Reading Advisory Committee on Cities for Climate Protection Program
Reading Neighbors' Climate and Energy Campaign (Reading NCEC)
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Press Releases (Green Sense)
Date Article Topic / Category
July 2008 What’s_in_a_Watt Program: 2008: 1-2-3 Pledge Massachusetts’_Energy_Bill_–_Something_to_Cheer_About Information: Mass Energy Bill June 2008 Summertime_and_the_Saving_is_Easy Conservation Suggestion: Summertime Global Warming Heating Up the Food Crisis Information: Global Warming Sun Power Comes to Saint Agnes Information: Solar Hot Water Local Developer Goes for the Gold Information: LEED Green Homes for Right Now! Information: Green Homes The Biggest User? Conservation Suggestion: Electricity Think oil prices are high now? Plan ahead! Conservation Suggestion: Home Heating Oil May 2008 Carbon Cap and Trade System Information: Carbon Cap & Trade On Memorial Day, Remember the Green, too Conservation Suggestion: Gardening Plug-In Hybrids - A Thing of the Present Information: Hybrid Cars Green Gardening Time is Here! Conservation Suggestion: Gardening April 2008 Get Ready Now to “DO THE RIDE THING”: Celebrate National Bike Month Conservation Suggestion: Biking Green Spring Vacation Week Conservation Suggestion: General Learn Ways to Reduce, Recycle, Rethink at the RMLD April 12 Event: 2008 Earth Day Sustainability Fair March 2008 Can We Take the Bus? Information: Shuttle Bus Come to the Fair - Reading’s Earth Day Celebration Event: 2008 Earth Day Sustainability Fair Easter and the Equinox Usher in Greener Days Conservation Suggestion: Easter Sensible Transportation Options Conservation Suggestion: Automobiles Feb 2008 Reading Takes Action Information: Reading CCP Committee Jan 2008 The Greening of Longwood Information: Local Green Initiatives Event: 2008 Earth Day Sustainability Fair Information: Environmental Justice What is Climate Justice? Information: Environmental Justice The Energy Solution – Sun and Sand Information: Solar Energy Conservation Suggestion: Batteries Bali and a New Year’s Resolution Information: Bali Climate Conference Dec 2007 Put Climate Protection in Your New Year’s Resolutions Conservation Suggestion: General
Little Things Mean A Lot Conservation Suggestion: Weatherizing Your Home
Get-Together Green Conservation Suggestion: Entertaining
Any Sense in Going Green? Information Climate Change General
Nov 2007 Dreaming of a Green Holiday Conservation Suggestion: Holiday Time Ideas
A Wedge - A Solution to Global Warming? Information: Carbon Mitigation Wedges
America Recycles Day is November 15! Information: America Recycles Day
Bundle up Your House for the Winter To Save Energy Costs Conservation Suggestion: Weatherizing Your Home
Oct 2007 When the Clocks "Fall Back", Don't Fall Back on Walking Routines Conservation Suggestion: Walking
Powerful Living. Real Comfort. Information: Solar Home Technology Design Contest
The Ethanol Maize Information: Ethanol
Sept 2007 Make Reducing Dependence on Energy Part of Your Personal Goals Conservation Suggestion: Various
Change-A-Light, Change the World Campaign begins October 4th Program: Change-A-Light-Campaign
Reading to Join National Conversation Event
Give Kids a Healthy Tomorrow Every Day Conservation Suggestion: Walk To School
Make Eating Local a Priority This Time of Year Conservation Suggestion: Eat Locally Grown Food
Aug 2007 The ‘Coolest’ Trend for Back-to-School Program: Safe Routes To School
The Gift that Keeps on Giving Conservation Suggestion: RainBarrels
One Step at a Time Conservation Suggestion: Walk
Caring For the Environment Starts With Enjoying It Enjoy Nature with Your Kids
July 2007 Carnivore, Omnivore, Locavore Conservation Suggestion: Eat Locally Grown Food
Drinking Bottle Water is costing us than you know. Conservation Suggestion: Drink Tap Water Instead of Bottled
