Sustainability Archives - Page 2 of 2

2015 Carvalho & Associates, P.C. Goes Solar

February, 2015/in Climate Change, Community, Energy, Environmental, News, Sustainability /by Carvalho-admin

Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA – Carvalho & Associates, P.C.’s Massachusetts Coastal Office is now solar powered. In late 2014, Atlanta-based Carvalho & Associates, P.C., a law firm specializing in environmental, energy and real estate matters, installed a 14,000 kWh photo-voltaic (PV) solar system at the firm’s Massachusetts Coastal Office in the Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea. The system, consisting of 40 ‘Signature Black’, high efficiency PV panels and dual inverters manufactured by SunPower, was connected to the grid in January 2015 and will supply the law firm’s daytime electrical power needs. The system is backed up by a natural gas fired high efficiency backup generator, and remains connected to the grid through net metering. “PV solar power makes sense for a lot of reasons”, says the firm’s President and Founder, Michael P. Carvalho, Esq. “We hedge future energy costs by using domestically produced energy, contribute to local job creation, enjoy tax incentives and reduce our contribution to global warming. It looks cool, too,” says Carvalho.

“Underwater in Salem Sound” – Environmental Lecture Series

February, 2014/in Climate Change, Community, Environmental, Events, Regulatory Matters, Sustainability /by Carvalho-admin

MARBLEHEAD, MA – On Wednesday, February 26, 2014, Environmental Attorney Michael Carvalho will attend the Salem Sound Coastwatch lecture series, “Underwater in Salem Sound.” In this lecture series, which will be held the last Wednesday of the month January through April, experts will explore life in local coastal waters.

The Lecture Series is part of a MET (Massachusetts Environmental Trust) grant awarded to Salem Sound Coastwatch to study the issue of turbidity in Salem Harbor over the next two and a half years. Turbidity, which is cloudiness in the water column, affects the ability of the water to sustain marine life.

On January 29, 2014, Dr. Robert Buchsbaum, conservation scientist with Mass Audubon, gave an illustrated presentation on the fascinating arctic birds that are only visible in Salem Sound during the winter. These seasonal guests come to local waters for the abundant food provided by Salem Sound’s fish, snails, mussels and underwater plants.

Then in February, Dr. Brad Hubeny, professor of geologic sciences at Salem State University, will talk about “History Revealed by the Sea Floor.” Hubeny’s research includes using sediment records to reconstruct pollution and human influence on natural water bodies.

In the third session, “Changing Climate, Changing Fishes,” Dr. Mike Armstrong of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries will talk about the decline of flounder, the burgeoning squid population and the changing species of fish resulting from changing water temperatures.

The series wraps up in April with “Shellfish, Shellfish Everywhere and Not a Clam to Eat” — a look at Salem Sound’s productive, but not edible, shellfish beds, by Barbara Warren of Salem Sound Coastwatch.

“Salem Sound’s natural resources play a huge role in the ecological, social and economic life of our region,” said Warren, Coastwatch’s executive director. “This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about our great neighbor, the ocean.”

To learn more about this lecture series, please go to: Underwater-in-Salem-Sound Lecture Series.

This Lecture Series is funded in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET). MET is funded through the sale of environmental license plates. Every Massachusetts driver who purchases one of the “Preserve the Trust” license plates is contributing to the Trust and to the state’s environmental well-being.

Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association Annual Tradeshow

January, 2014/in Climate Change, Environmental, Regulatory Matters, Sustainability /by Carvalho-admin

FALMOUTH, MA – Attorney Michael Carvalho attended the The Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association Tradeshow on January 23rd – 26th, 2014, at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel in Falmouth, MA. Michael Carvalho is an avid scuba diver, a certified Divemaster and Rescue Diver, and teaches scuba diving to adults and children. He is an experienced sailor and has sailed throughout New England, the Great Lakes, Florida, the Caribbean, and the Kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific. He enjoys spending his free time scuba diving for lobsters in the Cape Ann area of Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association was established in 1963 by the fishermen, for the fishermen, and is presently the leading commercial fishing industry association in New England. On behalf of the 1,600 members, the MLA works to maintain both the industry and the resource. The MLA strives to be proactive on issues affecting the lobster industry and is active in the management process at both the state and federal levels.

The MLA communicates with its members through a monthly newsletter, email list, Facebook, Twitter and attendance at meetings. For the past 50 years, the MLA has become a trustworthy voice for the industry on important issues, and is looked to by both the fishing industry and the management community.

For more information about this event, please visit: www.lobstermen.com