Category Archives: Green

Stretch Code

Posted on April 11, 2016 | Comments Off on Stretch Code

MEC

 

Letter to the Editor

 

Help Medfield qualify for a $148,000 Energy Savings grant. Vote YES on Article #34.

 

The Medfield Energy Committee has been working for 4 years to designate the Town of Medfield as a Green Community.  To qualify the Town needs to approve the Stretch Energy Code at the April 25th Town Meeting.  Once Medfield is a Green Community it will receive an award of $148,000 with the potential of $250,000 annual grants thereafter from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.

 

 

The Massachusetts State Building Code includes a Base Energy Code.  Massachusetts regularly updates the State Building Code, including the Base Energy Code, to improve quality, safety and energy efficiency of construction in the Commonwealth.  The Building Code is the “stick” to encourage improvements in construction. By adopting the Stretch Energy Code, Medfield, like 161 other Massachusetts towns, becomes an early adopter of what eventually will become the next State Building Code.  The “carrot” for Medfield to be an early adopter is a grant of $148,000 which will be used to improve Town building energy efficiency.

 

 

Medfield can get the “carrot” by approving the Stretch Energy Code if we vote yes on Article #34 of the Town meeting warrant.  If it is voted down, Medfield gets the “stick” anyway in following years as the Base Energy Code is updated.

 

At the 2014 Town Meeting, the Stretch Energy Code warrant article was voted down.

 

In 2016, the situation has changed:

  1. The Massachusetts Building Code went into effect on July 1, 2014 with an updated Base Energy Code. The result is that today all new construction and renovation must meet a code that is basically the Stretch Energy Code that was rejected by the town at the April 2014 Town Meeting.
  2. The Stretch Energy Code we will vote on at this year’s Town Meeting does not include any new requirements for residential renovations or additions. The sole change from the Base Energy Code is the requirement for new residential construction to use a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index.  The HERS Index is the industry standard by which a home’s energy efficiency is measured.
  3. For new commercial buildings, the Stretch Energy Code requires the construction to be 10% more efficient than the Base Energy Code.

 

The Energy Committee, the Warrant Committee and the Board of Selectman all support the Stretch Energy Code article.

 

Please plan to attend the April 25 Town Meeting and vote YES on Article #34.

 

Fred Bunger, Chair Medfield Energy Committee

 

 

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Posted in Energy Committee, Green, Uncategorized

Stretch Code forum 4/12

Posted on April 6, 2016 | Comments Off on Stretch Code forum 4/12

MEC

Public Forum :

Green Communities / Stretch Energy Code

 

The Medfield Energy Committee invites you to attend a forum to present and discuss the plan to qualify Medfield as a Green Community.  Representatives from the Department of Energy Resources will be on hand to address any questions or concerns regarding the Stretch Energy Code.  Adoption of the Stretch Energy Code will be voted on at Town Meeting April 25.  If you are a builder, developer or realtor please plan on attending this forum.

 

 

When:        April 12 at 4 PM

Where:       Town Hall Chenery Meeting room  –  2nd floor

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Posted in Energy Committee, Green, Uncategorized

Medfield Green’s Rachel Brown’s recycling tips

Posted on December 23, 2015 | Comments Off on Medfield Green’s Rachel Brown’s recycling tips

Medfield Green

How to Dispose of Holiday Packaging and No Longer Needed Items

 

Holiday gifting produces lots of packaging, and new gifts to replace worn, or less up-to-date items. Here are Medfield’s Transfer Station and Recycling Committee’s top 5 tips for their disposal:

 

  1. Use single stream recycling for the following:
  • regular cardboard and corrugated cardboard boxes (please flatten and make sure there is no packaging inside)
  • paperboard gift boxes
  • greeting cards (except those with foil, metallic inks, or glitter)
  • gift wrap, gift bags, tissue wrap (except those with foil, metallic inks, or glitter)
  • paper shopping bags (remove any handles that are not paper).
  • catalogs and calendars

 

The following does NOT belong in single stream:

  • ribbons, bows, and tinsel
  • packing peanuts and Styrofoam (see # 2 below)
  • holiday lights
  • plastic bags (see # 2 below)

 

  1. Hold your Styrofoam #6 (coolers, packing blocks, and packing peanuts) for the special collection on January 2 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Transfer Station. Packing peanuts and bubble wrap will be accepted if bagged separately. Air-filled packaging can be “popped” and recycled with plastic bags.

 

  1. Your Christmas tree (minus ornaments and tinsel) can be disposed of for composting at the Transfer Station. Wreaths should be disposed of on the tip floor as trash due to the wiring they contain.

 

  1. Electronix Redux will be at the Transfer Station January 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will accept unwanted computers, monitors, printers, faxes, entertainment systems, and other consumer products for a small fee. Electronix Redux is at the Transfer Station on the first Saturday of the month throughout the year, so if you miss them in January you can catch them another month.