Recycling – A Smart Financial Decision Conservation Suggestion: Recycle
The Air Quality Forecast Health Alert: Poor Air Quality
June 2007 Don’t Trash the Grass Conservation Suggestion: Leave Grass Clippings on Lawn
Green Sense Parker Students Coordinate with ACCCP Transit Survey
Junk the Junk Mail! Conservation Suggestion: Reduce Junk Mail
The Foodshed Challenge Conservation Suggestion: Buy Local Food
May 2007 Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Conservation Suggestion: Recycle
Hazardous Waste Collection –This Saturday Solid Waste Disposal
Growing a Greener Garden, Dealing with Garden Pests Conservation Suggestion: Use Green Gardening Practices
Growing Greener: Healthy Gardens Conservation Suggestion: Use Green Gardening Practices
April 2007 Turning the New Hampshire Whites – Green Sustainability
Earth Day Event a Success Event
Make Earth Day Everyday Conservation Suggestion: Various
Paper or Plastic Conservation Suggestion: Use Re-usable Shopping Bags
Springtime is Greentime Conservation Suggestion: Use Green Gardening Practices
March 2007 Earth Day Fair in Reading Event
Healthy Lawns and Landscapes Come to Reading Event
A Low-Carbon Diet for the Planet - Part II Conservation Suggestion: On the Road and On Vacation
A Low-Carbon Diet for the Planet - Part I Conservation Suggestion: In & Around the Home
Feb 2007 Save Energy “Big-Time,” Reuse Building Materials Conservation Suggestion: Reuse Building Materials
Remembering a Walkable Community Walk-able Communities
Global Warming. We Know Who’s Responsible. It’s Us. Climate Change
Happy Valentine's Day from Green Sense! Conservation Suggestion: Gift Ideas
Jan 2007 New Seminar Offering on Global Warming Climate Change
Proper Disposal of Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) Solid Waste Disposal
Cars. Can’t live with ‘em. Can’t live without ‘em. Conservation Suggestion: Transportation
One Option for Greener Driving Conservation Suggestion: Transportation
Dec 2006 Transportation - The Main Culprit Cities for Climate Protection Results of Milestone 1
Is Charlie for me? Conservation Suggestion: Transportation
Green Sense Carbon Dioxide Emissions Reduction Pledge Update: We’re almost there! 2006: 1-2-3 Pledge
Season’s Greenings! (Energy tips for Holiday Cooking) Conservation Suggestion: Energy Usage
Massachusetts Takes Lead at U.S. Supreme Judicial Court Information: Climate Change
Nov 2006 Closing the Gap Program: Change-A-Light Campaign
What is the Change a Light Change the World Campaign? Program: Change-A-Light Campaign
Reading in Second Place and Coming On Strong! Program: Change-A-Light Campaign
Oct 2006 Join the Change a Light Campaign and Save Program: Change-A-Light Campaign
Information: Climate Change
Conservation Suggestion: Composting
Conservation Suggestion: Reduce Your Gasoline Usage
Sept 2006
Information: Climate Change
Conservation Suggestion: Support Renewable Energy
Program: 2006: 1-2-3 Pledge
June 2006
Program: 2006: 1-2-3 Pledge
April 2006
A Bright Way to A Clean Earth. Why use compact fluorescent bulbs?
Conservation Suggestion: Use CFL Bulbs not Incandescent
Information: Climate Change
Addison-Wesley Site Development: Let's make it a model in Green Design
Information: Sustainable Development
March 2006
Conservation Suggestion: Use Canvas Shopping Bags
Introducing the Reading Neighbors' Climate and Energy Campaign
Information: Reading CCP Committee
Authors: Gina Snyder, Michele Benson, and Stephanie Anderberg
A watt is a measure of power. The watt is usually used to measure electric power at one point in time, as capacity or demand. For example, a light bulb is sold by wattage, the amount of power it uses when ‘running’ (technically, it means the energy it uses over time: 100 watts means it uses 100 joules each second it runs). Over time, power use adds up to energy costs, a 100-watt light bulb will have used one hundred watt hours when it has been on for an hour.
