• Almost half the world — over 3 billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day.
• The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the 41 Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (567 million people) is less than the wealth of the world’s 7 richest people combined.
• Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.
• Less than one per cent of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn’t happen.
• 1 billion children live in poverty (1 in 2 children in the world). 640 million live without adequate shelter, 400 million have no access to safe water, 270 million have no access to health services. 10.6 million died in 2003 before they reached the age of 5 (or roughly 29,000 children per day).

GREENFIELD, MA – “Cutting our energy use just makes economic sense,” said John Cariddi, Director of the Greenfield Housing Authority, as he signed the Authority up for the Greenfield 10% Challenge. “The more we save the less we need subsidies. We want to be a zero subsidy agency.”

Last winter the Greenfield Housing Authority (GHA) reduced its gas consumption by 35% compared to the previous winter. This accomplishment is part of a long-term ongoing effort by Cariddi, who has been director of the Authority for 30 years, and will be retiring at the end of September. Since 1990 he has systematically assessed the need for energy upgrades, and then found the funds to implement the recommendations. Over the past 15 years, the GHA has systematically added insulation in ceilings and walls, and now they are in the final stages of upgrading heating systems and replacing windows.

GREENFIELD, MA – The Greening Greenfield Energy Committee is very pleased to announce that Baystate Franklin Medical Center has joined the Greenfield 10% Challenge. The 10% Challenge was launched in April 2009 by the Greening Greenfield Energy Committee to challenge 10% of the businesses and residents to reduce their energy use by 10% by the end of 2010.

“We are thrilled that Baystate Franklin Medical Center, one of the largest users of energy in town, has joined our 10% Challenge,” said Becca King of the Greening Greenfield Energy Committee. “When we met with them to discuss this opportunity, we were really impressed with their commitment to energy reduction at every level - from the facility manager’s attention to details to efforts of their Green Team!”

Greenfield Survey Shows Green Results

84% Say they have Changed Behavior

GREENFIELD, MA - Eighty-four percent of members of the Greenfield 10% Challenge say they have changed their behavior since taking the Challenge, according to an e-survey sent out recently by the Greening Greenfield Energy Committee.  With more than 500 households signed onto the “save money=save energy” campaign, the 10% Challenge sampled its membership to see how things were going.