Climate change forum set for Monday in Wellfleet

By Mary Ann Bragg
Posted Dec 7, 2018

WELLFLEET — Wellfleet Energy Committee members and others concerned about climate change are gathering at 7 p.m. Monday to discuss how to think globally and act locally, according to an announcement from the nonpartisan Wellfleet Community Forum.

The forum’s “Climate Change Action in Wellfleet” program will feature a discussion about energy conservation, carbon replacement technologies, residential and commercial solar panels and the town’s progress in installing a solar array at the old landfill. The discussion will also include how to move ahead on climate-related aspects of the town’s local comprehensive plan.

A key discussion will be the effort by energy committee member Robert Shapiro to establish a baseline of total fossil fuel use by Wellfleet townspeople, as part of the agreement signed by the Select Board in the summer to join the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy.

The free program and discussion is at the senior center at 715 Old Kings Highway.

https://www.capecodtimes.com/news/20181207/climate-change-forum-set-for-monday-in-wellfleet

New Ways to Use Less Energy at Home

From the energy specialists at Jetson Green [for additional information, click on the link]:

New Ways to Use Less Energy at Home
Concrete countertops? Blown fiberglass insulation? The payback may be quicker than you think..

By JIM CARLTON
For new-home buyers, green is the color of money.

The share of homes being built in the U.S. with environmentally friendly features jumped to 16% of single-family starts last year from 2% in 2006, says McGraw-Hill Construction, a market-research firm in New York. Fueling the trend, industry officials say, is a desire to save energy at a time of high fuel costs. Indeed, in a recent survey, 93% of builders named increased energy efficiency as an important green practice—far more than cited any other benefit.

"People understand energy efficiency because it's easy to measure," says Michele Russo, director of green content at McGraw-Hill, a unit of McGraw-Hill Cos. "They get that bill all the time."

Green homes generally cost anywhere from 2% to 10% more than a typical home, depending on the features included, though the difference is shrinking. About 4%, or $14,000, of the cost of a $398,000 home purchased last year by Keith and Rebecca Sorensen was for green features, including a solar water heater and added insulation, says Michael Chandler, who built the three-bedroom residence in Chapel Hill, N.C. But the couple says their energy bill has been cut by two-thirds from their previous home. The roughly $200 a month in savings means the Sorensens' green premium will be paid off in about six years.

"We're kind of tree-huggers, if you want to call us that, but I hate spending a lot of money hurting the environment," says Mr. Sorensen, 38, an accountant.

Many of the latest practices in green building revolve around ways to make homes use less energy. Here's a look at some recent innovations.

Blown Fiberglass Insulation
Blowing fiberglass between walls, rather than installing matted sheets, is a relatively new technique for addressing one of the best ways to improve the efficiency of a home: making sure it's properly insulated.

"After all, it doesn't make any sense to outfit a home with all of these great new, highly efficient technologies and then have it in a home that leaks like a sieve," says Michelle Desiderio, director of the green buildings program at the NAHB Research Center, part of the National Association of Home Builders, in Upper Marlboro, Md.

The old standard in walls was fiberglass sheets, or "batts," but they often didn't keep rooms sealed very tightly. That led to a slew of competing products in recent years, such as cellulose, or recycled paper, and polyurethane spray foam, which provide more insulation because they are blown in to fill all the nooks and crannies between walls, Ms. Desiderio says.

The fiberglass industry has fought back with new products that have insulation values rivaling cellulose and spray foam, without the potentially harmful chemicals they may contain. (Officials of those latter two industries say that toxicity is an issue only when the materials are being installed, and that workers are instructed to wear appropriate safety equipment to avoid exposure.) One technique has been to design a system of blowing fiberglass into wall cavities, such as the JM Spider Custom Insulation System from Denver-based Johns-Manville Corp.

Builders who have switched back to fiberglass say that while the blowing technique costs as much as 40% more than using the batts, it's up to 50% cheaper than using spray foam. Cellulose costs about the same as blown-in fiberglass, but unlike the Spider fiberglass it can hold moisture, says Stephen Crouch, a residential market manager for Johns-Manville.

Green-building experts say the higher insulation costs will eventually be offset by the home's overall energy savings, which can vary widely depending on what other green features are included.

Mr. Crouch says Johns-Manville's Spider sales have continued to increase during the housing slowdown.

Cellulose and spray foam have both continued to gain share in the home insulation market, say officials of the two industries. And cellulose has "superior" moisture-handling capabilities, says Daniel Lea, executive director of the Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association, in Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Lea adds that cellulose is the "greenest of green" insulation, in part because it has such a high content of recycled materials including newspapers.

Spray foam, meanwhile, has added benefits such as being able to reinforce the structural integrity of a house, says Kurt Riesenberg, executive director of the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance in Fairfax, Va.

Heat Pump Water Heaters
Heat pump water heaters have hit the residential market over the past two years as a way to slash bills on electric water heating. Made by companies including General Electric Co. and Rheem Manufacturing Co., the water heaters suck heat out of the air such as in a garage or basement, like a refrigerator running in reverse, and use it to help heat water in a house.

The savings can be significant: In the case of the Rheem HP-50 heat pump water heater, Rheem officials say the average annual operating cost of the device is between $225 and $280, or about half that of standard electric water heaters.

But the heaters aren't cheap. They cost up to $1,500 for a 50-gallon model, or three times as much as a comparable conventional electric water heater and five times as much as natural-gas-powered units (though natural gas isn't available everywhere). To pay back the higher investment would take three to four years, based on the annual savings.

Another issue with the heat pump units is that homeowners could inadvertently end up paying more to heat the home if one is installed in the wrong place. "If you put it in the garage, that's OK, but if you put one in your basement, that will pull heat out of the basement—forcing you to put more heat back in," says Joe Wiehgen, a senior research engineer at the NAHB Research Center. He suggested that wouldn't be as much of an issue in more temperate climes.

Electronic Monitoring
Several companies have come out with home monitoring systems over the past year that let homeowners track their energy use so they can turn off electricity where it isn't needed.

In February, France's Schneider Electric SA introduced the Wiser Energy Management System, which lets homeowners see a computerized display of their power consumption so they can make adjustments, such as shutting down power to unused appliances. Costing about $600 with installation, the Wiser system can take $60, or 20%, off a $300-a-month power bill, meaning a payback period of as little as a year, says Jeff Drees, president of Schneider's U.S. division.

Similarly, Atlanta-based Powerhouse Dynamics Inc. last year introduced the eMonitor, which costs about the same and advertises a comparable payback period. At the Sorensen residence in North Carolina, the builder, Mr. Chandler, says he included an eMonitor system in the home and has agreed to monitor power use for the family.