We use power for many things, not just electricity. We use it for transportation, for heating homes and in the production of food. Some estimates say that the average use for a U.S. or Canadian citizen is equivalent to 12,000-watts while the average developing country citizen uses up energy at only about 500-watts (1). Averaging this out, across the globe, comes to about 2000-watts (17,520 kWh a year), which is the equivalent of 20 hundred-watt light bulbs burning all the time for each person.
Because this average across the globe gives a benchmark for those trying to target reductions, the 2000-Watt Society, in Switzerland, gives a 2000-watts per person goal to provide industrialized countries with a target for cutting energy use at the same time that it sets a limit for growth in developing nations. They feel they can reach this goal, not by cutting back on the Swiss standard of living, but by dramatically improving energy efficiency.
While living a 2000-watt life may not be possible in your immediate future, small lifestyle changes can lead to bigger savings. Set some intermediate goals with simple changes such as switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs, and turning them off when not in use, unplugging electronics and chargers when not in use, and trading some “screen time” for old fashioned pastimes like reading or gardening. To reduce your transportation impact (and save on your gasoline expenses), remember to turn off your vehicle’s engine when parked, and plan trips to accomplish several errands in one, more efficient, loop. You can save further by walking or biking to the closest destinations in your travels. Reading is fortunate to have a train station with service to Boston, and it’s only 7 miles by bike to the Oak Grove station on the Orange Line!
Bigger steps mean larger reductions, so consider a vehicle with higher gas mileage when it’s time to buy a replacement, and try to include efficiency measures in any upcoming renovations. For any major purchases, consider the energy efficiency as a primary factor. If a new roof is in the near future for your home, increase your insulation and look into the feasibility of installing a solar hot water system. A kitchen renovation affords the opportunity to install more energy-efficient appliances (ENERGY STAR). The building of a new home offers a lot of opportunity for energy efficiency, beginning with the siting of the home on the lot to take advantage of passive solar heating and daylighting. High efficiency and renewable energy investments during the construction of a new home reap financial savings over the years. If a new home is not in the cards, look into steps you can take to improve the efficiency of your older home with blown in insulation or replacement windows.
Whatever your future holds, it will include higher costs for energy and electricity. To help lower your watt count, the Advisory Committee on Cities for Climate Protection has a 2008 1-2-3 Pledge with advice on our webpage and the RMLD’s webpage (www.rmld.com). This year, we are asking residents to pledge to reduce their household electricity use by 10%, by next July. Your monthly RMLD statement shows a comparison of the current month to the previous 12 months. After making efficiency improvements in your home, compare next July’s kilowatt-hour usage to this July’s usage. Both figures will appear on your July 2009 statement. With simple efficiency changes, a 10% reduction should be reachable.
For those with even loftier goals, consider Robert Uetz, a Swiss engineer who is attempting to live the two-thousand-watt life. He heats his home with a geothermal heat pump, generates electricity with photovoltaic panels on his roof, and takes public transportation instead of driving. He and his family “don’t experience it as a restriction,” he tells reporter Elizabeth Kolbert in a recent New Yorker article. “On the contrary. I don’t feel like we’re giving up anything.” (2)
References:
(1) http://www.rockhousemountainenergy.com/articles_SwitzerlandCO2.html
(2) http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07/07/080707fa_fact_kolbert
(3) to calculate your impact try http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html
Massachusetts’ Energy Bill – Something to Cheer About
Author: Ron D’Addario
Although newspapers and television have had little good news on energy in recent days, the Massachusetts’ Energy Bill, “The Green Communities Act”, passed by both houses, stands as a major breakthrough in energy reform. The bill, signed into law by the Governor July 2nd, was a collaboration between the State House and Governor Patrick’s staff, demonstrated how rapidly change can happen when people work together for the common good.
