Category Archives: Energy Committee

Medfield Energy Committee

September 16, 2013

AGENDA

7:30 pm in Town Hall, Warrant Room

I.  Accept minutes of last meeting – August 14, 2013

 II. GCA designation for 2014

 III.  Solar PV and PPA’s on municipal sites / OATA Application

 IV. Public Safety Building Project– status report / list of potential EE/GB measures

 V.  Solarize Massachusetts – Discussion

 VII. Other Business

 VIII. Set Date and Agenda for next meeting

The Medfield Energy Committee met last night.

• looking to proceed to have Medfield opt to become a Green Community at the next annual town meeting (ATM) under the 2008 Massachusetts Green Communities Act.  The GCA requires a (1) commitment to a plan to effect 20% savings on energy use, (2) as of right for energy projects, (3) use of energy efficient vehicles, (4) adoption of the stretch building code, and (5) adoption of expedited permitting for energy saving items.  In exchange for becoming a Green Community, the state awards grants, usually around $100,000 the first year.  Being a Green Community is the right choice both to save the town monies, as well as to reduce the town’s carbon footprint.
• solar PV installations – a municipal installation on land at the Waste Water Treatment Plant, and an exploration of other sites.  They will apply for a state DOER Owner’s Agents Technical Grant of $12,500 for assistance in determining best locations to site solar PV arrays in town.
• executed a plan to provide for energy saving inclusions in the planned municipal buildings – a list of items will be created and shared with the Building Committee, an da member will attend Building Committee meetings.
• since the Medfield Energy Committee started work in 2008, the town has reduced its energy usage by about 28-29%
• interesting websites = DSIRE.org (lists all incentives available via energy saving items)

These are the minutes from an active 7/10/13 Medfield Energy Committee meeting –

Medfield Energy Committee (MEC) Meeting Minutes

July 10, 2013, 7:30 P.M. Town Hall Warrant Room

Present: Marie Nolan, Cynthia Greene, Lee Alinsky, Fred Davis, Fred Bunger, David Temple, Charles Kellner, Osler Peterson, and Michael Sullivan.

I. Meeting called to order at 7:30 pm  The minutes of the May 22, 2013 meeting and the April 23, 2013 meeting, as amended, were approved unanimously. 

II. Medfield Permanent Planning and Building Committee (MPP&BC) update on capital projects – John Nunnari of the MPP&BC provided an update on both the Town Garage Project and the Public Safety Building Project:

            Town Garage – Town DPW has been doing the site development work for last 4 months. Castagna Construction, the GC, will start in September 2013; the construction period is expected to last 12 months.  Energy efficiency is built into the design. The building will not be LEED certified. Full project costs for the 38,000 sf building is $11 million (includes design costs, $8.5-9 million for building construction and an 8% contingency).

The garage has been designed to accommodate solar and meet 2009 IECC requirements.  VE changes included downsizing the generator and changing the AHU’s.  Energy recovery wheels were considered but value engineered (VE) out because they are expensive and the committee thought there were better ways to heat the building. Radiant heating will be in the office and garage has heat from above.  LED lighting is planned for the building.

The roof will be solar ready, however solar arrays are not part of the construction project. (The roof can structurally handle PV panels). Nunnari suggested that the Town do a PPA or partner with the private sector to install solar panels on the town garage roof as a separate project if PV is desired. 

            Public Safety Building – Project Feasibility Study is finished. Three candidates are shortlisted for Owner’s Project Manager, having an OPM is a state requirement for the project.  In September, the OPM will prepare an RFP for architectural services to start Schematic Design. October/November is when the engineers will discuss sustainable measures such as possible credits from a LEED Scorecard, PV, ground source heat pumps and other energy efficient options.

            Stretch Code Update–John Nunnari is Executive Director of AIA MA and a BSA lobbyist and government affairs committee member, and as such, is familiar with the state energy stretch code requirements and the latest developments on its renewal/update. The 2006 Green Communities Act mandated that 1) MA must adopt the latest version of a national model energy code within a year of its publication and 2) jurisdictions seeking designation as “green communities” must enforce more efficient energy standards, such as the “stretch code”.