"It shows you in a graphical format where there are spikes and stuff," says Mr. Sorensen, who shares the home with his wife and their three children.

Concrete Countertops
At least one green building technology costs less right out of the gate: concrete countertops.

Inspired by "Concrete Countertops: Design, Forms and Finishes for the New Kitchen and Bath," a book by designer Fu-Tung Cheng of Berkeley, Calif., builders around the U.S. have taken to making countertops by mixing their own concrete on a home site. The technique is considered both greener and cheaper because the concrete doesn't have to be shipped like the more prevalent granite counters, says Mr. Chandler, who began building them last year.

According to online calculators, it costs around $1,100 to make 50 square feet of concrete countertop, compared with $2,000 for granite.

But the do-it-yourself approach has its drawbacks. "The challenge is getting the right training for your crew," Mr. Chandler says. "You have to know how to reinforce steel in the right way. It's not intuitive."

25% of energy use

From USA Today:
Some consumers resist 'green' light bulbs

Under a 2007 energy law, manufacturers must start phasing out incandescent bulbs in favor of more-efficient bulbs such as compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs.

While CFLs use at least 75% less energy, some consumers complain....

"Unless you prefer paying higher electricity bills, there's no reason to hoard old incandescent bulbs," [Natural Resources Defense Council's Noah] Horowitz says.


Nationwide, about 25% of our energy use is for lighting, so energy savings are significant.

JetsonGreen offers How to Give Up Incandescent Bulbs

Some of the newer CFLs have been re-designed, offer better lighting instantly with a wider spectrum and greater flexibility.

LEDs offer some exciting potential and are being aggressively engineered and designed, so keep an eye out for new products coming on the market that continue to improve quality and efficiency.

Jetson Green: Net-Zero Energy Home

Jetson Green offers an inspiring subscription of innovative technology and common sense ideas for reducing energy consumption and improving comfort in your home. [You might consider subscribing.]

In a recent email, they link to a series of videos providing information in retro-fitting a 100-year-old home with a goal of creating a net-zero home --

The folks at GreenovationTV and Old House Web are working on a net-zero energy renovation of a 100-year-old home. Through the process, they're posting helpful videos, including this one on insulating uninsulated spaces. This kind of information is on the money for anyone living in an existing home, especially if you're like me and you own an old house from 1958!

According to the Department of Energy, having the right insulation system is "one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to use a whole-house approach to reduce energy waste and make the most of your energy dollars."

In the above video, for example, the house has no attic insulation (other than a layer of old newspapers), no wall insulation, and insufficient basement insulation. To rectify the insulation situation, a team seals all the air leaks, adds blown cellulose to the attic and wall cavities, and applies spray foam to leaky areas in the basement.

You may be wondering how to add insulation to uninsulated walls. Here, the contractor removes a single piece of siding and fills each cavity with the cellulose. Certainly, if you're replacing old siding, it would be a good idea to add insulation at the same time.

If you're not sure how much insulation is necessary, check out this Zip Code Insulation Calculator provided by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Also, keep in mind that you may be entitled to various federal, state, and local incentives for adding insulation to your home.

How many lightbulbs does it take .....

From ENN --

Lighting is a relatively heavy demand on the electricity grid, taking up around 19 percent. Annual carbon generated because of this amounts to 1,500 million tonnes, equivalent to pollution of more than half of the world's light passenger vehicles.


ENN recently posted How Many Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs Does It Take to Close 705 Coal Plants?
worth reading in its entirety --

The second major advance in lighting technology is the light-emitting diode (LED), which uses up to 85 percent less electricity than an incandescent bulb. Although LEDs are the ultimate in lighting efficiency, they are still too costly for most uses. They are rapidly taking over several niche markets, however, such as traffic lights, where they now have 52 percent of the U.S. market, and exit signs in buildings, where they hold 88 percent of U.S. sales. New York City has replaced traditional bulbs with LEDs in many of its traffic lights, cutting its annual bill for maintenance and electricity by $6 million. In early 2009, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said the city would replace its 140,000 street lights with LEDs, saving taxpayers $48 million over the next seven years. The resulting reduction in carbon emissions would be like taking 7,000 cars off the road.

Veterans, Energy and Job Growth

From Apollo Alliance --

This Wednesday was Veterans Day, and to honor our veterans and their service to our country, the Apollo Alliance published a feature story about veterans’ role in the green economy. The article profiled two green jobs programs—Veterans Green Jobs of Colorado and the Veterans Conservation Corps of Washington state—and the recently launched “Operation Free” campaign that has veterans touring the country to call for federal action on climate change.

Veterans Green Jobs runs a 9-week “Home Energy Auditor Training” (HEAT) for veterans, using a rapid, hands-on “military” style of training and a curriculum that was developed in collaboration with community colleges and industry organizations. Upon completion of the training, graduates receive college credits as well as a home energy efficiency certification. The first class of trainees graduated in June, and another class just began in October.

“We think veterans are uniquely qualified to lead the environmental restoration here at home,” said Kirsten Maynard of Veterans Green Jobs. “Not only have they seen environmental destruction across the world; they also have technical skills and other kinds of work skills that allow them to do the really tough work that needs to be done - like go into homes and crawl in the attic and the basement. They’ve been trained by the military to do it, and they actually feel comfortable being in that kind of environment.”

The Veterans Conservation Corps, which is run out of the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs, puts veterans to work on habitat restoration and protection projects across Washington state. The program has been in existence for four years but has faced challenges recently because state budget cuts eliminated the stipends the program paid veterans for their conservation efforts. The Veterans Conservation Corps has also inaugurated a new program, called Veterans Corps, which is modeled on the AmeriCorps program.

“It’s a revitalization of a mission they had in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Mark Fischer, who runs the Veterans Conservation Corps. “Once they left the military, that mission is gone, and it’s a big loss. When they lose that purpose it can be disheartening and disorienting. We try to create a meaningful job - for a purpose-driven life.”

Operation Free is a new campaign by national security and veterans organizations to draw attention to the national security threat created by climate change. “The reason why national security organizations are taking this as a serious threat is that not only are we [the United States] dependent on oil, but the conflicts that arise from famines, floods and droughts [caused by climate change] multiply the threat of current conflicts and create instability,” said Alex Cornell du Houx, an Iraq war veteran and participant in Operation Free. Operation Free held an inaugural event in Washington, D.C., in September, which was followed by a bus tour by veterans in October.

To read the full article and learn more about these green jobs and climate change advocacy efforts by veterans, visit the Apollo Alliance website.

Home weatherization focus of workshop

Cape Cod Times reported --

HARWICH — Homeowners are invited to a weatherization workshop from 9 a.m. to noon today sponsored by the Community Energy Corps.