The wide-ranging bill affects all aspects of energy production and use. From the power plant to the individual home, energy delivery and use, the game plan has changed to support efficiency, sustainability, creativity, and care.
One of the major initiatives of the bill is to mandate that power companies invest in energy conservation before buying additional power to meet increased energy needs. In other words, if a power company needed additional energy due to increased power demand, before the company could generate or purchase this energy, it must seek and finance ways to reduce energy demand in the community.
According to Tedd Saunders and Daniel Sosland in The Boston Globe, May 31, 2008, saving kilowatts is cheaper than generating them. They estimate that generating a kilowatt costs 12 cents while reducing the need for that kilowatt costs only 3 cents, one-quarter the cost. The emphasis on reducing the need for energy rather than meeting it with an increase in power plants is a welcome change in approach.
The act also supports the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) - a cooperative of Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants by cap and trade procedures. In order to “jump start” the program, the energy bill mandates that the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection promulgate RGGI requirements by March 1, 2009. (See Green Sense article for the week of May 26, 2008 for more information on the cap and trade program.)
Furthermore, the state establishes a trust fund from monies gained from auctioning carbon dioxide permits to energy companies under the cap and trade program. These funds would assist in the development of sustainable energy products as well as aid those communities and individuals adversely affected by the new programs.
Another breakthrough toward decreasing energy use is the requirement that the latest edition of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) be incorporated into the Massachusetts State Building Code. The IECC adds stringent conservation and energy efficiency requirements to the construction industry. Overnight, the building codes that local cities and towns had little power to influence have been changed. Finally, new construction will meet the needs of our children and grandchildren.
For those of us in older homes help is also on the way. We will be able to purchase sustainable energy devices without paying upfront. Payment could be made over time through individual monthly utility bills. In addition, utility companies would be mandated to allow for net metering of electricity. This allows homeowners and businesses to sell any excess power that they generate to utility companies when feasible. For example, if a business had a large array of solar panels and actually generated more power than it needed at certain times of the day, those extra watts could be sold to the power company for credit. In other words, the electric meter could spin both ways.
The energy bill of nearly 200 pages contains many additional programs that will also help our state achieve clean, affordable, and sustainable energy. Only when we achieve these goals can we as a state, a country, and a world provide a truly safe, livable world for all of our people from native Alaskans to Pacific Islanders. Let’s work with our congresses, both state and federal, to ensure the items in this bill are enacted.
Summertime and the Saving is Easy
Authors: Michele Benson, Stephanie Anderberg and Gina Snyder
Summertime is a great time to get started saving on your electricity bill. Reading’s Committee on Climate Protection (ACCCP) kicked off its annual 1-2-3 Pledge at Friends & Family Day, June 21st, which was a tremendous success (and kudos to all the wonderful people involved in the organization and production of this town event!).
This year’s pledge is asking Reading residents to reduce their electric energy use by 10 percent over the next twelve months. Our annual 1-2-3 Pledge is an effort to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (the first year’s pledge in 2006 addressed three areas: energy, transportation and waste and 2007 focused solely on transportation, as the largest source of GHG emissions in Reading). This year we are concentrating on residential use of electricity with our challenge to reduce by 10% the amount of electricity you use over the next 12 months.
The Town is meeting the challenge in its municipal buildings, and is striving to do more. In November of 2006, Mary Delai, our School Department Human Resources Director, spearheaded the movement to benchmark municipal energy consumption and reduce it. A cross section of department members came together to form the town’s Energy Committee. This group of town employees worked together to identify areas in town buildings where energy conservation measures could be implemented, and then carried out those measures.
They’ve taken actions as simple as shutting down computers, turning off lights, closing shades to keep out the cold in the winter, or the heat of the sun in the summer, and using passive lighting where possible. The Reading Light Department (RMLD) helped the team by auditing many municipal buildings, and supplying room occupancy sensors. The town’s facility management team focused on larger energy uses, such as fine-tuning the heating and cooling systems of the buildings. All in all, the municipal effort continues to be successful with noted reductions in energy consumption and costs.