 

  1. Donate unwanted items. The Town Garage office has the Medfield Reuse & Recycle Guide that provides a valuable resource of organizations that will accept your no longer needed items. The Transfer Station also has many recycling opportunities for these items including clothing, small electrics (Goodwill), books and DVD’s. You can find the reuse guide on the Town of Medfield Website under Transfer Station Brochures.

 

Begin the New Year with the resolve to make Medfield greener!

Medfield Green

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Posted in Green, Recycling & Solid Waste

Solar interest survey

Posted on November 3, 2015 | Comments Off on Solar interest survey

solar on house

Energy Committee has a four question survey to determine level of residents’ interest in solar PV on their homes –

Below is a link to a short four-question survey that the Medfield Energy Committee has put together to help assess Medfield residents’ interest in participating in a Solarize Massachusetts program (where group purchasing of PV panels and installation result in discounts for everyone participating). Mass CEC recommends that we do one of these as part of our application process.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LJJGBXW

thanks!

Marie

Marie Zack Nolan, LEED AP BD&C

Project Manager

The Green Engineer, Inc.

O: (978) 369-8978

C: (508) 361-8786

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Posted in Energy Committee, Green

Gateway opening

Posted on October 30, 2015 | Comments Off on Gateway opening

Gateway-1

This morning was the official ribbon cutting and opening of the new Charles River overlook dubbed the Gateway at Medfield.  Over one hundred people gathered in the strong fall winds at Medfield’s newest jewel, high above the Charles –  some walked, some rode bikes, and some came on horses.  Richared DeSorgher officiated with a loud speaker’s voice honed by years in the classroom.

Richard declared it Arbor Day in town, reading the proclamation citing teh 55 trees planted at the site, and then introduced the series of speakers:

  • Carol Gladstone, DCAMM Commissioner
  • Carol I. Sanchez, DCR Commissioner (see photo below)
  • Mike Francis, TTOR Superintendent
  • Bob Zimmerman, CRWA Executive Director

Gateway-3

Bill Massaro, John Thompson, and John Harney were signaled out repeatedly for their efforts that turned the ship of the Massachusetts state away from its less expensive, simplistic, but legally sufficient cap and cover formulaic clean up, to the result that has created the state’s newest park, with dramatic views down to the Charles River below and the largest recreated wetlands in the history of the river.

Even the ruins of the old pump house has been made interesting –

MSH-pump house after

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Posted in Environmental, Events, Green, Medfield State Hospital, On being a selectman

Styrofoam Saturday 9-1

Posted on October 29, 2015 | Comments Off on Styrofoam Saturday 9-1

This from Medfield Green –

styrofoam

 

This Saturday is Week 5 of Medfield Green Month

9-1 at the Transfer Station

It’s the final week of MGM in October! 

Are you a darker shade of green

because you have been recycling all month?

 Refoam-it will be collecting Styrofoam to be recycled.  Foam items DO NOT have to display the recycling symbol 6 in the triangle with the PS underneath it, but do need to be cleaned and rinsed.  Refoamit will accept packing blocks, produce and meat trays, take out containers (please rinse), hot cups such as Dunkin’ Donuts, Honey Dew and Cumberland Farms (without paper or cardboard infused), foam egg cartons, trays, white insulation sheets, #4 PE Polyethylene foam,  bubble wrap and packing peanuts (bagged separately from your foam). 

THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT:  plastic utensils, foam cups infused with cardboard or paper such as McDonald’s, Newman and Burger King (ice tea cup), biodegradable meat trays for example GenPak without the recycling symbol, cardboard egg cartons, soft foam pads, food containers with plastic film attached (some ground turkey comes in these containers), blue or pink insulation sheets. (Refoamit will also be doing a collection, which is open to the public, at the Christ Lutheran Church of Natick, 113 Union St., Sat. Nov 7th 9-12, if you can’t make it to the transfer station this Sat).
The next Styrofoam collection in Medfield

will be January 2, 2016 at the Transfer Station! 

 The discounted backyard compost bins were so popular that we sold out of our stock!  We will continue to take orders (only for compost bins, not the kits with the kitchen buckets and liners) this Saturday from 9-1 at the Transfer Station.  The bins will be available for pick up in a few weeks.  See attached order form.  Checks made out to Town of Medfield
This is the last Saturday for the Swap.   
Last day for drop offs is Friday, October 30th. It closes for the season on Saturday, October 31st at noon and volunteers will pack up from 12-3. If you wish to help pack up, let us know by calling 359-7251. BOXES NEEDED!   Thanks!

Thanks to all of the volunteers who spend many, many hours at the Swap!  It is a great example of the purpose of Medfield Green Month –  Donation, Reuse and Recycling and it is open May-October during Transfer Station hours.

Hope to see you at the Transfer Station
the place to be in October!

 Next Medfield Green Month will be in May, 2016!