The workshop is scheduled to be at the old recreation building at the corner of Sisson Road and Parallel Street.

The program features presentations by Chris Powicki of Water Energy and Ecology Information Services and weatherization expert John Vaughn of Housing Assistance Corp.

Vaughn will demonstrate the use of blower door equipment and an infrared camera, tools homeowners can use to pinpoint areas where energy conservation and efficiency measures may be necessary, according to a press release from Cape and Islands Renewable Energy Collaborative.

For more information on the Community Energy Corps, contact Powicki at 774-487-4614 or Megan Amsler at 508-563-6633.


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Other towns have been proactive in promoting the benefits of weatherization.

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One must wonder why the municipal Middleboro Gas & Electric remains absent.

Arctic seas turn to acid

The Guardian carried the article below that adequately addresses the peril of ocean acidification that the US fails to adequately address for mostly political reasons --


Arctic seas turn to acid, putting vital food chain at risk

With the world's oceans absorbing six million tonnes of carbon a day, a leading oceanographer warns of eco disaster
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A decision on classifying the polar bear as threatened is overdue.

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Carbon-dioxide emissions are turning the waters of the Arctic Ocean into acid at an unprecedented rate, scientists have discovered. Research carried out in the archipelago of Svalbard has shown in many regions around the north pole seawater is likely to reach corrosive levels within 10 years. The water will then start to dissolve the shells of mussels and other shellfish and cause major disruption to the food chain. By the end of the century, the entire Arctic Ocean will be corrosively acidic.

"This is extremely worrying," Professor Jean-Pierre Gattuso, of France's Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, told an international oceanography conference last week. "We knew that the seas were getting more acidic and this would disrupt the ability of shellfish – like mussels – to grow their shells. But now we realise the situation is much worse. The water will become so acidic it will actually dissolve the shells of living shellfish."

Just as an acid descaler breaks apart limescale inside a kettle, so the shells that protect molluscs and other creatures will be dissolved. "This will affect the whole food chain, including the North Atlantic salmon, which feeds on molluscs," said Gattuso, speaking at a European commission conference, Oceans of Tomorrow, in Barcelona last week. The oceanographer told delegates that the problem of ocean acidification was worse in high latitudes, in the Arctic and around Antarctica, than it was nearer the equator.

"More carbon dioxide can dissolve in cold water than warm," he said. "Hence the problem of acidification is worse in the Arctic than in the tropics, though we have only recently got round to studying the problem in detail."

About a quarter of the carbon dioxide pumped into the atmosphere by factories, power stations and cars now ends up being absorbed by the oceans. That represents more than six million tonnes of carbon a day.

This carbon dioxide dissolves and is turned into carbonic acid, causing the oceans to become more acidic. "We knew the Arctic would be particularly badly affected when we started our studies but I did not anticipate the extent of the problem," said Gattuso.

His research suggests that 10% of the Arctic Ocean will be corrosively acidic by 2018; 50% by 2050; and 100% ocean by 2100. "Over the whole planet, there will be a threefold increase in the average acidity of the oceans, which is unprecedented during the past 20 million years. That level of acidification will cause immense damage to the ecosystem and the food chain, particularly in the Arctic," he added.

The tiny mollusc Limacina helicina, which is found in Arctic waters, will be particularly vulnerable, he said. The little shellfish is eaten by baleen whales, salmon, herring and various seabirds. Its disappearance would therefore have a major impact on the entire marine food chain. The deep-water coral Lophelia pertusa would also be extremely vulnerable to rising acidity. Reefs in high latitudes are constructed by only one or two types of coral – unlike tropical coral reefs which are built by a large variety of species. The loss of Lophelia pertusa would therefore devastate reefs off Norway and the coast of Scotland, removing underwater shelters that are exploited by dozens of species of fish and other creatures.

"Scientists have proposed all sorts of geo-engineering solutions to global warming," said Gattuso. "For instance, they have proposed spraying the upper atmosphere with aerosol particles that would reduce sunlight reaching the Earth, mitigating the warming caused by rising levels of carbon dioxide.

"But these ideas miss the point. They will still allow carbon dioxide emissions to continue to increase – and thus the oceans to become more and more acidic. There is only one way to stop the devastation the oceans are now facing and that is to limit carbon-dioxide emissions as a matter of urgency."

This was backed by other speakers at the conference. Daniel Conley, of Lund University, Sweden, said that increasing acidity levels, sea-level rises and temperature changes now threatened to bring about irreversible loss of biodiversity in the sea. Christoph Heinze, of Bergen University, Norway, said his studies, part of the EU CarboOcean project, had found that carbon from the atmosphere was being transported into the oceans' deeper waters far more rapidly than expected and was already having a corrosive effect on life forms there.

The oceans' vulnerability to climate change and rising carbon-dioxide levels has also been a key factor in the launching of the EU's Tara Ocean project at Barcelona. The expedition, on the sailing ship Tara, will take three years to circumnavigate the globe, culminating in a voyage through the icy Northwest Passage in Canada, and will make continual and detailed samplings of seawater to study its life forms.

A litre of seawater contains between 1bn and 10bn single-celled organisms called prokaryotes, between 10bn and 100bn viruses and a vast number of more complex, microscopic creatures known as zooplankton, said Chris Bowler, a marine biologist on Tara.

"People think they are just swimming in water when they go for a dip in the sea," he said. "In fact, they are bathing in a plankton soup."

That plankton soup is of crucial importance to the planet, he added. "As much carbon dioxide is absorbed by plankton as is absorbed by tropical rainforests. Its health is therefore of crucial importance to us all."

However, only 1% of the life forms found in the sea have been properly identified and studied, said Bowler. "The aim of the Tara project is to correct some of that ignorance and identify many more of these organisms while we still have the chance. Issues like ocean acidification, rising sea levels and global warming will not be concerns at the back of our minds. They will be a key focus for the work that we do while we are on our expedition."

The toll by 2100
■ The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change forecast in 2007 that sea levels would rise by 20cm to 60cm by 2100 thanks to global warming caused by man-made carbon-dioxide emissions. This is now thought to be an underestimate, however, with most scientific bodies warning that sea levels could rise by a metre or even higher. Major inundations of vulnerable regions such as Bangladesh would ensue.

■ The planet will be hotter by 3C by 2100, most scientists now expect, though rises of 4.5C to 5C could be experienced. Deserts will spread and heatwaves will become more prevalent. Ice-caps will melt and cyclones are also likely to be triggered.

■ Weather patterns across the globe will become more unstable, numbers of devastating storms will increase dramatically while snow will disappear from all but the highest mountains.

CFLs and Mercury

NRDC offered the following information regarding the issue of changing to CFLs (worth reading if that caused your hesitation):

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CFLs AND MERCURY Hysteria or Legitimate Concern?