Some of these conservation measures may seem very simplistic - shutting off computers and lights, and pulling down shades - but these simple efforts can be remarkably effective. Don’t be fooled into thinking that shutting off one light or changing to a compact fluorescent bulb doesn’t make a difference; it does, especially when many households build on the effort started by the town, and the positive effect adds up to real savings.
Now the challenge is for our community as a whole to cut 10% off electric usage. Residences and business alike can strive to use electricity in the most efficient way possible. With global fuel markets driving the cost of electricity to all time highs, there is no better time to set your sights on conservation! And we can help - visit the ACCCP’s website at http://home.comcast.net/~tsopchak/RNCEC.htm for the pledge and tips to reduce electric usage. You can also visit http://www.rmld.com for conservation tips and take advantage of RMLD’s home audit and appliance rebate programs.
To really make a go of this, you need to track your electric use history, which is listed on the left side of your RMLD bill. Electric use is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh), and the kWh history lists 13 months of usage – for example, you can compare July07 to July08. You want to calculate your 10% based on the same month of the previous year because electric usage changes with the seasons (for example, summertime, for the most part, is the highest usage of the year if one has air conditioning and/or a pool).
If you really want to see what’s using all that power, for a small investment you can purchase a kWh monitoring device (Kill-A-Watt is a popular meter found via a web search) which will give you the exact kWh used by almost any household appliance. You plug the appliance into the device, the device into the outlet, and it will read out the watts being used and, over time, the kWh of the appliance for the hours it’s plugged in (the RMLD also has a few of these meters that they may loan out).
You can make energy conservation a family affair - children can monitor your electric bills for a good lesson in math and budgeting. As you implement conservation measures, calculate the changes using your kWh history. This is not only an opportunity for environmental stewardship and family teamwork, it’s also a way to save money on your bills!
Global Warming Heating Up the Food Crisis
Author: Ron D'Addario
Along with the soaring price of gas and diesel, we now have the soaring price of food. According to the Seattle Post Intelligencer, April 23, 2008, “The World Food Program says that rising food prices—and corresponding food shortage—threatens 20 million of the planet’s poorest children. Food prices have risen 40 percent on average since mid-2007, and have led to riots in the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia.”
The rise in food prices in the USA seems less perilous when compared with the situation in most third world countries. With salaries of 1 to 2 dollars a day, third world families, already on the brink of hunger, find themselves in desperate straits. What has caused this lack of food?
The causes are many. We can look to the exponential increase in world population as well as the economic successes of India and China. Their people are leaving agriculture for the easier and more profitable life in the city. With money to spend from jobs in industry, these recent urban dwellers seek to buy their food rather than grow it. As a result, the demand for food increases while the supply decreases.
Global warming also affects food prices in several important ways: Time reported on February 27, 2008, “Harvests have been seriously disrupted by freak weather, including prolonged droughts in Australia and southern Africa, floods in West Africa, and this past winter’s deep frost in China and record breaking warmth in northern Europe.”
Furthermore, due to flooding of tidal rivers, arable soil is salinated and unfit for agriculture. In other areas, the perennial lack of rain results in desertification of formerly farmable land. We only need to listen to our evening news here at home to witness California droughts and fires and massive flooding in our Midwest.
Indirectly related to climate change, corn based ethanol, used as a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels, consumes nearly as much energy in its creation as it returns in our vehicles tanks. In addition, with lucrative government subsidies to corn growers to produce ethanol, less corn is available for food. Moreover, the corn remaining for food costs more due to the law of supply and demand. Diminished supply with a strong demand raises the price.
What can we do to help this food scarcity dilemma? First, we can work to slow climate change. In this way, we can minimize more drastic climate change in the future. Secondly, we can reduce our food needs. Perhaps restaurants could maintain their prices by reducing their portions. Not only will our pocketbooks not feel the pain, but pressure on limited food supplies would be reduced.
