more expensive in the future. The class beginning in Acton on April 13th, and in Easthampton on April 14th, will be the last chance to become a licensed Massage Therapist with a 500 hour training program. Act now to save lots of time and money.

We started The Massage School 7 years ago with a simple idea - wouldn't it be great to have a massage school that taught modern massage technique, with a hands on approach to learning, at an affordable price, and with a simple, flexible, and practical class schedule. The field of Massage Therapy continues to experience high growth at a time when many other fields are facing challenges. Whether you are considering Massage Therapy as an entry to the larger world of rehabilitative medicine, wellness, or just as end in itself, please consider our common sense and affordable professional certification program.