The stretch energy code was added to the state building code in 2009 as Appendix 115 AA.  The stretch code provides a more efficient alternative to the standard energy provisions of the code that a municipality can adopt.

The MA Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) voted yesterday (July 9) to adopt the 2012 IECC with MA amendments. Generally speaking, the IECC took our stretch code and made it their base code, so currently the MA stretch code equals the base code.  Nunnari thinks that this should be an advantage when soliciting support for GCA designation for Medfield.

Nunnari recommends getting the support of all the committees in town for the stretch code and other GCA requirements before Town Meeting in 2014.

MPP&BC meets twice a month at 7 AM, first for Public Safety Building and then 2 weeks later for the Town Garage.

Nunnari recommends the MEC prepare a wish list of energy efficiency/green building measures for the MPP&BC to consider for the Public Safety Building for October/November.

III. Solar PV and PPA’s on municipal sites

As per the last MEC meeting’s request, Fred Davis spoke to Kelly Brown, our GCA regional coordinator.  He learned of an Owner’s Agent Technical Assistance grant coming out in the Fall.  The application is for up to $2,500 for technical assistance to plan a solar PV project no less than 15 kW (approx. 2,000 sf) for a roof or ground array.

It was suggested that we consider releasing an RFP for a PPA like the Town of Dartmouth.  Peterson remembered that David Cressman, the Dartmouth Town Manager who attended an MEC meeting last year, said that Dartmouth paid $5,000 for help in the process.  Cressman recommended retaining a lawyer to help structure the RFP and process.

Rules of Thumb:  1 kWh requires 100 sf of open land.  1 MW needs 4 – 5 acres.

Nolan reported that Selectman DeSorgher asked for the MEC to research hand dryers for municipal buildings, especially the schools.  Nolan provided some information to the Town Manager and the Schools Finance Director.  MEC members asked for the information to be sent to them as well.  Charles Kellner stated that he is researching their feasibility in the schools as compared to paper towels.

Nolan reported that she is researching solar carports at REI in Framingham and Massport Logan for possible applications to the Medfield site with information at a later date.  Greene stated that there are solar panels along a pedestrian walkway at Foxboro Stadium. 

Nolan reported talking to Rob Garrity, Norfolk Selectman, on his town’s landfill solar project that has recently received press (Boston Globe West dated July 7, 2013). Its solar array is one year old. Garrity said that the PV panels lie on top of a pad on the landfill and do not hurt the cap in any way.  The town building inspector and selectmen were the project’s biggest champions.

Garrity thought that the biggest hurdle will be that the MA solar carve out program is getting full.  DOER says it will have new regulations / incentives by next January.  He recommended lining up our project so that it is ready to go when state incentives are available.

If a town is putting a PV array on a landfill site, then the town will have to get DEP approval because a post-closure permit and site assignment is needed.  Garrity found that the DEP was very helpful and that the process was quick. However, Norfolk had its landfill closed for 20 years already.  Garrity suggested putting in the RFP that the respondent will have to do all the post –closure work.  Garrity will send their RFP and PPA agreement that Nolan will pass on to MEC members.  Rob said that Constellation Energy is a good resource/vendor on solar power installations.  Contact Rick Kilbourne at richard.kilbourne@constellation.com or 410.470.2518

Nolan checked in with the Medfield WWTP department about its progress on siting a solar array on its property.  It appears that the solar project is being put on hold as the site is being used for a staging area for the construction of the town garage next year.

IV. GCA designation for 2014

Fred Bunger and Lee Alinsky will put together a plan of action and schedule for seeking GCA designation in 2014.  Nolan will send a link to the recent DOER webinar on the GCA process for municipalities.

V. Progress on updating Town Energy Use and Reductions since 2008

Charles Kellner reported on the Energy Star ratings for the school buildings for this year as compared to the base December 2008 per Portfolio Manager

Wheelock:  Site Energy Intensity reduced 10.9%; Portfolio Manager Rating went from 89 to 96.