As individuals we could also reduce pressure on the food markets by limiting our meat requirements and attempting to buy locally grown products. At the same time, we could resist those items traveling great distances to reach our table. We could further shorten the distance to our table by planting a small vegetable garden for family and friends.
Financially we could increase our contributions to those organizations that care for those in need, such as, Oxfam, Bread for the World, UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s’ Emergency Fund), UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), and Doctors without Borders. While thinking globally, we must not forget our local Reading Food Pantry and other local food providers such as Lazarus House in Lawrence, Mass.
Lastly, we must work with our representatives to ensure that farm subsidies, globalization, and trade regulations work to provide affordable food for those at the greatest of risk, such as low income women and children wherever they reside.
Sun Power Comes to Saint Agnes
Author: Ron D’Addario
While attending a sharing group at St. Agnes Parish in Reading, a friend asked if I had seen the new solar panels on the rectory roof. I jokingly responded, “Yes, they’re next to the wind generator.” “No,” he answered, “I’m serious; there are solar panels on the rectory roof.”
I had to see this for myself. Once outside I looked up and to my surprise two solar thermal panels quietly rested on the south sloped roof of the rectory. I soon discovered that the force behind the panels was our new pastor, Father Steve Rock, a retired Navy chaplain.
Father Steve related that years ago he had installed solar thermal panels in his mother’s home and was very happy with the result. Therefore, on his arrival at Saint Agnes, he looked to alternative energy to heat the water. If it had been new construction, his first choice would have been to pursue a geothermal heat pump; however, because Saint Agnes is an older building with a large asphalt parking lot, he decided that solar thermal was the way to go.
A Navy buddy’s son of Father Steve had started a local solar energy business and was called in to help. The result was two solar hot water collectors mounted on the roof, an 80-gallon hot water tank in the basement, a small electric pump, antifreeze, and a few electronic sensors. The company estimated that the solar collectors will supply 50% to 70% of his household’s annual domestic hot water demand. During our conversation, Father Steve reported that the hot water temperature was 153 degrees when the outside temperature was about 45 degrees. Not bad by any standard.
Since heating domestic hot water can account for 25% of your home energy use, reducing it can keep money in your pocket while reducing your carbon footprint. Father Steve calculated that the $8000 unit would pay for itself in five to six years. He also noted that he received a 30% rebate from the federal government as well as rebates from the state and KeySpan (Reading’s gas provider). With these rebates Father Steve was able to reduce his purchase price by nearly 50% - a well done to Father Steve and Saint Agnes Parish.
Perhaps we should all have energy consultants come and evaluate our homes. In the meantime, it is easy to begin conserving quickly to save energy on heating domestic hot water. First, ensure your hot water heater is turned down to 120 degrees or less. The Global Warming Survival Handbook estimates a 500 lb CO2 savings with a 10-degree reduction in the hot water temperature. In addition, insulate your hot water tank and pipes, and install low flow faucets and showerheads. The last two reduce the flow of water by mixing it with air so you don’t feel the reduction.
Furthermore, if you haven’t already done so, wash clothes with the warm/cold cycle or the cold/cold cycle as needed. With a dishwasher, read your instruction manual to determine the most economical mode to use—and only run when filled. On our dishwasher we use “light wash” and turn off the heat element that helps dry the dishes after their wash. Or, if your dishwasher has an “energy saving air dry” button, be sure that it is ‘on’.
Insulation for your hot water pipes and hot water heaters are available at hardware stores, and are very easy to install. Hardware stores also have both the low flow faucets and shower heads, but the Reading Public Works Department offers FREE water conserving fixtures if you go to Town Hall and request them. According to our DPW, “Reading residents can stop by the DPW Office at the Town Hall for a free package containing a low-flow showerhead, faucet aerators, nozzles for garden hoses and toilet displacement bags.” Call 781-942-9077 for more information.
