Commonwealth Conversations: Energy Smarts

Saving Energy With Your Holiday Gifts

Tom Witkin

Marketing and Collaboration, Department of Energy Resources (DOER) 

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Did you get some sort of new electronic gadget as a holiday gift? If you did, you have a new, easy opportunity to save energy in your home.

The typical American household owns about 25 pieces of consumer electronics. Turns out that these fun electronic widgets, especially the older ones, can be real electricity hogs. Hopefully, your newest gifts are better about burning fewer electrons than similar products from not so long ago. If not, there are simple steps you can take to reduce their electricity appetite. Check out an informative, fun-to-read blog by Peter Lehner of the National Resources Defense Council: Pulling the Plug on Energy Waste: A Guide to Efficient Consumer Electronics. 

And, if you want to learn more about practical ways to save energy and money that don't relate to the holy grail product that integrates your computer/library/phone/music/etch-a-sketch into one tool, check out this Energy Smarts blog and tips.

Cleaning Up Your Woodstove

Bram Claeys

Renewable Energy Policy Director, Department of Energy Resources

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Winter is here – maybe even a real New England winter this time. We’ll huddle around to watch the bowl games and maybe even turn up the heat. But before you touch your thermostat, consider how your heat is generated. In all probability, you use either a boiler or furnace fired by natural gas or heating oil. Perhaps you use propane or even (let’s hope not) electricity.

The latter options especially can turn out to be pricey. But there’s good news: alternatives are available. Efficient renewable heating is coming, and if the Mass. Department of Energy Resources' (DOER) recommendations are followed, it’s here to stay.

One renewable path opened up with the launch of DOER and MassCEC’s $100,000 pilot incentive program to assist residents to trade in their inefficient wood, wood pellet, or coal-burning stoves for safer, more efficient, and cleaner models.

Qualifying residents can get a voucher of either $1000 or $2000 (depending on income) to replace older, non-EPA certified stove models with high efficiency stoves that use less wood and release fewer particulates into the air.

Efficient renewable heating is an attractive alternative to warming your home with fossil fuels; it can save you money, does not have the same supply constraints, and is cleaner. The efficient wood stoves in the change out program use less wood and produce fewer airborne particulates. Your family will appreciate the better air quality - so will your neighbors.

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Commissioner Kenneth Kimmell notes that “this program is a great example of how state agencies work together to support our clean air goals, as well as clean energy goals. Because new wood stoves emit approximately 70 percent less pollution than older, conventional stoves, MassDEP worked with our partner agencies to ensure that the change-out program targets the less-efficient stoves and significantly reduces local particulate emissions.”

The woodstoves pilot program is just part of a broader program to support renewable heating and cooling. The MassCEC Commonwealth Solar Hot Water program is already stimulating an important approach to renewable heating in the residential, commercial and public sectors. There is more on the way.

Watch for additional pilot initiatives from a DOER / MassCEC / MassDEP partnership:

• Outdoor hydronic heater change out
• Residential wood pellet boilers (more sophisticated systems than wood stoves)
• Industrial/commercial wood boilers
• Residential and commercial air source and ground source heat pump programs
• Community district energy financing
• Renewable thermal business investment financing programs

These projects can help us gain experience with and build the marketplace for exciting, cost-effective and environmentally friendly new systems for our northeast climate.

“Home MPG” Provides Easy-to-Grasp Energy Score

Elise Anderson

Building Energy Program Coordinator, Department of Energy Resources (DOER)

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It’s not often that those of us working on energy policy at the Department of Energy Resources get to see the impact on a family’s life by one of our new energy initiatives. Recently I had the chance to visit the home of Jim Marowski and his family in Palmer and hear how energy efficiency improvements and incentives have made their home more comfortable and affordable. The Marowskis participated in “Home MPG” (miles per gallon), a Mass Save® Home Energy Services initiative.

Home MPG provides:

• A no-cost Energy Performance Score (EPS) that rates the building’s energy characteristics – rather than occupants’ life-style – much like a vehicle MPG rating, and allows comparison
  between area homes based on the structures’ expected energy use and carbon emissions. Homeowners get to see an EPS both before and after making home energy improvements to show the impact of those upgrades. 
• Bonus incentives – in addition to those already provided through Mass Save – to offset the cost of insulation and heating/hot water equipment upgrades. 
• A web interface to connect homeowners to an infrared thermal image of their home (if available) to illustrate the potential for targeted cost-effective building envelope improvements. 
• A web-based tool that allows homeowners to view the results of their Mass Save home energy assessment and energy scorecard.

