Rozzie Roofs Sprout Solar Panels

Photo: Eric Smalley

The Rozzie Solar Challenge is making great progress. In less than a year 11 homes have added solar panels to their roofs and 11 more are in progress. If you (or anyone you know) are interested in learning about your options for putting solar panels on your roof, there will be a workshop on Monday, May 19 at 6:30 PM in the community room at the Longfellow House.

If your roof passes an initial online screening for suitability, you can schedule a no-cost assessment to determine if your home can go solar. Everyone who has the assessment will receive $50 in Rozzie Bucks, which can be redeemed at many shops and restaurants in Roslindale.

For more info, contact Josh Lynch of Next Step Living at josh.lynch@nextsteplivinginc.com.

- Eric Smalley

The City and the Rising Sea

The April 4 issue of the Boston Globe Magazine has an article about the city's preparations for climate change: How Boston is — and should be — preparing for rising seas. The article identifies five things Boston is doing and five things Boston should be doing.

Five things Boston is doing now:

• Fostering public-private coordination
• Building with higher sea levels in mind
• Ensuring that the city's emergency services function without grid power
• Requiring developers to plan for sea-level rise
• Flood-proofing microgrids.

Five things Boston should be doing:

• Study a storm surge barrier
• Use its political and economic power to lead the state and the private sector
• Retrofit homes for flood preparedness
• Coordinate with neighboring towns and area universities
• Move vulnerable infrastructure and facilities inland
  
  

  - Eric Smalley