The Unsexy Solution

Before considering that sleek, sexy wind turbine with gently gliding blades churning out kilowatts or that photovoltaic array on the roof to awe neighbors and friends, comes that dull and boring assessment of reducing energy consumption through a variety of means.

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Maybe it begins with an energy audit.

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Maybe it also involves calculating actual energy costs and assessing where those costs can be reduced.

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It also includes assessing some bad energy habits and working to change them - leaving lights on, eliminating the energy vampires, changing to those curly light bulbs or LEDs, replacing the outdated energy chugging appliance that still works but lives on borrowed time spinning the meter.

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New England is blessed with a magnificent and elderly housing stock that includes uninsulated homes with single pane windows and lovely features that leak heated air like a sieve.

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Efficiency Is Our Best Untapped Energy Source included Amory Lovins comment -
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... for example, in the United States we could save at least half the oil and gas and three-quarters of the electricity we use, and that efficiency investment would cost only about an eighth [of] what we’re now paying for those forms of energy. …
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The experts in the field, Steven Chu, Amory Lovins and others, have all spoken of the ability of the US to reduce our energy consumption by .... are you ready for this? ... the politically incorrect concept of conservation! We can no longer call it that because the word engenders visions of sitting in the dark and shivering, so must now be called "EFFICIENCY" ! Those experts tell us that we waste 30%, 40% and according to the new Energy Secretary, a recent report says we can reduce building consumption 80%.

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So, before considering PhotoVoltaics, consider --

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Want to Go Solar? Cut Your Energy Use First

One of the most common complaints about "going solar" is that the upfront cost is just too high. The primary reason a solar power system can be a high ticket purchase for many solar power shoppers is because of the customers’ bad energy usage habits. The majority of solar power shoppers don't realize they are energy hogs until they start shopping for solar power, when they are forced to understand and analyze their electric consumption.

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So how can solar power shoppers instantly get a deep discount on their solar power system? The answer is simple, "reduce then produce." Focusing on energy efficiency, and implementing lifestyle and product changes can greatly reduce the upfront cost of a solar power system. It is always more cost-effective to reduce your consumption through efficiency than it is to produce your own power.

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Think of it this way, the more you can save through energy efficiency, the fewer solar panels you need to cover your electric usage. It’s that simple. But most solar power consumers get frustrated seeing high upfront costs of going solar and think there are no alternatives to bring the cost down.

Find out how to reduce your energy consumption, continue reading this article at http://www.intent.com/blog/2009/04/22/want-go-solar-cut-your-energy-use-first.
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Not surprisingly, it includes the basics [LINK] --
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Think of it this way, the more you can save through energy efficiency, the fewer solar panels you need to cover your electric usage. It’s that simple. But most solar power consumers get frustrated seeing high upfront costs of going solar and think there are no alternatives to bring the cost down.
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How do you reduce your energy consumption?
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1.) Change all your light bulbs to LEDs. Lighting can contribute up to 10 to 20 percent of your electrical load. Want to minimize that load? LEDs (light emitting diodes) consume a fraction of the electricity that incandescent bulbs and even CFL light bulbs consume. While LED bulbs cost more than their counterparts, they last over 11 years, and LEDs differ from CFLs in that they contain no mercury, a very toxic element. LED bulbs can fit in standard lighting sockets and only cost a dollar or two per year to run a standard household light bulb. Since LED bulbs operate cooler, the decrease in temperature can also keep your home cooler during summer months.
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2.) Invest in insulation. Drafty windows and gaps under doors can significantly raise your heating and cooling costs. These costs usually comprise over half of all energy outlays made by homeowners. By investing in insulation, you can lower your energy costs by as much as 30%.
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3.) Get rid of old appliances. These tend to be less energy efficient. For example, an old coffee maker can consume power equivalent to the output of four solar panels! Purchase Energy Star appliances.
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4.) If you’re not using it, turn it off! Unplug unused items (they draw energy even if they are plugged in, but not in use). These sneaky loads are called “vampire loads”, and they cost U.S. consumers 3 billion dollars per year! How much are these loads costing you? Smart power strips can help you fight vampire loads by shutting off power draw when the appliance is not in use. Remember to set your computers to automatically hibernate (power saving mode) when they are idle for more than 5 minutes. And most importantly, turn off the lights when you leave a room!
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Changing the way you consume energy can have a significant impact on the overall price of a solar energy system. Reducing energy consumption can shave off thousands, if not tens of thousands of dollars from the final cost of a system.
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It seems like today, everyone wants to produce their own watts through solar panels and wind turbines. But we need to first produce “negawatts.” Negawatt power is a term promoted and introduced by Amory Lovins of The Rocky Mountain Institute; essentially, the term means that by saving energy, we create a "virtual power plant," thus not having to create a new power plant to increase electrical supply. The direct reduction in electrical demand through energy efficiency is called a Negawatt.
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Energy efficiency and solar power fit very well with each other. When considering solar power, think about easy ways you can reduce your consumption first – that way you'll save tons of cash, making the solar investment that much more attainable.
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Local Aid Cuts

DLS released the following:
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House Ways and Means Committee (HWM) released their version of the FY2010 budget.
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The Division of Local Services has posted updated local aid estimates based on the HWM budget recommendations to the Division of Local Services’ web site at the link below: DOR
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Like the Governor’s budget proposal (House 1), section 3 of the HWM budget consolidates the Additional Assistance and Lottery line items into Unrestricted General Government Aid.
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The HWM FY2010 budget proposal reduces this line item by $425.6 million or 32.37 percent from original FY2009 levels. This represents a 25 percent reduction to the post 9C Additional Assistance and Lottery amounts.
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HWM budget recommendations also reduce Regional School Transportation from $61.3 million in FY2009 to $30.5 million in FY2010, and eliminate the state reimbursement for the Police Career Incentive program. *
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HWM estimates do not reflect the Governor’s proposed changes to the methodology used to calculate Charter School assessments and reimbursements. Charter school assessments and reimbursements are calculated in the same manner as they were in FY2009.
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Please note that Charter School and School Choice assessments may change significantly when updated to reflect spring enrollment data and final tuition rates.
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To review additional information about how the estimates were determined and what may cause them to change in the future, click on the link at the bottom for an index of the FY2010 programs and links to individual explanations.
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* On a separate Middleboro note, Wayne Perkins negotiated a contract that provides, should state reimbursement for this program be reduced or eliminated, Middleboro will pick up the entire tab. The cost is separated in the Annual Town Report. It's worth having your own copy.