 

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Posted in Green, Recycling & Solid Waste

Solar PV begun at WWTP

Posted on October 28, 2015 | 2 comments

The construction of the town’s solar photovoltaic installation at the Waste Water Treatment Plant began today.  This email below about it this afternoon –solar pv

 

I am pleased to announce that site work has started this morning.  Local contractor Angelo Santucci Landscaping has begun clearing the site of vegetation.  Tree removal will begin next week along with grading and seeding.  If all goes well and the weather cooperates, they expect to be done by the end of next week.

As of now the structural post installation will begin November 23, with panel installation to begin early-mid December.  We are still on schedule for system start-up in mid-January.

I’ll keep you all updated on the progress!

Regards,

Andrew Seaman

Energy and Facilities Manager

Town of Medfield

2 Comments

Posted in Energy Committee, Green, Water & Sewer

Medfield Green’s month continues

Posted on October 22, 2015 | Comments Off on Medfield Green’s month continues

Transfer Station sign - Copy

This Saturday,  9-1, will be the fourth Saturday of  Medfield Green Month at the Transfer Station

 Did you recently purchase a new mattress and need to get rid of the old one?  Do you have an old mattress that has just been hanging around taking up space somewhere in your house?  Bring it to the Transfer Station this Saturday, Oct 24th from 9-1.  New Life Home Refurnishing will be on hand to accept clean, usable mattresses.  All others will be dismantled and the parts will be recycled.  Along with the mattresses, New Life will be collecting pots and pans and small kitchen appliances i.e. toasters, coffee makers, toaster ovens, blenders etc. to provide to their clients.  NLHR is a not-for-profit furniture bank which serves area communities. They serve individuals and families overcoming difficult circumstances such as fires or floods, homelessness, veterans of war and recent refugees.  They are in great need of mattresses and boxsprings.  More info at www.newlifehr.org

The discounted backyard compost bins were so popular that we sold out of our stock!  We will continue to take orders (only for compost bins, not the kits with the kitchen buckets and liners) this Saturday and next Saturday from 9-1 at the Transfer Station.  The bins will be available for pick up in a few weeks.  See attached order form.  Checks made out to Town of Medfield.

This is the last full Saturday for the Swap.  Get your stuff to the swap this weekend!

Last day for drop offs is Friday, October 30th. It closes for the season on Saturday, October 31st at noon and volunteers will pack up from 12-3. If you wish to help pack up, let us know by calling 359-7251. BOXES NEEDED!   Thanks!

Thanks to all of the volunteers who spend many, many hours at the Swap!  It is a great example of the purpose of Medfield Green Month –  Donation, Reuse and Recycling and it is open May-October during Transfer Station hours.

See you at the Transfer Station, the place to be in October!

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Posted in Green, Recycling & Solid Waste

Medfield Green Month in October

Posted on September 14, 2015 | Comments Off on Medfield Green Month in October

This email today from Medfield Green –

 

We hope that everyone had an enjoyable summer! 

We are busy finalizing plans for Medfield Green Month in October!  It will be held every Saturday in October 9 -1 at the Transfer Station. The flier will be sent out soon, but here’s the schedule of collections – mark your calendar now:

Oct 3rd:  Electronics and Reusable Building Supplies

Oct 10th:  Furniture and household items

Oct 17th:  Books, DVDs and CDs

Oct 24th:  New Life Home Refurnishing will be collecting mattresses, small kitchen  appliances and pots and pans.

Oct 31st:  Styrofoam

 

If you are able to help us out on one of the Saturdays, please reply to this email.  We are also looking for volunteers to take orders for backyard compost bins during Medfield Green Month.

Medfield Day is this Saturday, Sept. 19th 9-3.  Stop by the Medfield Green booth #92, located on North St., in front of Montrose School (same location as last year). Enter our free raffle for a backyard composter and learn all about composting!  Bring the kids to try out our composting game!  We could use some volunteers at the booth, if you have some time to help us out please reply to this email. Thank you!

 

 

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Posted in Green, Recycling & Solid Waste

Solar PV bids received

Posted on July 16, 2015 | Comments Off on Solar PV bids received

The town Energy and Facilities Manager reported that the bids were opened for the town’s solar photovoltaic installation next tot he Waste Water Treatment Plant, and the bids were at the expected levels.  This was Andrew’s report –

The bids were opened at 10:00 this morning, with two respondents:
Green Skies  –$492,483,31 or $2.12/watt
Absolute Renewables – Post Driven Foundation – $577,914 or $2.49/watt
                                  Ballasted Mount – $679,636 or $2.93/watt
Solar Design Associates, along with Town Counsel, will be reviewing the responses for qualifications and to ensure MGL Ch 30 Sec 39M was adhered to.
The proposals are at the link below.  If you have trouble viewing the documents please let me know and I’ll be happy to send a hard copy:
​​
Thank you all for your hard work in bring this project to fruition. We’re not done yet but a major hurdle has been cleared!

Regards,
Andrew Seaman
Energy and Facilities Manager
Town of Medfield
Office: (508) 906-3013

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Posted in Energy Committee, Green