Tag Archives: sustainability

Energy Com. Info Sessions on Coming Specialized Energy Code – 10/22

Posted on October 13, 2025 | Comments Off on Energy Com. Info Sessions on Coming Specialized Energy Code – 10/22

From the Medfield Energy Committee –

Medfield Energy Committee Educates the Public about the Specialized Building Code

The Medfield Energy Committee will hold two public forums on Wednesday, October 22nd to discuss a new building energy code known as the Specialized Code.  Medfield residents will likely be asked to vote on adoption of the Specialized Code at Town Meeting in 2026, and MEC is continuing to educate the public on this topic.  Fifty-five other towns in Massachusetts have already chosen to adopt this code.

The Specialized Code requires new construction, only, to be built to increased energy efficiency standards.  It is very important to note that the Specialized Code DOES NOT affect any existing homes, renovations/additions to homes, or historic homes.  Under the Specialized Code, new buildings can comply by being built all-electric (meaning no oil, gas, or propane fuel is used anywhere in the home).  If a new building’s design includes the use of some fossil fuels for heating, cooking, etc., this is still allowable under the Specialized Code, but the code requires that such buildings be pre-wired for future electrification, and to have on-site solar generation.

The Medfield Energy Committee supports adoption of the Specialized Code, given that it is an opportunity to ensure that new buildings in town are built to the best available energy efficiency standards.  Additionally, enhanced state funding is available to towns that have adopted the Specialized Code and fulfilled other requirements, as part of the Climate Leaders Program, the next tier of the Green Communities program.  Medfield has already received $666,000 in funding under the state’s Green Communities program, and would be eligible for continued and enhanced funding opportunities as a Climate Leaders community. These grants have allowed Medfield to install energy efficient upgrades in municipal buildings and schools when equipment needed replacing, leading to energy savings and reduced carbon emissions.

The forums on October 22nd will be held via Zoom, and will offer two separate sessions.  Session 1, beginning at 5:00 p.m., will be geared towards construction professionals, and will include technical information and time for feedback.  Session 2 will begin at 7:00 p.m. and is intended for the general public.  The Zoom links for these sessions can be found at the MEC website: https://www.town.medfield.net/2308/Specialized-Code

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Posted in Buildings, Climate, Energy Committee, Environmental, Green

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Sustainable Yard & Garden Tour – Sunday, 6/22, 3–5:30 pm

Posted on June 6, 2025 | Comments Off on Sustainable Yard & Garden Tour – Sunday, 6/22, 3–5:30 pm

From Helen Dewey, of Medfield Environment Action –

Sustainable Yard and Garden Tour

Medfield Environment Action will be hosting another Sustainable Yard and Garden Tour on Sunday, June 22, from 3 – 5:30 pm. Attendees will travel to four different gardens in Medfield. The homeowners will walk attendees through the yard and provide an overview of their garden and what makes it sustainable. Homeowners will discuss what they have planted, how they maintain it and any equipment that they use. The garden on Pine St and the one on Stagecoach Rd. were featured in the last tour in September, 2024. Come see the gardens in full bloom in June! It will be set up like a crawl in which folks move from garden to garden, at specific times, providing their own transportation. Car-pooling is encouraged!  There is no cost to attend, and all are welcome. Register ahead of time at tinyurl.com/SustainableGardenTour-2025 to receive more information about each garden and any weather related updates.

Why would one want to strive for a yard that has a low impact on the environment? Conventional yard care can be time consuming, is destructive to the eco-system and harmful to an entire food web. For example: poison the grubs, birds are harmed by eating the grubs, use chemicals to achieve green grass, storm water becomes contaminated, moreover turf offers nothing in the way of food for nature. In addition, children and pets can be harmed when exposed to grass and yards with a lot of chemicals.

The homeowners on the tour will show how a sustainable, low impact yard is a work in progress but the benefits include lower maintenance costs, cleaner air to breath, (no gas powered leaf blowers), improved visual appeal, no secondary poisoning through the food web, re-use or composting of leaf materials on-site, conserving water, supporting biodiversity, “the living earth”, precious time available to focus on other activities and a sense of helping rather than harming, everybody wins.

