The Council on Sustainability is the conjoined effort of many groups and individuals, convened by the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth (UMD) Sustainability Initiative and the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD). Its goal is to provide education, advice and assistance on the broad issue of sustainability in Southeastern Massachusetts. The Council held a Regional Conference on Sustainability on April 27, 2009 at Bristol Community College with a focus on building sustainable communities. Mark Sylvia, director of the Green Communities Division of the Mass. Department of Energy Resources (DOER) gave the initial keynote address. Panel discussion on Community Energy Strategies and Greening Your Community followed. A second keynote address was delivered by Richard Heinberg. For pictures of the Sustainable Food Conference, click here. For pictures of the After Rail Conference, click here. For pictures of the formative Sustainability Exchange held on October 16, 2008, click here. For more information about the process, contact Director of the Office of Campus and Community Sustainability Susan Jennings at 508-910-6484.
 

(Top row, center) Nate Audette and Liz Schwartz of Schneider Electric in Andover, MA, answer questions at their booth in the lobby of the Jackson Arts Center at Bristol Community College. (Top row, right) Susan Jennings, director of the Office of Campus and Community Sustainability at UMD, welcomes the audience to the conference. (Middle row, left) Mark Sylvia describes the resources available through the Green Communities Division of the Mass. DOER. (Middle row, right) Co-chair of the Fairhaven Sustainability Committee, Deirdre Healy, talks about her community's efforts to raise awareness of sustainability. (Bottom row, left) Gary Cunningham and Helen Sahi of Energy New England talk about individual strategies for sustainability. (Bottom row, center) Al Oliveira of the Fall River Department of Public Works joins Trish Walberg of New England Gas Company and former City Councilor Steve Camara at lunch. (Bottom row, right) Panelists David Reed of Schneider Electric and Charlie Tavares of NSTAR Electric listen as New Bedford Energy Manager Scott Durkee describes what municipalities can do to substantially lower energy costs as part of its sustainability plan.