Memorial:  Site Energy Intensity reduced 23.0%; Portfolio Manager Rating went from 47 to 78.

Dale St.:  Site Energy Intensity reduced 31.7%; Portfolio Manager Rating went from 39 to 75.

Middle School:  Site Energy Intensity reduced 34.0%; Portfolio Manager Rating went from 30 to 76

High School:  Site Energy Intensity reduced 74.0%; Portfolio Manager Rating went from 14 to 76.

 He noted that as of April 2013 (the latest data available to be input into Portfolio Manager) all five of the schools are eligible for the Energy Star designation.

 VI. MEC website

Nolan reported that the Assistant Town Manager updated the MEC webpage.  See:  http://www.town.medfield.net/index.cfm/page/Medfield-Energy-Committee/pid/21398

 Nolan asked members to provide any suggestions to improve the webpage and its links for the next meeting.

 VII. Other Business

  Kingsbury Pond Grist Mill waterwheel-  Fred Davis reported on his conversation with the grist mill committee.

   DOER Electric Vehicle Incentive Program – not discussed.

 VII. Next MEC meeting will be August 14 or 21 at 7:30 p.m.

 Meeting ended at 9:50 pm.

 Respectfully submitted by:

Marie Nolan

The Medfield Energy Committee meeting last night had a lengthy and meaty report from John Nunnari of the Building Committee on the new garage and the planned public safety building.  The Medfield Energy Committee members were especially interested in the opportunities to provide input into the public safety building, which is still in the planning stages.  The garage was already in the construction document phase before town committees began to review it, so that changes could mainly only economically be made only at the edges.

The Medfield Energy Committee had a long discussion of town solar PV installations.  Norfolk was recently written up in the Globe as making $200,000 a year off its year old PV array on their closed landfill.  Mike Sullivan wants to wait another seven years before doing an array on our closed landfill as then it will be 30 years since its closure and will be deemed officially closed.  The fear is that before that time the DEP may require us to cap it anew.  The Medfield Energy Committee chair, Marie Zack Nolan questioned whether we should invest in a consultant report of our landfillt o determine whether it has been propely closed, so that we could go ahead with a PV array sooner.

The Waste Water Treatment Plant site will be available in about a year, after the DPW gets into their new garage, and the consensus was that it made sense to start the planning for a PV array on that site now.

Charlie Kellner, the Business Manage for the schools reported on the energy use reductions for the schools from 2008 to 2012.  The decreases in energy use ranged by school from about 20% (Wheelock) to three in the 30%’s range to 74% (MHS, but Charlie said because of the construction it was not a good measure for the MHS).

There was consensus that the Town of Medfield should become a Green Community.

The Grist Mill hopes to become the only water wheel generated electricity on the grid.

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Medfield Energy Committee

April 23, 2013

AGENDA

7:30 pm in Town Hall, Chenery Room

I.  Accept minutes of last meeting – March 26, 2013

II. Update on MEC/Medfield Green Energy Series 2013

            Last talk was on 4/7 –EMFs and Human Health

III. Other Events

            Participation in Medfield Green Day at Town Center/Library – 5/4

            Town Meeting –  4/29

IV. PV Feasibility at WWTP site

            Any follow-up done after 2/25-site visit and presentations

V.  Progress on updating Town Energy Use and Reductions since 2008. 

            See MEC letter in annual town reports, updated school numbers, GCA documents

VI. Other Business

            Potential Future Activities –

                        GCA designation for 2014

                        Provide support to Capital Planning & Building Committee activities –                                              DPW garage; Police/Fire Station; Hospital Hill site