Whether you are an avid gardener interested in learning some sustainable practices that you can implement or just curious as to what it is all about, join us on Sunday, June 22 to take a walk around some beautiful, thoughtful and eco-friendly gardens in Medfield. The flyer with the addresses of the gardens is posted on the MEA website, meamedfield.org. Any questions please email meamedfield@gmail.com

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Posted in Environmental, Events, Green, Medfield Environmental Action

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Curbside Compost Collection Now in Medfield

Posted on March 16, 2025 | Comments Off on Curbside Compost Collection Now in Medfield

From Jackie Alford –

Curbside Compost Collection Now Available in Medfield

Medfield residents can easily reduce their organic waste by participating in the new curbside compost collection program provided by Black Earth Compost. This program is the easiest way to divert food scraps from the trash and build a resilient local food system.

How It Works
Participants receive a curbside collection cart and certified compostable bin liners to sort their food scraps into. All food scraps, including meat, bones, dairy, soiled paper products, and certified compostable products, are accepted. The material is picked up every other week and taken to one of Black Earth’s four local compost facilities, where it is mixed with carbon, like leaves and sticks, to make finished compost. Participants receive a voucher for a free cubic foot bag of compost, redeemable at participating garden centers in the spring.

Environmental Benefits
Curbside composting is gaining momentum as cities and towns across the state support these programs to meet the MA DEP’s Waste reduction goal of 30% reduction by 2030. In addition to reducing waste, composting addresses several environmental crises:
• Builds Healthy Soil: Compost improves soil ecology and adds nutrients, leading to healthier foods and higher yields.
• Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions: It reduces methane created in landfills and sequesters atmospheric carbon in the soil, supporting our climate.
• Protects Our Waterways: Composting reduces reliance on synthetic fertilizers and improves soil moisture retention, reducing runoff.
• Creates Resilient Communities: It supports the local agricultural system, reducing our dependence on imported goods.

Subscription and Pricing
Subscription plans for every other week pick up are $89.99/6 months or $16.99/month, plus the cost of the bin. The price lowers for everyone as more people sign up. When 350 Medfield households are signed up or pre-registered, the price will be lowered by 20%.

To Enroll
Please complete the signup form at https://blackearthcompost.com/residential-curbside-compost-pickup/?town=Medfield,%20MA. Interested in helping increase curbside composting in Medfield? Contact medfieldcurbsidecomposting@gmail.com

Learn More About curbside composting and other town options for food waste:
https://community.massenergize.org/MedfieldMA/actions/3715
https://community.massenergize.org/MedfieldMA/actions/2372

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Posted in Environmental, Green, Medfield Environmental Action

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Electrify your Home

Posted on October 10, 2024 | Comments Off on Electrify your Home

From Emily Lowney of Lowney Law and the Medfield Energy Committee –

Electrify your Home with Medfield Energy Committee

The Medfield Energy Committee (MEC) is excited to be partnering with Sustainable Medfield for the next Action of The Quarter this fall: “Electrify your Home.”  Climate change is a problem that we are all concerned about, but the good news is that there are solutions.  We need to transition away from burning fossil fuels and towards renewable power sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal.  In 2021, the Town of Medfield Climate Action Plan identified residential buildings and passenger vehicles as the two largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. For this action of the quarter, MEC is encouraging residents to take action to reduce emissions from our residential buildings.

What do we mean when we say “Electrify your home?”  Basically, the goal is for all of the energy usage of the home to eventually come from electricity, including heating/cooling, domestic water heating, appliances, lights, and cooking.  That way the home no longer relies on gas or oil.  If the home is suitable for solar panels, that is a great alternative way to provide the power for the home.  But even if it doesn’t have solar, the electric grid is also getting greener at the same time, so that eventually, all of the sources of power are renewable, and all of the homes are using only that renewable energy for all of their power needs.  At the same time, technology is helping make our homes more efficient in how they use energy.

Another important aspect of Electrifying homes in Medfield has to do with NEW homes.  There is a new building code having to do with energy efficiency that towns in Massachusetts can choose to “OPT IN” to.  This is called the Specialized Code, and Medfield would have to vote at town meeting to adopt this code.  Again, this only applies to NEW construction, not any existing homes, renovations/additions to homes, or historic homes.  The Specialized Code encourages new homes to be built all-electric so that in the future, homeowners will not have to pay to transition those homes.  The Specialized Code still allows homes to be built that use some fossil fuels, but requires that they be pre-wired for future electrification, and have on-site solar generation.