You can also receive a free home water audit by calling the New England Energy Hotline at 888-772-4242.
In closing I would add the “Navy Shower” as a hot water saver. On board ship both fresh water and energy are at a premium. Therefore, in order to save both, the crew takes Navy showers. The procedure is to turn on the water to get wet, turn off the water, soap up, turn on the water, rinse off. Done.
Local Developer Goes for the Gold
Authors: Ronald D’Addario, Gina Snyder, and Michele Benson
There is something special about the redevelopment project looming on the north side of Route 95 (Sylvan Road) in Woburn. This is Cummings Properties’ Trade Center 128 and it is unique in the area for pre-certifying to the Gold standard under the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. With this project, Cummings Properties will achieve a very high standard in energy savings, water savings, and indoor environmental quality while showcasing the importance of environmental design elements in developing and operating its building.
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program provides a third party evaluation system for ‘greening’ building construction. In a nationally recognized program that includes “Certifiable”, “Silver”, “Gold”, and “Platinum” levels, the LEED rating system establishes a whole building design approach, recognizing performance in five key areas: site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality (www.usgbc.org). This approach is achieving gains across the state and the nation. The City of Boston has recently passed Boston Zoning Code Article 37, requiring private buildings over 50,000 square feet in Boston be designed and planned to meet the USGBC LEED certification criteria.
Cummings Properties’ design manager, James Trudeau, explained some of the ways that Trade Center 128 qualified for the LEEDs Gold level. The premium efficient heating and cooling system uses 330 individual heat pumps, 90 to 95% efficient condenser-boilers, a fresh air energy recovery system, and a sophisticated computer system to micro-manage the heating and cooling.
According to Jim, “The heating system is so efficient in extracting heat that the exhaust leaving the system is almost cool to the touch.” In addition, individual offices can control their heat while unoccupied spaces automatically see their heat minimized. At night the heat automatically lowers unless overridden by late night workers.
Lighting has also been strictly controlled. T-8 fluorescent lighting predominates with sensors insuring that the lights turn off in unoccupied spaces. By using the newer more efficient T-8 fluorescent lamps, one-third of the fixtures normally required were eliminated. In addition, some of the switches have 3 settings. The first click turns on only one-half of the lights; the second click turns on the remaining half of the lights (in many instances, one-half of the lighting is sufficient). Lastly, computer and sensor controls ensure that lights are out during overnight hours.
Water savings are achieved with low flow toilets and waterless urinals. Furthermore, with a rainwater collection and storage system, Trade Center 128 will not use any city water for landscaping. Plans are also being made to use rainwater to recharge the cooling tower make-up water. Parking lot run-off water is collected in huge underground vaults that allow water to slowly soak into the ground rather than enter the city storm water drains.
To meet the LEED standard, recycled materials must be used whenever possible. Fifty percent of the steel used in construction (including the rebar and metal studs) is from recycled material as is the material used in the carpeting. Moreover, Cummings Properties, as the building manager, recycles cardboard and other waste materials.
In addition to greening the heat, lights and construction of the building, Jim added that Trade Center 128 will include preferred parking for low emission vehicles as well as an MBTA bus stop on the premises.
LEED certification does not end with achieving the Gold Standard. In some ways, it is just a first big step because the certification process includes ongoing reporting of the building’s efficiency to ensure that the items put in place remain effective.
When asked why he committed to the LEED Gold Standard, Dennis Clark, President of Cummings Properties LLC, said that it is the right thing to do. He has children and wants to leave the world in a better place. In addition, he noted that it is also a good business decision now that many clients look for energy efficiency and a healthy place to work.
To further show the commitment to providing green buildings, Cummings Properties LLC has recently hired Gary Gresh as their Sustainability Manager. He has already begun work on providing energy savings in lighting and recycling to the more than 70 major buildings and 9 million square feet managed by Cummings Properties LLC.