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On Pages 296-297, the following payments for "Career Incentives" are listed for the Police Department only (the Fire Department is listed separately and not covered by state reimbursement, rounded to the nearest whole dollar):

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$17,085

$22,449

$12,816

$16,839

$12,631

$10,105

$12,631

$22,449

$12,631

$5,035

$7,822

$10,105

$10,104

$15,715

$5,052

$10,105

$10,105

$6,736

$6,752

$28,647

$12,631

$10,105

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Widespread criticism is voiced on MMA.

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You might also want to review: Free energy-saving seminars are under way

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Since the Middleboro Board of Selectmen is still mired in the unresolved problems of managing that legacy of "unresolved problems," they haven't noticed the issue as other towns have. There might be surrounding towns offering the presentation.

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MBPC offers Preliminary Analysis: The House Ways and Means FY 2010 Budget

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The Brockton Enterprise reports State announces local aid to cities and towns

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LCV: .....with us or with Rush?

From LCV --

Have you heard Republican leaders in Washington attacking President Obama's plan to build a clean energy economy and solve global warming?

They sound a lot like Rush Limbaugh. Watch this tongue-in-cheek video we made and you'll see when Republican leaders in Washington open their mouths on these critical issues, all you hear is Rush.

www.withusorwithrush.org

Some Republican Governors like Charlie Crist and Arnold Schwarzenegger are leading the way on renewable energy and global warming. But Republican leaders in Washington are just recycling old ideas and outdated critiques—just like Rush spews out on the radio every day.

Stimulus and Weatherization

Every one's talking about the high price tag of the economic stimulus package, but if used properly and if we take advantage of the personal tax credits for energy projects, we can benefit on a personal level by pocketing the savings and, more importantly, live more comfortably. Investments in "energy savings" have been termed 'pre-payments' because the savings continue long after the initial payback.

Because so much of US housing stock predates efficiency standards, there's an abundance of opportunity to reduce consumption and have a major economic effect of freeing up income for better uses.

The GOOD/blog offered this of the economic stimulus bill --

“The most important high tech tool of the new green economy,” Van Jones likes to say, often pausing for dramatic effect, “is the caulk gun.”

Although this is an oversimplification, it's not the sexy blades of wind turbines turning in the wind on the horizon that are the beginning of energy independence, but the caulking gun and weatherstripping and insulation, the grunt work of weatherization.

For residents, the program’s benefits are clear—the typical house that’s taken advantage of this publicly-funded weatherization service sees a 32 percent drop in gas or oil heating energy consumption, a savings to the tune of about $350 every year. For the low-income American families that spend about 16 percent of their income on energy costs (the national average is 5 percent), this is a significant chunk of change.

The public benefit is tougher to figure, but it’s real. Weatherization creates good jobs locally and keeps dollars in the community, it lowers the overall cost of heating fuels by lowering demand, and it cuts carbon emissions and reduces our dependence on oil. The DOE has run some calculations (pdf)—ones that I won’t pretend to fully understand—that plainly state that for every $1 invested in the program, weatherization returns $2.60 in energy and non-energy related benefits.

Where could we achieve a better return on investment of tax dollars?
Tax cuts produce a return of less than $1 for every dollar spent.

Last year, the Weatherization Assistance Program served about 140,000 homes with a budget of $250 million. The problem is, the DOE estimates that there are nearly 34 million homes eligible for weatherization funds. So at the current rate, it’d take roughly 243 years to reach every house that could use a better seal. With the passing of the stimulus bill, however, the program gets a $5 billion shot in the arm, with the aim of achieving President Obama’s stated goal of weatherizing one million homes every year.

Answering criticisms from the right that these funds were nothing more than pork-barrel spending, Obama bluntly rebutted: “We’re going to weatherize homes. That immediately puts people back to work. And we’re going to train people who are out of work, including young people, to do the weatherization. As a consequence of weatherization, our energy bills go down and we reduce our dependence on foreign oil. What would be a more effective stimulus package than that? I mean, you’re getting a three-fer. Not only are you immediately putting people back to work but you’re also saving families on your energy bills and you’re laying the groundwork for long-term energy independence. That’s exactly the kind of program that we should be funding.”

The Washington Post offered these energy saving tips --

...green building experts urge you to start with the low-hanging fruit and your "building envelope," or all the surfaces exposed to the outside. First, get an energy audit of your house from an energy specialist. (For more on this, go to Home Improvement at the Energy Star Web site, http://www.energystar.gov.) Some things can be done by handy homeowners, but many require professionals.

Every hole in the wall, including those for light switches, outlets and ceiling light fixtures, is an opportunity for air to get in and out. As much as 25 percent of your heating and cooling energy can be lost through these often tiny, pinhole-size leaks.

"In 99 of 100 houses in the U.S. on a cold, windy day, you can put your hand in front of a light switch or outlet and feel cold air coming in," said Ron Jones, editorial director of Green Builder magazine and a life member of the National Association of Home Builders board of directors.

Air leaks in the walls can be plugged with caulk or an expansive foam sealant, Johnston said. The cold air streaming in around the doors and windows can be eliminated with a combination of caulk and weatherstripping. This is one cure that most homeowners can do themselves.

The duct system used with forced-air furnaces and central air conditioning can also have leaks. These can account for as much as 25 percent of total household energy consumption. In older houses, the ducts can be sealed from the inside, using special equipment that sprays a liquid resembling latex paint, Johnston said.

The next item on your home energy checklist should be the energy lost or gained through your walls. Start in your attic; the greatest amount of heat can be lost there because hot air rises, Johnston said. Adding insulation here will make a huge difference during the summer as well as the winter. When the sun beats down on your roof in the hot season, the attic can get up to 140 degrees.

If your attic has ducts running through the roof truss rafters, they should be insulated as well. If it gets hot where you live, you can also benefit from adding a radiant barrier -- essentially a sheet of mylar -- to the underside of your roof rafters or the top chord of your roof trusses. This will also reduce the amount of heat passing through your roof to the attic space below.

The next stop is your basement or crawl space, Johnston said. A common complaint from owners of older houses is cold feet in winter because the underside of the floor in the main living areas is not insulated. The cure: insulation. If you regularly use your basement as a rec room or a home office, you should also insulate the walls and floor, Johnston said.

The last place to check for thermal heat loss is your walls. In the likely event you need more insulation, the solution is blown-in cellulose, made from recycled newspapers. As with the duct sealing, you will need to engage a professional with special equipment to do this.

Once you've plugged the air leaks and added insulation, your house may be so airtight that you need to bring in fresh air mechanically. The simplest solution is a small vent with a flap coupled with a continuously running exhaust fan in a bathroom to pull the air through the house and expel it. If this is inadequate, you may need an air exchanger, a device that pulls in fresh air while it exhausts stale air. In cold climates, a more sophisticated heat exchanger extracts the heat before exhausting stale air and transfers it to the incoming air.