The results from the Marowski’s no cost Home MPG/Mass Save home energy assessment pointed up specific changes they could make to take advantage of energy efficiency incentives through Mass Save. The family spent about $9,000 on their improvements: heating system, hot water heater, and attic insulation. But thanks to the incentives, they were reimbursed for about half of those costs.

With anticipated savings of around $1,400 a year in reduced energy expenses, it won't take long for the Marowskis’ improvements to pay for themselves. "That will be within about three years, based on the projected savings and what the out-of-pocket expense was. It's not difficult at all. If I can take advantage of these programs, anybody can," Jim Marowski said.

The communities participating in the Home MPG initative are Belchertown, East Longmeadow, Hampden, Longmeadow, Monson, Palmer, Springfield and Wilbraham. If you live in one of these towns and want to learn more about Home MPG, check out http://masssave.energy-performance-score.com/. If you're generally interested in home energy upgrades that save money, go to masssave.com or call 1-866-527-SAVE (7283) to schedule your no-cost home energy assessment.

It's Getting Cold Out - Spend Less & Stay More Comfortable

Tom Witkin

Marketing and Collaboration, Department of Energy Resources (DOER) 

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Daylight Savings Time is over, a clear hint that the warm weather is past. Standing on the train station platform this morning removed any doubt for me; I needed my gloves. It got me thinking about what we can do when the temperature plunges to keep our homes more comfortable and spend less on heat at the same time.

The Globe published a good starter called How to winterize your home: A procrastinator’s manual with 8 tips. U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Energy Savers Guide: Tips on Saving Money and Energy at Home is a great jumping-off point for lots of practical advice. The site makes a critical point for homeowners. To paraphrase:

The key to savings is to take a whole-house approach -- view your home as an energy system with interdependent parts. For example, your heating system is not just a furnace -- it's a heat-delivery system that starts at the furnace and delivers heat throughout your home using a network of ducts (or pipes if you have a boiler). Even a top -of-the-line,  energy efficient furnace or boiler will waste a lot of fuel if the ducts or pipes, walls, attic, windows, and doors are leaky or poorly insulated.

Start off with these tips and use the DOE site to gather details on specific topics such as insulation, lighting, appliances, even renewable energy options (my house now has photovoltaic panels on our roof, but that's another story):

• Install a programmable thermostat. Believe it or not, there are ones that are easy to use and no longer require a PhD (I've never figured out the one in our living room).
• Set your programmable thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and lower the setpoint when you're sleeping or away from home.
• Clean/replace filters on furnaces once a month or as recommended, and air vents, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed. Make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.
• Eliminate trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season; if unsure about how to, contact a professional.
• Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators.
• Keep the draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night.
• Check windows and doors for air leaks and seal/caulk any you find.

If you have an oil burner, check this tip sheet. The state's Home Heating Consumer Assistance web page has (hot) soup-to-nuts information on weatherization services and fuel assistance, as well as recommendations to minimize your winter heating bill. Mass Save® is the place to start for a home energy assessment that can lead to all sorts of money-saving opportunities.

Sure, we're New Englanders. We're tough and don't mind the cold (so much). Then again, we don't have anything to prove. Why not get comfortable and save some money, too? Might make any Patriots' losses easier to take.

One Month Left to “Go Solar” at Discounted Rates

Alicia Barton McDevitt

CEO and Executive Director at Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC)

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With a couple of weeks left before this program’s new October 31 deadline, I’m excited to tell you that our solar bulk purchasing program – Solarize Mass – is already a huge success.
Residents from 17 communities across Massachusetts have signed contracts for more than 288 roof-top solar systems that will produce 1.9 megawatts of clean, renewable energy and cut energy costs below traditional sources of electricity. This is enough to power the equivalent of 312 homes each year and cut the greenhouse gas emissions equal to those of 212 cars.

These numbers are incredible.

My favorite part of the Solarize Mass program is the way it brings so many people together.
Our dedicated solar coaches, who are community volunteers, are working with municipal officials, residents, and businesses in their cities and towns to make sure people have the information and tools they need to participate in the program. Our program partners in the private sector – eight solar installers across the state – are working with communities and individuals to adopt this renewable source and drive down the cost of energy.