Reading and its citizens can also ‘Go for the Gold’ by applying many of these standards in homes, businesses and municipal buildings. Lowering the heat at night (especially using a programmable thermostat), converting to compact fluorescent lights, capturing rainwater for use in the yard, switching to low emission vehicles and public transit, and measuring our results are all things that can reap big rewards for the pocketbook and the environment. For more information on how to ‘Go for the Gold’, come to Reading’s Earth Day Fair, April 12th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the RMLD, 230 Ash Street.
Authors: Ron D’Addario with assistance from Michele Benson, Stephanie Anderberg and Gina Snyder
“As consumers, Americans believe that size matters: given a choice, we make it extra large. It’s not just French fries. From 1970 to 2004, the average new home in the U.S. grew more than 50%, from 1500 to 2349 square feet, even as the average number of people in each household shrunk by 17%.”1 A McMansion of 4000 square feet uses 40% more energy than a home of 2000 square feet. With global warming looming on the horizon and energy prices heading up, up, and away, it’s time to take a closer look at our housing needs.
The Boston Sunday Globe, January 20, 2008, Real Estate Section, featured an article on, what could easily be our home for today and tomorrow. Built in a New Hampshire factory and assembled onsite in one day, a very comfortable and energy saving home of 1468 square feet is ready for its new family. PowerHouse Enterprises located the ENERGY STAR home in Lawrence striving to attain the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDs) standard of platinum, one of the highest sustainability standards in the U.S. with only a handful of homes nationally at that level.
By considering the location of the home, the materials used, and the energy saved, John Rossi, designer, was able to achieve a high degree of sustainability and energy savings. The foundation and cellar are formed with fully insulated precast cement that is stronger than conventional cement while requiring less energy for its formulation. Forest Stewardship Certified (FSC) wood and 30% recycled aluminum alloy comprise the exterior structure of the home. The large Pella ENERGY STAR casement windows keep in heat and cool in winter and summer respectively while flooding the rooms with light and passive solar heat year round.
The interior of the home includes a gas water heating system with a Heating Energy Recovery Ventilation (H/ERV) system that circulates air throughout the airtight home preheating the incoming air in the winter and cooling it in the summer. In addition, the ventilation system dehumidifies and filters the incoming air. Due to this effective central ventilation system along with ceiling fans throughout the structure, John Rossi has avoided the need for central air conditioning.
Annual water savings reach into the thousands of gallons due to dual flush toilets that allow for a lesser and a greater flush, ENERGY STAR appliances, low flow showerheads and faucets, and a high efficiency dishwasher. Floors are assembled with reclaimed maple from a local mill with green guard carpeting and allergy sensitive paints and stains insuring the health of the occupants and guests.
Although solar voltaics and solar hot water have not been installed, the roof location, the wiring, and the plumbing for such additions are in place. For another $20,000 to the asking price of $324,900, the new owner could install both solar voltaics to assist in generating electricity and solar hot water to assist in heating the home. These additions would make a very efficient and economic home even more so. Both financial savings as well as a reduction of green house gases at the power plant would result from such a well designed home with the added benefit of solar power.According to PowerHouse Enterprises, their home without solar additions would gain a minimum 30% energy savings. This is not a bad number for a home selling at $324,900 without solar.
For more information on this energy-saving home situated on 79 Market Street in Lawrence, call designer and architect John Rossi at 617-905-1420
1. De Rothschild, David. Global Warming Survival Handbook. United Kingdom: Live Earth, 2007: 22.
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson, and Gina Snyder
If your house has central air conditioning, that will probably be your biggest user of electric power, according to the Department of Energy (DOE). “Although used only a few months of the year, the annual cost can be much greater than the annual cost of your refrigerator, which is typically the next largest user.” To use central air conditioning (A/C) efficiently, keep the temperature as high as possible (within your comfort level), and use circulating fans to better move the cool air. During the day, draw shades to keep the sun’s heat out. For bedroom A/C, during extreme heat, keep at a higher temperature during the day with the door closed (and the shades drawn). Then adjust for comfort when you are ready to sleep.
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