Deseret News offered --

No furnace required: Energy-efficient passive houses' gaining steam

In his first weekly address, the president said his economic recovery plan would save the average working family $350 a year on its energy bills by "weatherizing" 2.5 million homes. Experts say the days of relying on a furnace in winter could soon be over.

"I would predict that many of our homes in five to 10 years will start to achieve performance levels of passive house design," said Ren Anderson, manager of residential research at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

But reaching that level is demanding. Technically, Blunk's house, which uses a water heater as a backup heat source, does not meet the strict German definition of a passive house, which is to use no more than the equivalent energy of running a hair dryer.

Passive houses have exploded in popularity in Germany, in large part because the country has increased taxes on gasoline, heating oils and natural gas.



Tony Lawrence posted this on OakPointCommunity.org --

Recently, we taped up bubble wrap on our large slider doors and the windows at the back of the house (see picture). That still lets light in, but blocks quite a bit of heat loss. You can buy boxes of bubble wrap in rolls at the UPS Store and most other shipping outlets.


He got the idea here --

Bubble Wrap Window Insulation which is part of this site -- BuildItSolar. There are some practical and inexpensive ideas on the site if you take a few minutes to wander.

There are some great ideas out there if we look for them. And there's no better time than now.

Energy Use Down

The WSJ reports Surprise Drop in Power Use Delivers Jolt to Utilities:

An unexpected drop in U.S. electricity consumption has utility companies worried that the trend isn't a byproduct of the economic downturn, and could reflect a permanent shift in consumption that will require sweeping change in their industry.

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...third-quarter electricity sales were down 5.9% in the Midwest from the year earlier, including a 9% drop among residential customers.

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...Among residential customers, the drop was 7.2%.

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...thinks the industry should to be wary about breaking ground on expensive new projects.

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Interesting commentary!

Personal Independence

The energy we don't use is money in our pockets. The energy we don't use is a cleaner environment, less money sent overseas and greater personal independence from Big Oil. There are links on the right side of the blog that contain helpful information and more will be added.
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As in 2004, the price of energy dipped prior to the Presidential Election. Coincidence?

The following is offered by the Attorney General :

November 05, 2008

Question of the Week: Is Fuel Efficiency Still In?

Last week, The Boston Globe reported that falling oil prices have signaled a return to our old gas-guzzling ways (“Old habits return fast,” October 30, 2008). While many considered the trend toward fuel efficiency amid record high prices a positive and productive outcome of the energy crisis, the article went on to explain that falling oil prices could halt or slow down the conservation movement. From trading in SUVs for Hybrids, to a well-documented spike in public transportation usage, high gas prices caused a paradigm shift and made us all reevaluate our driving habits. Those efforts played a large part in bringing the price of gas back to 2007 levels in recent weeks.

We want to know ... While the drop in gas prices has certainly been a welcome byproduct of an economic slowdown, how can community leaders continue to encourage and educate people to conserve, carpool and think green? Do you get the sense that people in your community are still taking the long view and continuing on the path to conservation? As The Globe noted, “is fuel efficiency still in?” Or are people in your communities falling back into old habits? What do you think?

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Earth Justice -
Right now, the Department of Energy is considering a new standard for fluorescent tube lights and other kinds of light bulbs that over the next three decades will save enough energy to power every household in America for an entire year, and net customers and business over $66 billion in savings.

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Stay Warm This Winter

As the temperature drops, it's time to prepare for winter heating bills. Heating is a whopping 28 percent of the average home's energy use. Before you turn up the thermostat this fall, take a few simple steps to weatherize your home. A poorly insulated, drafty house can cost you plenty. But a little bit of caulk, insulation and ingenuity can save money by immediately reducing your energy bill. Tiny cracks and gaps are like leaving a window open all winter long.
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NRDC
By making energy-efficient choices you can save electricity and money without giving up the comforts of home -- whether you rent an apartment, own a home or live with your parents!

Save $4,000 Next Year

When the Middleboro Gas & Electric Commissioners' Meeting was aired on the local access network, a cursory review of the polling questions was presented that were asked in a recent survey, with a promise of more to follow.

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Of the questions asked, included, was whether increased energy costs had caused a lifestyle change. Since the questions and additional details will follow, the percentages weren't recorded, but it was disappointing that ANYONE believes saving energy has to effect your lifestyle. That's been the entire discussion --- you don't have to sit in the dark and shiver to save energy and reduce your consumption. You have to be smart about your energy use.

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That ANYONE responded to a question of that sort by indicating that their lifestyle had changed indicates the failure of the MG&E to educate their customers about how best to reduce consumption and enjoy the same lifestyle.

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The ideas are available, but who best to educate energy consumers than the G&E?

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This basic guide is passed along for consideration: Save $4,000 Next Year The estimates are somewhat conservative, but a good place to start.

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NewDream is promoting their campaign to Break the Bottled Water Habit and offers the following statistics:

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Everything we consume has a climate impact, but manufacturing and trucking water bottles to homes with clean tap water seems particularly wasteful. The Beverage Marketing Corporation reports that Americans consumed 31.2 billion liters of water in 2006 – nearly 9 liters per month for every man, woman, and child.

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Manufacturing all those bottles requires 900,000 tons of plastic, the equivalent of more than 17 million barrels of oil, and emit more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide. Trucking around all those heavy bottles emits even more greenhouse gases. Beyond the climate impact there’s the massive waste – 86% of water bottles aren’t recycled -- and water bottling is also, ironically, a very water-intensive endeavor. The Pacific Institute tells us that it takes three liters of water to produce one liter of bottled water!

Regional Energy Roundtables #4 Dedham

At a recent Energy Summit, produced by the Worcester Business Journal in cooperation with National Grid, Philip Giudice [commissioner of the state Department of Energy Resources] commented:

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... there are steps businesses, individuals and municipal governments can take to help the cause. He said those entities should collect all data on their own energy consumption, compare and "benchmark" that data against others, establish a specific action plan for driving down energy consumption and lowering energy spending and hold each other accountable "to very high standards."

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"All of us have been far too comfortable with the status quo," Giudice said. "We all need to move up to another level of commitment and action to make this happen."

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At the Regional Energy Roundtable, held in Plymouth, Virginia LeClair, Environmental Coordinator from the Town of Dedham presented the formula Dedham has followed with their Renewal Energy Committee, including educating residents by creating a brochure explaining how to increase the energy efficiency of residents' homes.

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Of Dedham's efforts, the following was reported:

Editorial: Going green a smart move

Dedham is wise for wanting to go green with the new senior center and the state is doing the right thing by giving the town some money to do so.

Included in the brochure published by the Dedham Renewable Energy Committee entitled Energy Efficient Tips For Homeowners, is the following:

Why should I care about increasing the energy efficiency of my home?