Administered by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and funded by the state Department of Energy Resources’ Green Communities Division, Solarize Mass builds on the enthusiasm and local know-how of these community representatives, residents, and businesses.

The hard work by all of these players has paid off; more than 4,000 residents have already expressed interest in the program, leading to more than 1,700 site visits completed. There are hundreds more scheduled for the coming days and weeks.

This interest is no small thing. Solar power will help the state decrease its dependence on outside energy sources and create local jobs in the process. Massachusetts spends $22 billion a year on energy, whether it’s to heat our homes or power our vehicles. Of that total, $18 billion is sent out of the state, out of the region, and out of the country.

Programs like Solarize Mass and others that promote the expansion of renewable energy are already keeping more of these dollars here in the Commonwealth, improving the state’s economy as a whole.

But we’re not done yet.

There’s still time for residents of the 17 Solarize communities – Acton, Arlington, Boston, Hopkinton, Melrose, Mendon, Millbury, Montague, Newburyport, Palmer, Pittsfield, Lenox, Shirley, Sutton, Wayland, Sudbury and Lincoln – to sign up to take part in this exciting program.

Interested? Head to the Solarize Mass website and get started!

New Trees Grow in Springfield

Ted Dobbin

Clean Energy Fellow, Department of Energy Resources (DOER)

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Following the devastation of last year’s tornadoes, which destroyed an estimated 4,000 trees, Springfield residents decided to step up to the plate and rebuild their neighborhoods. ReGreen Springfield created the Tree Planting Initiative, which has made tremendous progress in its efforts to restore vibrancy to Springfield, Massachusetts.  During the project’s initial phase, there were over 800 trees planted in tornado affected neighborhoods using $385,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds directed by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER). Due to the initiative’s incredible success, DOER allocated an additional $125,000 of ARRA funding to expand efforts as part of its ReBuild Western Massachusetts program. This allowed for a total of 300 more plantings, bumping up the total to 1,140 trees.

Trees provide far more than a respite from the mid-afternoon sun. From off-setting carbon emissions, to reducing the Heat Island Effect (a build-up of thermal energy in urban spaces), trees are a multi-faceted tool for remedying environmental problems. Trees trap carbon dioxide, one of the major contributing greenhouse gases, and release oxygen into the environment. They can help to reduce urban runoff and erosion, absorb sound and noise pollution, and reduce airborne dust levels. During the summer months, the shade created by healthy trees can help to decrease cooling demands in nearby households and reduce ambient air temperature across neighborhoods. Alternatively, trees can serve as windbreaks for buildings during the winter months and help cut home heating costs for affected homeowners.

These inherent traits are all well and good, but dare I say it, the personal significance of trees should not be overlooked. Whether it’s the maple tree in the front yard whose branches you swung through as a child or the giant oak that you carved your initials in, a tree is more than a carbon dioxide sponge. For many of us, they represent the idea of “home,” or a time in one’s life. A time when everything was simpler, and it felt safe to catch fireflies in the backyard beneath that old apple tree on a balmy summer evening. 

Springfield’s Tree Planting Initiative has helped replace some of these anchors of time and memory lost in the storms of last summer. Excuse the sappiness (and this pun), but I hope these newly planted trees will provide the families of Springfield with a lifetime of new memories.

ReGreen Springfield's efforts are profiled on its Facebook page.

Energy saving tip of the week: Plant a tree

Susan S. Kaplan

Director of Marketing &Stakeholder Engagement, Department of Energy Resources

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Planting a deciduous tree on the west or south side of your house can provide shade that will help keep it cool in the summer, which may reduce your air conditioning use. When the leaves start to fall, it will let more light and warmth through in the colder months, helping keep your house warmer and brighter during the winter.

Planting trees in the right places can save you energy and can definitely brighten your day.

Please don't forget to plant away from power lines and call your utility or dial 811 for Dig Safe before you dig.

Meet me at the Meet-Up

Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr.

Secretary, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

View Secretary Sullivan's Bio

The strength of the Massachusetts clean energy ecosystem is a testament to the work we’ve done together from town to town and business to business and in homes across the Commonwealth to adopt and champion clean energy.

The number of clean energy workers in Massachusetts – 72,000 and counting – has increased 11.2 percent over the past year. It’s a remarkable development that’s due to deliberate, progressive state clean energy policy, Massachusetts’ high-quality workforce, healthy investment environment, and innovation communities.

