Something to think about during the long winter months: How can I make my home and life more energy efficient? If this piques your interest, let us know and we’ll keep you posted as we organize one or more small neighborhood discussion groups in Andover to consider this question, beginning in January.

The “Transition Streets” seven-week discussion series is an experiment in bringing neighbors together to support one another in taking simple, practical actions to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, build healthy and resilient local food systems, and live better together, with a curriculum developed by Transition U.S., a national sustainability organization.

The idea is that as people get to know one another and what actions they can take, members can spur each other on to fix drafts and leaks, install compost bins, swap ideas and recipes, share tools and skills, learn to decipher and reduce their electricity bills – and in the process, build stronger neighborhoods.

The Andover Institute, a branch of the Andover Community Association (ACA), in cooperation with the Kearsarge Valley Transition Initiative, will supply discussion handbooks and a facilitator guide at no charge; groups will meet in neighborhood homes at a time that works best for each group’s members. Interested in learning more? Contact the ACA at AndoverCommunity03216@nullGmail.Com or by phone to Susan Chase at 735-5135 and we’ll keep you posted.