• Lower utility bills
• Less pollution related to electricity generation
• Economic stimulus
• Reduced national dependence on fossil fuels
• Lower greenhouse gas emission which are associated with global warming

By following these simple tips you can save energy and money at home. The typical U.S. family spends $1,300 a year on home energy bills. These low cost energy efficiency improvements can save you 20-30% on your household energy bill.

Reduce Your Electricity Use

• Appliances and home electronics are responsible for 20% of your home energy bill.
• Reduce your energy consumption by having a FREE energy audit conducted on your home. Contact NSTAR (www.nstar.com) or MassSave (www.masssave.com) or call (866) 527-7283) for ways to improve your energy efficiency.
• Beware of Phantom Power - electronics that remain plugged in consume power at all times. Save money and energy by plugging multiple electronics into a power strip with a shut off switch.

Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFLs)

If every U.S. household purchased 1 CFL, the U.S. would prevent greenhouse gas emissions equal to 800,000 cars.

• A Compact Fluorescent bulb will save you $30 over the life of the bulb compared to an incandescent bulb.
• CFLs use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last ten times longer. A 4 pack can be purchased for $7.00.
• Look for an ENERGY STAR label when purchasing CFLs to assure that you are buying the most energy efficient bulb.
• CFLs contain a small amount of mercury and should be disposed of porperly. CFLs can be recycled at Dedham's Household Hazardous Collection Day in May or dropped of at IKEA in Stoughton, MA.

ENERGY STAR Appliances

Look for the ENERGY STAR label when purchasing appliances.

• ENERGY STAR has over 50 qualified products and offers numerous rebates on appliances.
• A conventional refrigerator alone consumes 8% of your energy use. In contrast an ENERGY STAR refrigerator is highly efficient and will pay for itself in 2-4 years.

HEATING AND COOLING

As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your home's heating and cooling is critical to your wallet and the environment.

• Start by installing programmable thermostats. A programmable thermostat can save you $150 per year on your heating and cooling bills.
• Programmable thermostats allow you to program different settings for you when you are home or away, sleeping or awake.
• An ENERGY STAR qualified thermostat costs anywhere from $25-73, but for every degree you lower your thermostat you are saving 2% off your heating bill.
• NSTAR Gas is offering until April 2008 a $25 rebate. To order call 1-800-285-2778.

Water Heating/Conservation

Water heating is the third largest expense in your home, after heating and cooling. So make sure you have the most energy efficient water heater.

• If your tank feels warm to the touch then you would benefit from wrapping it with an insulating blanket to prevent heat loss.
• Set the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees F.
• The average household uses 350 gallons of water per day. Low flow showerheads and faucet aerators can reduce your water consumption by half and will cost you approximately $6.00.
• Receive a $100 rebate from the Dedham Westwood Water District when you purchase any model of front loading washers or a $50 rebate when you purchase any model of high efficiency toilets (limit 2 per household). For more information contact 781-329-7090 or visit www.dwwd.org.

RECYCLING

Recycling saves energy too!

• Recycling two aluminum cans saves the equivalent amount of energy it takes to power a computer for one workday.
• Next time you go to Roche Bros. be sure to bring your canvas tote to receive a refund of $.05 per papr/plastic bag not used.

According to a Boston Globe article, Dedham was among -- Fourteen area communities - Brockton, Canton, Cohasset, Dedham, Easton, Hanson, Hull, Mansfield, Milton, Plymouth, Quincy, Raynham, Sharon, and Westwood - have signed on to the federal Environmental Protection Agency program called the Community Energy Challenge. The towns agree to compile data to benchmark their current energy use and commit to 10 percent reductions.

Their approach has been consistent with others: 1. Collect and evaluate the energy consumption by building 2. Tackle the 'low hanging fruit' first - CFLs, motion sensors, programmable thermostats, and so on. In one new school building that received a Green School Grant, a solar array sits on the roof, daylight controls have been installed and a 50,000 gallon tank collects rainwater for toilet flushing.

There have been ideas other communities have adopted that are striking, for instance - Hanson took advantage of information from the Community Energy Challenge program to change its street lights to LED lights, saving 68 percent of its annual street lighting cost, according to Selectman Jim Armstrong.

In these tough economic times, we need to save every energy dollar both in our homes and in our towns. If your town is not on the list, maybe you should ask why.

Since only silence has been heard from the Middleborough Gas & Electric and the Board of Selectmen, should we ask why? Since the Middleboro Board of Selectmen act as Water Commissioners, by Town Charter, should we question why they haven't promoted front loading washers and low flush toilets as Dedham has? Is Middleboro missing out on Grant Funding that was available because of its lack of vision?

Presidential Debates and Energy Efficiency

During the Presidential debates ENERGY was briefly mentioned. Kate Galbraith expanded the subject in the NYT --

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“Each and every one of us can start thinking about how can we save energy in our homes, in our buildings,” Mr. Obama said. His administration, he said, would incentivize Detroit to make more fuel-efficient cars, and would also be “making sure that you are able to weatherize your home or make your business more fuel efficient”.

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Mr. Obama was responding to a question about what sacrifices his administration would ask American to make during tough economic times. It is a clever answer, because the trick to energy efficiency, of course, is that it is not actually a sacrifice. Unlike more expensive green investments like a Prius or solar panels, adding insulation to your house or sealing leaky windows can actually save money in the near term.

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In Single Sentences, I comment on

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Mohler-Faria noted that
conservation efforts at Bridgewater State College
have reduced the school’s energy consumption by
28 percent —
proving that green environmental initiatives, are “also a
major economic engine for the state of Massachusetts.”

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Potentially, that's 30% IN YOUR POCKET. That's like a tax cut, if you just reduce your energy expenses.

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Unfortunately, Ms. Galbraith links to an article promoting NUCLEAR energy which destroys her credibility on the topic and clearly indicates her lack of research.

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It might also be suggested that the NYT consider some of the current reports about the industry.

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I'm wondering how the radioactive shipment from Pilgrim in Plymouth to Yankee in Vermont magically increased in radioactivity. Is this the fishes and loaves again or just that Entergy owns both plants?

Are we sheep?

Greenwashing Nuclear Power #2

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Federal nuclear inspectors are looking into why a shipment of lead shielding from the Pilgrim nuclear station in Plymouth to the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant had higher than allowed radiation levels.

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The lead shielding is used to protect workers during refueling outages. Both Pilgrim and Yankee are owned by Entergy.

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“(Workers) checked it thoroughly before it left Pilgrim,” said Neil Sheehan, spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In Plymouth, radiation levels were below federal limits, he said.

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It can only be suggested that she read Forget Nuclear or Nuclear Illusion.

