Summer is typically the slow season for town business and selectman’s work, and this summer has seen things slow down.

The Medfield State Hospital Redevelopment Committee has started to meet, and I have been to two of their meetings, as well as responding to their 7/17/12 memo to the Board of Selectmen with suggestions on what we should do to move their task forward.

Last night I attended the Medfield Energy Committee (MEC) meeting:

• update on Sagewell’s thermal imaging (our house pics came this week, and were really interesting)
• collaboration with Medfield Green – will attend the Farmer’s  Market 8/16/12
• EEC Block Grant not received for the Waste Water Treatment Plant – however, DOER will send out a consultant to review the plant for possible energy saving opportunities
• Tilden Village follow up – they installed new low flow toilets and new exterior doors, and MEC members will review with Jack Hurd heat saving opportunties
• PV solar site visit – area behind Wheelock School, by the WWTP, and  Solarize Massachusetts  which is for homeowners in Green  Communities Act towns (we are not).  There was some discussion about whether we should become a GCA town.
• the next MEC meeting was set for 7:30 PM on 8/8/12 at the Town House

Commercial building infrared image (Photo credit: Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs)

We just got our copies of the thermal images of our home from http://www.Sagewell.com, which they took last February.  We got six photos, perhaps because we live on a corner.  Warm spots on the house, like the windows, are red or yellow colored, indicating they are warmer, because more heat is escaping.  Looks to me like our foundation should be insulated, as there is a short row of dancing yellow ribbons at ground level, and really bright yellow basement windows.

Just after looking at the thermal images I called Anderson Windows today to order a replacement balancer,and found myself asking if they sold storm window inserts – they said they do not.  Just trying to get those reds and yellows a little darker.

It is useful information, and I recommend it to everyone.  I believe that Sagewell photographed/imaged all houses accessible from the street in town, so even if you did not sign up in advance, contact them to see if you can get access to the images of your home.

Just queried Mike and the Energy Committee about whether it makes economic sense to reverse auction our town electricity purchase, like Newton just did.

Update: Newton goes green – at a price

Mayor says contract will save an estimated $300,000

http://www.commonwealthmagazine.org/News-and-Features/Online-exclusives/2012/Spring/014-Newton-goes-green-and-expects-to-save.aspx

At the Energy Committee meeting last Thursday, Mike Sullivan handed out the attached spreadsheet, which documents a total of 31.7% savings by the Town of Medfield from 12/31/08 to date in its energy use.  Town electric use was down 40.7% and gas use was down 35.2% over those time periods.

The Medfield High School took the prize with a total energy reduction of 44.3%.  The Energy Committee’s initial baseline studies of the MHS had determined that the HVAC at the MHS had been set to run seven days a week, instead of the five days it was occupied, and that savings alone was estimated to the town to be between $40-60,000 per year.

Since there is an election next Monday, I will point out that the Energy Committee was formed at my request and initiative, when I asked the question of what Medfield should be doing to deal with global warming.

20120315-Energy savings-1-1-09 to date

The Medfield Energy Committee met last night with four people from Next Step Living, an energy auditing company that is looking to partner with the Town of Medfield to do energy audits in town.  I especially liked the news that blower door testing is part of their phase two auditing, and as I understood, costs $60, which is subject to being repaid.  Sounds like there are rebates as well.  Their added value seems to be that they do all the work themselves, to deal with the whole house.  I am looking forward to getting more information – I signed up for an energy audit myself so I can report in greater detail on the issues and what is involved.

Sagewell’s email reports residents will hear back from them in mid-April –