                        RFP for Solar PPA’s on muni sites

                        Other

VII. Set Date and Agenda for next meeting

Energy
Committee
Meeting
Minutes
March
26,
2013,
7:30
P.M.
Town
Hall
Present:
Marie
Nolan,
Emre
Schveighoffer,
Cynthia
Greene,
Charles
Kellner,
Osler
Peterson,
and
Michael
Sullivan.
Also
present
was
Adam
Graber,
Jeff
Hyman
and
Ryan
McLaughlin.
Chairman
Nolan
called
the
meeting
to
order
at
7:30
P.M.
Greene
moved
to
accept
the
minutes
of
the
February
4,
2013
meeting,
as
amended.
Kellner
seconded
her
motion
and
the
minutes
were
approved,
unanimously.
Committee
members
discussed
the
March
13th
presentation
by
Dan
Ruben
entitled
“Keep
Your
Lifestyle,
Change
Your
Footprint”
sponsored
jointly
by
Medfield
Green
and
the
Medfield
Energy
Committee.
It
was
agreed
that
there
were
many
useful
ideas
in
the
presentation,
although
some
of
the
suggestions,
such
as
lowering
the
temperature
in
the
home
to
58
degrees,
would
be
difficult
to
do.
The
next
presentation
will
be
on
April
7,
2013
at
the
Harmony
Center
and
will
be
entitled
“EMFs
and
Human
Health”.
Nolan
also
advised
that
Medfield.TV
would
be
holding
it’s
annual
“Volunteer
Appreciation
Day
and
Annual
Meeting
at
7:00
p.m.
on
March
27th
at
the
High
School.
The
library
is
sponsoring
an
event
at
the
Gazebo
on
May
4,
9:00
a.m.
–
4
p.m.,
to
inform
residents
about
sustainable
activities
and
services
available
in
Medfield.
Graber
and
Hyman
will
try
to
attend
to
answer
questions
and
inform
residents
about
the
work
of
the
Medfield
Energy
Committee.
Nolan
has
submitted
the
Committee
report
for
inclusion
in
the
Town’s
annual
report.
She
noted
that
she
was
not
able
to
find
a
contact
at
Columbia
Gas
of
Massachusetts
to
find
out
what
the
natural
gas
consumption
was
in
Medfield.
Nolan
led
a
discussion
of
the
well-­‐attended
and
very
informative
program
presented
Saturday
morning,
March
23,
2013
by
Bob
McDonald
at
the
wastewater
treatments
plant.
McDonald
had
arranged
for
three
speakers
to
make
presentations
on
photovoltaic
solar
facilities
and
also
gave
a
tour
of
the
plant
at
the
conclusion
of
the
presentations.
Nolan
had
prepared
notes
on
the
presentation
and
distributed
them
to
MEC
members
earlier.
Presenters
included:
1)
Andy
Bakanowski-­‐Mass
Dept.
of
Resource
Management
(discussed
project
management,
i.e.
installation
and
care
of
units
once
on
line),
2)
Rich
McCarthy-­‐
Innovations
Solutions
Engineering
(discussed
third
party
funding
vs.
town
financing,
what
size
solar
farm
we
could
install
on
WWTP
property)
and
3)
Patricia
Arp-­‐Mass
DEP,
SRF
program
(discussed
state
revolving
funds
for
solar
projects,
RFP
grants
and
project
management).
Various
solar
ownership
and
financing
options
are
available
for
the
town,
including
1)
owning
the
facility
outright,
2)
leasing
land
and/or
3)
rooftop
space
to
developers
who
would
pay
for
the
installation
and
sell
the
energy
generated
to
the
Town,
which
in
turn
would
sell
it
to
the
utility
and
get
a
credit
on
its
energy
bill(s).
And
lastly,
the
Town
could
also
contract
with
a
private
facility
for
purchase
of
electricity,
which
is
generated
at
a
facility
on
privately
owned
land,
which
could
be
located
anywhere
in
the
utility’s
distribution
region.
One
presenter
shared
some
considerations
that
would
have
to
be
assessed
before
selling
solar
generated
power
in
MA.
It
is
considerably
more
complicated
to
sell
electricity
offsite,
instead
of
using
it
onsite.
State
utilities
do
not
appear
to
be
anxious
to
purchase
power
from
small
solar
photovoltaic
facilities
and
can
impose
large
connection
charges.
Before
starting,
a
study
has
to
be
done,
paid
for
by
the
facility
owner
and
the
cost