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Clearly, the issue deserves more than sound bytes, but CONSERVATION and ENERGY EFFICIENCY are dirty words to Republicans and the right wing media who poo pooed their efficacy.

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If energy costs were removed from your household budget, isn't that like a raise in pay or a tax cut?

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It can only be suggested that RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute) has long been promoting the concept and includes a wealth of information.

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Energy efficiency has often been seen as the ugly sister to renewable energy, but there is nothing ugly or unglamorous about saving money, reducing energy costs and lowering emissions. While the market tends to focus on investment in renewables as a means of cutting carbon, there is growing evidence that investing in ‘negawatts’, a term coined to describe a megawatt of power avoided or saved from use on the energy grid, will provide a better return.

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The opportunity for energy efficiency investment is immense - the International Energy Agency calls it the ‘fifth fuel’ after oil, coal, gas and nuclear. Energy Efficiency News

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As a footnote: the energy issue ranks so far down the list of important issues, that the Middleboro Bored of Selectmen couldn't include a Green Committee on the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting scheduled for October 20th. They did manage to include sick leave buy back for a deceased employee that was voted at the ATM. So much for leadership, transparency and competence. Just leave it all to a new town manager.

Energy Savings in Taunton Schools

The Taunton School Department energy savings have been previously addressed in this forum and I call your attention to the Taunton Gazette article below that bears watching.

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If you're in one of the few remaining communities failing to address municipal energy use, maybe you need to ask why.

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In my personal opinion, the Middleborough Gas & Electric should be leading the way instead of conducting poorly worded polls and wasting ratepayers' money doing so. Customers of the Middleborough G&E are no longer enjoying the best competitive rates, nor are they getting the best bang for the buck.

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Like other communities, the Middleborough G&E should be promoting the 'low hanging fruit' philosophy of other towns and assisting residents who want to reduce their energy consumption, as well as working with town governments of both Lakeville and Middleboro to achieve cost savings.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley reminded, at the Regional Energy Roundtable, of the Darwin quote that 'It's not the strongest who survive, but those who adapt.'

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And Mark Reed, Director of Public Affairs, NSTAR, said 'If you can't manage the cost of energy, you can manage the use.'

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The concept of PRE-PAYING for energy for 20 to 50 years through renewables was commented on and replaces the concept of 'pay back' when considering installation and investment.

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Simply put, you can begin with 1. conservation by tackling the simplest methods first, the low hanging fruit requiring little or no investment; 2. consideration of installation of appropriate renewables technology, or more appropriately for most, installation of photovoltaics and creating consortiums with other towns to construct wind turbines, tidal/wave turbines 3. investing in renewables in terms of 'pre-paying' for future energy use.

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City schools saving money on energy
Taunton —
The city’s school district has saved more than $1 million in energy costs since enrolling in an energy conservation program, according to Matthew Stellar, energy manager for Taunton schools.
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Since partnering with Energy Education Inc., a national energy conservation program, the school system has seen an 18 percent reduction in the amount of money it would have spent without the program in place, said Stellar, who is the son of superintendent Arthur W. Stellar. Without the program in place, the district would have spent an estimated $5.5 million on electricity, water, gas and other energy expenses. With the program in place, the school system spent about $4.5 million during that time frame.

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“We have been able to spend this million dollars of energy savings elsewhere in our budget to support education,” the superintendent said. “Consequently, we have been able to avoid the major staff layoffs and other significant financial problems of many other districts in Massachusetts.”

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In March 2006, the school committee approved a four-year contract with Energy Education.

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A representative of the company went to Thursday’s school committee meeting to present the district with an award recognizing the energy cost savings.

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As part of the program, the energy manager tracks energy consumption, compares it to a baseline period and calculates the amount of energy that would have been used had conservation and management practices not been implemented. By tracking consumption and analyzing energy use, he can identify areas that need attention.

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Energy programs in Taunton were also recognized this past May, when the state Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs presented “Excellence in Energy and Environmental Education Awards” to Martin and Friedman middle schools, which were among 23 in the state to receive the honor. Taunton Gazette

Regional Energy Roundtables #2

Massachusetts Attorney General, Martha Coakley, has made available (in pdf format) the informational pamphlet that was distributed during the Roundtable Meeting on the Attorney General of Massachusetts web site containing energy resources.

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Transcriptions of the roundtable will be posted on the site as well and energy strategies will be added.

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Included with energy considerations was the Plymouth Fire Chief Bradley who addressed the recent increase in alternative methods of heating that puts homes and residents at risk. It's always helpful to be reminded of the risk of fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. For anyone unfamiliar with the recently changed codes, carbon monoxide detectors are now mandatory. It might be helpful if the Middleboro Gas & Electric included warnings or some other effort were made to remind residents.

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Three members of Plymouth town government, including Brian Kuhn, Chairman of the Energy Committee, Richard Quintal, Chairman, Board of Selectmen, Bill Driscoll, Chairman, Finance Committee explained the actions Plymouth has taken to address demand side energy, in other words, energy conservation.

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It was estimated that the School Department has reduced their costs by $750,000 to $1 Million with thermostats, shutting off lights and motion sensors, shutting off computers and other non-capital intensive measures.

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I have previously posted reports by experts indicating that 20-30% of energy consumption is simply wasted energy. This is the so-called 'low hanging fruit' we can all take advantage of, beginning with CFLs (compact fluorescent lights), programmable thermostats, energy efficient appliances.

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On the Supply Side, Plymouth's 2020 program will coincide with their 400th Anniversary with a goal of 100% municipal energy generated by alternative energy sources.

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Plymouth's efforts began with changes to their zoning by-laws to allow erection of wind turbines. While not every town enjoys this advantage, it's worth consideration. As the cost of roof top wind turbines declines, there may be marginal locations that are viable.

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There are currently 15 wind projects in various stages of consideration/permitting in Plymouth, including the waste water treatment plant (RFP currently on hold), South High School, County Prison and Farm. Photovoltaics are being considered at the landfill. Consideration is being given to a Plymouth Power Authority for the sale of power. (It was pointed out that under the Green Communities Act, there is a net metering cap currently 1%.)

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A No Idle Policy was implemented and consideration is being given to purchase of fuel efficient vehicles and elimination of reuse of police cruisers by other departments when it's affordable.

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An energy audit of all municipal buildings revealed that the library was the biggest energy user. Each of the buildings has been audited in a step-wise fashion and a facility and vehicle audit is underway of the Fire Department.

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It is hoped that the planned film studios will be the first green studios in the nation.

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Bill Driscoll raised the issue of considering conservation land purchases to include provisions that would allow the land to accept renewables and indicated that the Finance Committee cut the energy budgets of municipal departments to send a message.

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