Category Archives: Energy Committee

Medfield Energy Committee

Posted on September 22, 2011 | Comments Off on Medfield Energy Committee

Learned at the meeting of the Medfield Energy Committee (MEC) last night –

  • The schools have already cut about $180,000 out of their former  $1 m.  per year energy budget by implementing energy saving measures.  Charlie Kellner. Business Manager for the schools, pointed out the savings are equivalent to saving the jobs of four teachers.
  • MEC will look into the possibility of the town installing a ground mounted solar panel array to generate electricity, perhaps on a tract of land near the Holmquist property, that is in eastern Medfield
    north of 27 and according to Mr. DeSorgher some people call the land “The Sand Pit”.   Just to the north is a gravel area and train track, and to the east is a powerline right of way, it is accessed by a narrow paved lane, to the west of this lane is a large hayed field Conservation Land.
  • MEC is looking to make sure any new town garage is energy efficient.
  • MEC is looking to complete its Energy Reduction Plan for the town (about 20% already saved on town energy use to date), including future purchase of fuel efficient town vehicles.
  • Making Tilden Village more energy efficient – it has electric heat – even though Tilden Village is run and paid for by the state.
  • Medfield Memorial Library will probably be the town building for which an energy audit will be sought this year.  MEC already solved the lack of sufficient lighting at the library – the bulbs deteriorate over time and needed replacement.
  • MEC will investigate use of LED lights in town.  LED lights have reportedly made tremendous advances in the past few years.
  • MEC will explore using Sagewell mass-thermal-imaging service to pinpoint the Medfield homes in greatest need of energy upgrades.  Sagewell can take thermal photos of all homes in town within two nights of driving the streets, and then will alert people to their home’s problem areas.

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Posted in Energy Committee

Medfield highlighted in Spotlight section of EPA’s June newsletter

Posted on June 2, 2011 | Comments Off on Medfield highlighted in Spotlight section of EPA’s June newsletter

Medfield Energy Committee Chair, Marie Zack Nolan, emailed the committee today to “Check out how Medfield is highlighted in the Spotlight section of the EPA June newsletter.  See link below.

Marie Zack Nolan, LEED AP BD&C”

http://www.epa.gov/region1/eco/energy/cec-monthly-update-jun2011.html

Congratulations to the Medfield Energy Committee for reducing the town’s energy usage by 19%, for saving the Town of Medfield so much money on its annual energy costs, and for reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions by the Town of Medfield.  Below is what the EPA said in that June newsletter:

“Spotlight: Community Energy Challenge Member Medfield, MA, has met the Challenge by reducing energy use by more than 10%!
US EPA Region 1 is proud to announce that Medfield, MA has reduced its municipal energy use by 19%!

Medfield joined the Community Energy Challenge in 2008, and has received ENERGY STAR labels at the Memorial Elementary School and the Town Hall. The label indicates a building operates at least 75% more efficiently than the nationwide average for that building category. Medfield worked on improving and upgrading their municipal facilities. Their volunteer energy committee played a vital role in these accomplishments, using their experience and expertise to assist the town with energy efficiency projects.

“It is a difficult position for a small town like us to rely on government subsidies for energy efficiency improvements; so a lot of the things we did had low up front capital investments and relatively short pay back periods” said Michael Sullivan, Town Administrator and member of the Energy Committee.

Medfield has added lighting upgrades to all municipal buildings, changed their traffic lights to LEDs, installed variable frequency drives in their water and sewage treatment facilities, and installed energy management systems for the town hall and school buildings. They recently added carbon monoxide monitors in the schools to reduce heating costs. Through these projects Medfield has saved money and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 522 metric tons of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to taking 102 cars off the road for an entire year!

Congratulations Medfield!”

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Posted in Energy Committee, Information

Medfield Town Meeting to decide on Green Communities Act

Posted on April 6, 2011 | Comments Off on Medfield Town Meeting to decide on Green Communities Act

The Medfield Energy Committee (MEC) has been leading the effort to get the Town of Medfield to become a green community under the provisions of the recently enacted Green Communities Act.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eoeeasubtopic&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Energy%2c+Utilities+%26+Clean+Technologies&L2=Green+Communities&sid=Eoeea

The GCA is a Massachusetts statute that allows towns to opt in to becoming green communities by meeting the five criteria set forth in the statute, which then qualifies the town to share in the $10 m. of state wide grant monies that will be available each year.  DOER gives preferences to new adoptees, so if Medfield adopts the GCA we are assured of receiving a grant of at least $125,000 the first year to do with as we see fit.

The five criteria are all things that appear to make eminent sense, especially to anyone interested in slowing global warming (yes the Town of Medfield can do a part):

1 – town policy to purchase fuel efficient vehicles (this only effects eight town vehicles and only when they are to be replaced, as DPW and public safety vehicles are mostly exempt)
2 – town commitment to reducing energy usage by 20% (the MEC has almost done this already – thank you MEC)
3 – adopt the stretch building code (Massachusetts will adopt this in 2012 anyway, and while it does result in an average house costing about $3,000 more, the pay back in energy savings is only around three years)
4 – expedited permitting (already done, as Medfield already acts on permits within the one year required)
5 – as-of-right siting for renewal or alternative energy facilities (this would be met by clearly allowing for the R&D and manufacturing of renewal or alternate energy items in the land primarily along West Street and Route 27 in the areas that are already zoned for Industrial Extensive manufacturing uses)

For the GCA to be adopted by the Town of Medfield, there are bylaw changes that need to get adopted at the town meeting on 4/25, to adopt the stretch building code and to revise the zoning as per #5 above.

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Posted in Energy Committee, Information, Select Board matters

Energy savings per Medfield Energy Committee at its 9/17/09 meeting

Posted on September 22, 2009 | Comments Off on Energy savings per Medfield Energy Committee at its 9/17/09 meeting

Town Buildings Energy Efficiency Initiatives: Mike Sullivan reviewed results for 2009 (fiscal year ending July 1, 2009) showing that schools have reduced energy use on electricity and gas both by 14%. The High School cut gas use by 27% and electricity by 20%. A report from the Water Dept. indicates a reduction of 24% with switching to variable speed pumps. The conversion to all LED traffic signals is complete. Town Hall energy use us up 6%. Library lighting recommendations will be planned. Mike will get reports from the other Town Departments and a summary chart will be prepared.

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Posted in Energy Committee