of
this
study
could
run
from
a
few
thousand
dollars
up
to
many
tens
of
thousands
of
dollars.
Also
the
utilities
could
specify
the
route
the
sold
power
would
take
to
be
fed
into
the
grid
and
the
utilities
sometimes
use
this
as
a
way
to
get
the
generator
to
pay
for
maintenance
upgrades
on
their
distribution
systems.
The
feasibility
of
small-­‐scale
hydro
was
discussed
at
the
WWTP
presentation
as
several
other
MA
communities
have
looked
into
this
as
well
as
the
MWRA.
MEC
will
continue
to
research
whether
this
is
possible
at
the
town’s
WWTP.
There
is
concern
that
the
drop
will
not
be
high
enough
to
produce
enough
power
to
make
such
a
project
economically
feasible.
Schveighoffer
wondered
whether
it
made
sense
to
concentrate
on
the
low-­‐hanging
fruit;
undertaking
small
energy
conservation
projects
that
reduced
our
energy
consumption
rather
than
trying
to
build
generating
capacity.
Nolan
said
that
that
was
what
the
town
has
been
doing
and
as
a
result,
the
town
had
reduced
its
consumption
by
30%
or
so
since
the
MEC
was
formed
in
2008
and
numbers
have
been
tracked.
She
thought
now
would
be
a
good
time
for
the
Town
to
build
some
type
of
energy
generator,
whether
that
is
solar
or
hydro
or
some
other
technology,
given
installation
prices
have
dropped
and
state
incentives
still
exist.
Schveighoffer
asked
if
the
Town
could
provide
information
on
pumping
rates
for
water
and
sewer
facilities,
monthly
energy
consumption
rates
for
buildings,
and
other
information
that
could
be
used
with
the
billing
information
collected
on
NSTAR.
This
information
could
then
be
used
to
evaluate
how
further
energy
reductions
could
best
be
accomplished.
Kellner
said
that
he
could
provide
such
information
on
school
buildings,
as
he
had
been
keeping
track
of
it
for
several
years.
He
will
get
that
information
to
Sullivan
for
circulation
to
the
rest
of
the
Committee.
Graber
and
McLaughlin
volunteered
to
prepare
charts
and/or
graphs,
based
on
the
information
collected,
showing
what
has
happened
to
the
Town’s
energy
usage.
This
information
by
building/use
was
collected
by
the
MEC
a
few
years
ago
but
should
be
updated
to
the
current
year.
An
energy
baseline
inventory
of
municipal
buildings,
vehicles,
street
and
traffic
lights,
with
a
DRAFT
energy
reduction
plan
(20%
over
5
years)
was
collected
and
prepared
previously
by
MEC,
as
it
is
a
criteria
to
be
a
MA
Green
Community.
Nolan
informed
the
Committee
that
Paul
Hurd,
the
Executive
Director
of
the
Housing
Authority
had
resigned
to
accept
a
full-­‐time
position
with
the
Winchester
Housing
Authority.
She
wondered
what
would
happen
with
the
efforts
of
the
Housing
Authority
to
reduce
its
energy
consumption.
Sullivan
will
contact
Housing
Authority
Chairman
Roberta
Lynch
to
get
an
update
on
the
Housing
Authority’s
plans
on
hiring
a
replacement
and
on
proceeding
with
its
energy
conservation
initiatives.
Graber
passed
around
a
paper
from
the
Rocky
Mountain
Research
Institute
on
energy
reduction
strategies
for
members
to
take
a
look
at.
Greene
mentioned
that
the
Institute
makes
its
research
papers
available
on-­‐line
free
of
charge.
The
Committee
discussed
what
the
goals
of
the
committee
should
be
going
forward
and
will
continue
that
discussion
at
the
next
meeting.
The
next
meeting
was
scheduled
for
April
23rd
at
7:30
p.m.
The
Committee
will
ask
the
Selectmen
to
appoint
Graber
and
McLaughlin
to
the
Committee.
Hyman
would
like
more
time
to
consider
whether
he
wished
to
be
appointed.
On
a
motion
by
Kellner,
seconded
by
Schveighoffer,
the
Committee
voted,
unanimously
to
adjourn
the
meeting
at
9:00
p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Michael
J.
Sullivan

