The Sirius community says its goal is sustainable living

December 28, 1999
Web posted at: 6:19 p.m. EST (2319 GMT)

In this story: 'Being safe is the best thing to do' Not survivalists RELATED STORIES, SITES

SHUTESBURY, Massachusetts (CNN) -- From a composting toilet that needs no running water, to solar panels that protect against a disabled power grid, a commune in western Massachusetts is taking a worst-case approach as it prepares for Y2K.

"We wouldn't even notice if the power went out," said Jeff Clearwater, a member of the commune, which is named Sirius, after the brightest star in the sky.

The Sirius community was formed more than 20 years ago as a spiritual eco-village committed to sustainable living. The group, now numbering 30 adults and 12 children, was already well on its way to that goal when concern about the Y2K bug prompted members to step up their efforts.

The Y2K bug could cause computer systems that read only the last two digits of a date to mistake 2000 for 1900, leading the computer to shut down or produce false information.

"We recognized that most people aren't going to do anything, so we decided to do what we can to take care of not only ourselves, in such a situation, but the neighborhood as well," said Brice Wilson, a Sirius leader.

Community member Monique Gauthier said the group decided that "being safe is the best thing to do." That meant installing solar panels which, along with gas generators, are hooked to deep-cycle batteries. The power they create is then converted for household use.

As for keeping warm, most of the houses in the commune are heated with wood -- and there's plenty of that. The commune has also stored enough food in plastic tubs to feed its members for three months. A new greenhouse will allow them to grow more of their own produce.

Sirius members reject being labeled survivalists, saying much of their preparations would have happened anyway. "To try and defend yourself from people who are in need won't work," said Wilson. "The only way that's really going to work is to find ways of cooperating together. "

But Y2K gave the group an added push.

"People were willing to put up money and loan money and donate money to the community to help us really get things in place for Y2K," Wilson told CNN. "So, in a way, it's been a blessing for us as a community."

Correspondent Kate Snow contributed to this report.

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