Medford Goes Green for Harvest Your Energy Festival

Medford is holding a festival that is all about energy saving and the environment.

At Harvest Your Energy Festival, the community can see how they can save money and help the environment at the same time at Riverbend Park, behind the McGlynn School, on Saturday, Oct. 18.

The festival originated five years ago when Medford wanted to give tours of its newly built wind turbine. The alternative energy structure takes wind and turns it into electricity for the McGlynn School next door.

“Education about energy and the environment is really important to the City of Medford,” said Alicia Hunt, director of Medford’s Department of Energy and Environment and event organizer.

The festival kicks off at 11 a.m. and attendees will be able to learn about green energy and discounted heating oil, explore solar energy opportunities, go on a wind turbine tour, and attend a composting class from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

“Our big push this year is for people to bring bicycles and helmets so they can take advantage of the tours and the bike rodeo,” Hunt said.

Medford Bicycle Commission will give bicycle tours to show people how they can bike to Assembly Row Outlets in Somerville without using the roads.

“The festival will valet park the bikes,” Hunt said.

Denis MacDougall, associate environmental agent for Medford’s Department of Energy and Environment hopes the event will influence kids to start riding their bikes.

Attractions include live music, a solar powered phone charging station and a shredding truck where people can bring old paper to shred. There will be free raffles to win a Whole Foods gift basket, gift certificates for dance lessons, compost bins and more.

There will be a Medford Green Awards presentation at noon. Awards will be given to local businesses and residents who are working to save energy and help the environment.

Companies and agencies will be there to give out free home energy assessments and discounted lightbulbs.

Festival attendees will learn various home energy-saving facts, like “if you only run your dishwasher when it is full you can save electricity,” or “If you keep your refrigerator and freezer full, it uses a lot less electricity than when there’s open space,” Hunt said.

The festival ends at 2 p.m. Learn more information on the Harvest Your Energy Festival here.

Photo: 2013 Harvest Your Energy Festival