From the Medfield Energy Committee’s David Temple (originally in the New York Times on 4/2/13) –

Slide Show

More Than Just Green

Tenants have already begun moving into the six-story Bullitt Center, in advance of its grand opening on Earth Day, April 22. With the final touches nearly complete on the 50,000-square-foot office building at 1501 East Madison Street, at the edge of the city’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, its occupants are about to embark upon an unparalleled — and very public — experiment in sustainability.

Once settled in, they will be guinea pigs in a $30 million living laboratory distinguished by its composting toilets, strict energy and water budgets and a conspicuous lack of on-site parking. To earn its environmental bragging rights, the Bullitt Center must complete a rigorous one-year certification process called the Living Building Challenge, which requires both water and energy self-sufficiency, among a list of 20 demands.

Provided that the building clears a few remaining regulatory hurdles, all its water will be supplied by rainwater collected in a 56,000-gallon cistern before being filtered and disinfected. A rooftop array of photovoltaic panels, extending beyond the building like the brim of a graduation mortarboard, will produce an estimated 230,000 kilowatt-hours a year, hopefully just enough to break even for a building that is 83 percent more efficient than the city’s typical commercial site.

The project’s backers, led by the environmentally minded Bullitt Foundation, hope to demonstrate that a carbon-neutral office space can be commercially viable and aesthetically stunning without saddling its occupants with onerous demands. And they are determined to make their strategy and performance so transparent that it can be easily copied.

Instead of tucking the mechanical and electrical rooms out of sight, for example, large plate glass windows will showcase the engineering, while quick response codes tag points of interest so tourists can use their smartphones to learn about individual elements, according to Chris Rogers, the chief executive and partner of the developer, Point32.

A kiosk in a double-height exhibition space will also let visitors access real-time measurements like the building’s indoor air quality, energy consumption, photovoltaic power production and water levels. The Bullitt Center, in fact, will be one of the planet’s most closely monitored commercial buildings, allowing managers to single out energy hogs down to the level of individual plugs, said Robert B. Peña, an associate professor of architecture in the Integrated Design Lab at the University of Washington.

If the building is still the highest-performing one of its kind 10 years from now, said Denis Hayes, president and chief executive of the Bullitt Foundation, the experiment will have failed.

The Living Building Challenge’s imperatives go far beyond those of the better-known LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. Its yearlong vetting process is designed in part to avoid the embarrassment suffered by some LEED certified buildings, where seemingly efficient buildings have proven to be much less so after the buildings have been completed and undergone energy audits.

While a number of states, counties and municipalities provide tax credits and fee reductions for LEED structures, only a few municipalities have followed suit so far for the newer Living Building Challenge. Nevertheless, proponents say that avoiding energy and water utility bills for 250 years, the expected life span of the Bullitt Center, offers its own compelling financial incentives.

The Living Building Challenge has 143 registered projects in 10 countries. Its process is so demanding, however, that only three buildings in the United States have been fully certified so far; the largest of those is an eighth the size of the Bullitt Center.

 So much potential energy savings has already been wrung out of the building in its construction that nearly half of the expected electricity use will depend on what’s plugged into the outlets. Every tenant will be expected to abide by strict annual usage budgets or pay for overages, but extra-fine electrical circuits and detailed outlet metering can help diagnose problem spots down to, say, a malfunctioning printer.

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Mr. Hayes is keenly aware that the building’s success depends upon its attractiveness to tenants, and his development team is promoting several distinctive features, including the fact that it may be the first heavy-timber midrise building erected in Seattle since the 1920s. The timber and steel frame uses native Douglas fir certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. The exposed wood ceilings on the 13-foot-high upper floors also contribute to an airy loftlike feel, with exposed steel cross braces and 10-foot-high windows that maximize daylight.

