Goals

Education

• Suggest ways home owners and residents can save energy and reduce resource consumption.
• Identify resources for energy audits.
• Evaluate overall electrical consumption on a per capita basis in CH as compared to other towns, and initiate an effort to reduce consumption. 
• Create awareness and change attitudes about wasteful consumption of goods and resources.

Agriculture

• Encourage consumption of locally produced foods as being fresher and healthier as well as a way to reduce transportation energy by the consumer and by food distribution networks.
• Encourage creation of a local farmers’ market or work to strengthen Meredith's farmers’ market.
• Encourage cooperative/contract growing in the region.
• Explore the creation of a firewood cooperative.

Buildings

• Identify ways to promote a reduction of resource consumption in the town’s buildings.
• Encourage the use of local building materials.
• Encourage the use of recycled and renewable materials.
• Promote the use of renewable energy sources.
• Promote a construction standard for new town construction that reduces impact on the environment.
• Promote the use of building products and systems that maintain a healthy interior environment.
• Explore the possibility of a shared heating plan for buildings in village core.

Transportation

• Encourage carpooling for commuting, shopping, and events.
• Advocate sharing of travel by picking things up for neighbors when traveling.
• Explore the availability of a biodiesel source for town commercial vehicles.            
• Encourage the town’s use of low impact vehicles as opposed to gas guzzlers.
• Enhance walking trails and bikeways in the town.
• Require the town to consider efficiency and environmental performance in the purchase of future vehicles.

Development

• Review the town master plan and ordinances for energy-saving and environment-friendly opportunities. 
• Encourage cluster development and a denser village core to preserve open undeveloped lands.
• Conduct a housing needs assessment.
• Explore cohousing options in the town.
• Encourage the town’s use of pervious paving materials.

Water/ Waste

• Conduct a local wastewater treatment analysis.
• Review the water source options in town.

Power Generation  

• Explore likely sites for wind-generation systems.
• Promote solar photovoltaic and solar thermal use.
• Explore the potential for waterpower sites in town.

Political

• Explore tax credit options for energy saving and environmentally friendly initiatives.