Cool Mass Campaign
"Cool Mass" is a ground-breaking new program that brings the strength and determination of Massachusetts residents to the fight against global warming. Cool Mass enables households across the Commonwealth to act boldly to reduce their carbon footprints.
Cool Mass Carbon Tracker
If you are a member of a Cool Mass community and would like to set up your carbon tracker tool, click here. This will take you to a page where you can set up an account, determine your carbon footprint, and start working on your carbon action plan. The Cool Mass Carbon Tracker is a partnership of the Energy Smackdown and the Mass Climate Action Network (MCAN), modeled on the Low Carbon Diet by David Gershon of the Empowerment Institute.
If you already have a Carbon Tracker account, login here...
How we live our lives is a major part of the global warming problem and solution. Our daily lifestyles represent half of America’s "carbon footprint." Residential activities also represent between 50% and 90% of a community’s carbon footprint. Household carbon emissions are "low-hanging fruit," because we can make these changes immediately without waiting for longterm solutions – laws, new technologies or alternative energy sources — to scale up. Further, engaging people builds demand for policy change and a green economy.
The Cool Mass Campaign seeks to empower 25% of the households in the state to reduce their carbon footprint 25% through three-year strategic campaigns to help between 25% and 85% of the households in chosen communities reduce their carbon footprints. Cool Mass and the participating organizations will serve as prototypes for bold and timely carbon reduction action for states and communities across America. Cool Mass is a partnership between Massachusetts Climate Action Network and Empowerment Institute. Together we provide regular training, logistical support, information and PR help, and other services to help communities succeed.
The first "wave" of Cool Mass organizations include groups in Boston, Brookline, Dedham, Milton, Newton, Braintree, Cohasset, Hull, and Winchester. These organizations will begin launching their programs in Fall 2009 and are expected to reach their goals by 2012.
We will invite applications for the second "wave" of community-based organizations in late fall 2009. Those groups that are accepted will receive training and strategic support for an expected program launch in Fall 2010.
To talk about possibly launching Cool Mass in your community, please contact Susan Altman, Cool Mass Program Manager.
The Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN)
is a coalition of locally organized groups tackling climate change by
promoting carbon-reducing practices in homes and communities;
supporting MCAN chapters and allied organizations to grow a focused
statewide movement; and communicating policy to members and leveraging
our collective voice at the state level. MCAN has active chapters in
nearly 60 communities across the Commonwealth. Get details about our mission here.
Empowerment Institute is
a consultancy specializing in the methodology of empowerment and
large-scale transformative change. Its community-based behavior-change
programs have won many awards. Empowerment Institute has published five
books on environmental behavior change, including the Low Carbon Diet, Social Change 2.0, and the Green Living Handbook.
Download this information as a PDF file.
Click here for David Gershon's slide show of the conceptual framework of Cool Mass.