The Energy Committee is seeking public input on whether Medfield should adopt the Specialized Code. Please help us by taking a short, four-question survey here: https://forms.gle/QmuJCQ34Jk5PMMFFA

If you are not planning on building a new home, there is still a lot you can do to Electrify your Existing Home.  Check out the following Actions at sustainablemedfield.org: Green Heating & Cooling, Rooftop Solar, No-Cost Energy Assessment, Switch to Induction Cooking, and more.

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Posted in Energy Committee, Green, Sustainable Medfield

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“Medfield Decarbonizers” webinar, 7:30 PM, 10/8 via Zoom

Posted on September 30, 2024 | Comments Off on “Medfield Decarbonizers” webinar, 7:30 PM, 10/8 via Zoom

From Helen Dewey of Medfield Environment Action =

Climate Action in Medfield

Thinking about installing heat pumps in your home or getting solar panels?  Maybe your current car needs to be replaced and you are thinking about purchasing an electric vehicle?  These are the most impactful actions one can take to decrease their carbon footprint as well as greenhouse gas pollution in the town of Medfield. Many fellow residents have done just that, and you can hear from some of them on Tuesday, October 8th at 7:30 pm. The Medfield Energy Committee dubs them “Medfield Decarbonizers”.  Who are they, you might ask?  They are Medfield neighbors who drive electric vehicles, have installed solar panels or heat pumps and they are a great resource for anyone considering these investments!

Medfield Environment Action (MEA) and the Medfield Energy Committee (MEC) are hosting a “Medfield Decarbonizers” webinar on Tuesday, October 8th at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom.  Medfield Decarbonizers have taken action to reduce the carbon output of everyday activities such as driving a car, heating and cooling a home or using electricity.  Hear the experiences of fellow neighbors regarding their purchases and everyday use of these sustainable technologies and ask them your questions.  In addition, learn why one panelist chose to opt up to “Medfield 100”, which supplies 100% renewable electricity through Medfield Community Electricity.

Preregister for the free webinar at tinyurl.com/decarbonizers and the Zoom link will be sent to you. For more information visit meamedfield.org  or email MEAMedfield@gmail.com with any questions.  Visit the MEA website to see videos of previous, educational webinars.  MEA is proud to network with Sustainable Medfield and MEC working together towards Medfield’s Net Zero 2050 Goal.Climate Action in Medfield

Thinking about installing heat pumps in your home or getting solar panels?  Maybe your current car needs to be replaced and you are thinking about purchasing an electric vehicle?  These are the most impactful actions one can take to decrease their carbon footprint as well as greenhouse gas pollution in the town of Medfield. Many fellow residents have done just that, and you can hear from some of them on Tuesday, October 8th at 7:30 pm. The Medfield Energy Committee dubs them “Medfield Decarbonizers”.  Who are they, you might ask?  They are Medfield neighbors who drive electric vehicles, have installed solar panels or heat pumps and they are a great resource for anyone considering these investments!

Medfield Environment Action (MEA) and the Medfield Energy Committee (MEC) are hosting a “Medfield Decarbonizers” webinar on Tuesday, October 8th at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom.  Medfield Decarbonizers have taken action to reduce the carbon output of everyday activities such as driving a car, heating and cooling a home or using electricity.  Hear the experiences of fellow neighbors regarding their purchases and everyday use of these sustainable technologies and ask them your questions.  In addition, learn why one panelist chose to opt up to “Medfield 100”, which supplies 100% renewable electricity through Medfield Community Electricity.

Preregister for the free webinar at tinyurl.com/decarbonizers and the Zoom link will be sent to you. For more information visit meamedfield.org  or email MEAMedfield@gmail.com with any questions.  Visit the MEA website to see videos of previous, educational webinars.  MEA is proud to network with Sustainable Medfield and MEC working together towards Medfield’s Net Zero 2050 Goal.

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Posted in Energy Committee, Events, Green, Medfield Environmental Action, Sustainable Medfield

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