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More Than Just Green

Another signature feature, a glass-enclosed stairwell that Mr. Hayes has named the “irresistible stairway,” rewards climbers with panoramic views of downtown and Puget Sound. The behavioral carrot, aimed at promoting both health and energy conservation, has been juxtaposed with the stick of a slow and less conveniently sited elevator that requires key card access. With advertised lease rates of $28 to $30 a square foot, the building is in line with comparable properties.

It helps that a group of enthusiastic early adopters has already leased more than two-thirds of the available office space. That group includes several organizations and companies heavily invested in the project’s success: PAE Consulting Engineers, the building’s lead engineering firm; the developer Point32, which will manage a 40-desk co-working space; the Integrated Design Lab, which played a major consulting role and will have both office space and a 40-seat classroom; and the International Living Future Institute, which since 2006 has run the Living Building Challenge.

The pioneering spirit resonates strongly with other tenants-to-be like Michele Gomes, co-owner and chief creative officer of Interchange Media Art Productions, a video and television production company.

Ms. Gomes and her business partner are leasing two desks on the fourth floor co-working space, a “huge move up” from her company’s current office in a windowless and perpetually cold basement, she said. Even more important, Ms. Gomes is eager to work among peers who have similar sustainability values. “To have like-minded people sharing the same space, to me that’s going to be extremely inspiring,” she said.

Intentional Futures, a technology and software-focused design and engineering studio founded by former Microsoft executives, has leased the 7,900-square-foot fifth floor. Ian Sands, a co-founder and managing partner, said the 20-employee company had outgrown its office directly beneath a local broadcaster’s helipad and was looking to tap into the creative energy emanating from the city’s bustling Pike-Pine Corridor.

Although Mr. Sands admires the decision to forgo a traditional garage, he said the lack of on-site parking, coupled with Seattle’s inadequate mass transit, could create commuting headaches for employees who live in the city’s eastern suburbs and who may “have to figure out other methods or places to park nearby because they will have to drive.”

Mr. Hayes said the decision to not have on-site parking generated “spirited conversation” during the design phase. Instead, a space about the size of a three-car garage will be reserved exclusively for bicycles, while commuting bicyclists can wash away the morning sweat in one of the rainwater-fed showers on each floor.

Steve Whitney, the Bullitt Foundation’s program officer, said he had adapted to his new work space by buying a second bike.

On a partly cloudy afternoon in early March, Mr. Whitney, Mr. Hayes, and three other Bullitt Foundation employees gathered in a glass-walled conference room in their sixth floor office to offer some admittedly biased first impressions.

Less than a week after moving from a nearly windowless brick carriage house, the employees were still amazed by the spectacular views, ample natural light and almost distracting quiet. The composting toilets, though, remained a source of curiosity even for them, and early discussions have centered on the pulse of foam that cascades down the inner rim of each funnel-shaped bowl to expedite its delivery to the waiting composters below.

Two weeks later, Mr. Peña led a tour group of corporate real estate professionals through the bowels of the Bullitt Center to check out the business end of the 24 toilets. Two rows of five bright blue aerobic composters, each the “size of a Fiat 500,” he figured, were busily doing their thing — so efficiently that the first compost extraction would not be required for another 18 months, when the resulting mulch will be commingled with other compost from King County.

But do they smell? Mr. Peña invited his tour group of 20 to inspect the boxy composters up close and determine for themselves: they did not. The aerobic process is odorless, provided that the building’s maintenance workers ensure proper ventilation and regular mixing.

Ultimately, Mr. Peña hoped the building’s novelties would become invisible as the occupants adjusted. “As much as I like to think of this building as a living laboratory, I think for the commercial tenants in this building, we also want it to be just as normal as possible,” he said.

Good Bruce Mohl article in Commonwealth Magazine on solar energy production in Massachusetts, and why it would be good for Medfield to get into municipal solar.