This strength is apparent from one end of the clean energy economy to the other. Clean energy firms forge partnerships among innovators, researchers, and utilities to grow business relationships. International clean tech companies look here for leadership.  Companies from abroad simply want to do business here, and emerging companies want to grow here.

In Massachusetts, opportunities abound for businesses that want to lower energy bills by working with companies right in the same zip code – and many of our corporations and institutions with energy-intensive facilities are entering into these partnerships. More and more homeowners recognize that not only is clean energy good for the environment, it’s a good home improvement investment.

We are dedicated to maintaining this momentum by fostering new connections that expand markets, push technology forward, and forge meaningful partnerships from our own backyard to across the nation and around the globe.

Now is your chance to join us in celebrating this growth and advancing the clean energy economy at the Global Cleantech Meet-up held in Boston and Cambridge from October 15 to 18.  The event is brought to you by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center, Fraunhofer Ventures, and the New England Clean Energy Council. (Early bird discounts end Thursday, September 6.)

Representatives from the Commonwealth’s clean energy team look forward to meeting you at the Meet-up – let’s grow your clean energy business in Massachusetts!

We hope to see you there.

Back to School - SAGEE and NEED bring energy and environmental education to students

Tom Witkin

Marketing and Collaboration, Department of Energy Resources (DOER) 

View Tom's Bio

Schools across the Commonwealth have designed programs that include energy and environment-related themes ranging from energy efficiency to recycling to renewable energy.  These initiatives − which include extensions to mandatory K-12 science curricula – are making students an increasingly important part of Massachusetts’ clean energy initiatives.

Last May, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Sullivan, on behalf of the Secretary's Advisory Group on Energy and Environmental Education (SAGEE), honored Massachusetts schools, students, and nonprofit organizations from 24 communities across the Commonwealth for their outstanding achievements. Later in May, another group of students and teachers were recognized as Massachusetts and national winners of the NEED (National Energy Education Development Project) Youth Awards. This time EEA Undersecretary for Environment Phillip Griffiths did the honors.

Here’s a sampling of the NEED projects undertaken by these students and their advisors:

• Energy saving lighting retrofit that saves $33,000 annually, an energy jobs program, and elementary school student mentoring program  – Boston Latin School
• Outreach and education about solar power for municipalities – Sandwich High School
• “Power-Down” program to raise awareness about energy conservation within the school, which led to a 5.5% reduction in energy consumption – Acton-Boxborough Regional High School
• “Energy Savers” education for school staff, students, and the community about ways to conserve energy – Bourne Middle School
• Energy experiments, poems and essays shared with other students, the Sandwich School Committee and community (via local TV) – The Forestdale School, Sandwich MA
• Energy carnival that included a challenge to families to create an energy efficient house from a box , a club for first grader energy education, and an engineering club that built a solar oven – Eastham Elementary School
• ”Energize for Our Environment” to raise energy awareness: turning the school parking lot into an idle-free zone and selling CFL’s to town citizens – Harwich Community Learning Center

These projects and programs certainly raise literacy among young people. Our hope is that these students will also share this message with their parents and communities: responsible energy use is critical to Massachusetts’ future. The SAGEE and NEED youth programs can help spawn a new generation of forward thinking clean energy movers and shakers.

With the new school year beginning, we look forward to seeing what clean energy initiatives students create this year!

Massachusetts clean energy sector grows by 11.2 percent

Alicia Barton McDevitt

CEO and Executive Director at Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC)

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It was such a thrill to come on board at MassCEC on the heels of our recent announcement that Massachusetts has seen more than 11 percent job growth in the state’s clean energy sector. Surrounded by students who participate in our clean energy training programs at the State House in Boston, Secretary Sullivan announced the results of our 2012 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report, and I was honored to be there with him.

2012 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report

Clean jobs are growing in the state at a rate nearly 10 times that of the state economy as a whole, and these results shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has been following the clean energy revolution underway in Massachusetts.

This job growth is not an accident. It’s by design.

What we’re seeing now is the direct result of the hard work and dedication of the Patrick-Murray Administration, the Legislature, energy industry representatives, environmental groups, municipal leaders and the residents of the Commonwealth who have all come together to commit to clean energy. The Green Jobs Act and the Green Communities Act, both passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Patrick in 2008, have played an instrumental role in accelerating the development and deployment of clean energy technologies in Massachusetts, in turn creating high-quality jobs and reducing the Commonwealth’s dependence on traditional fossil-fuel based energy supplies.

Focusing on clean energy also allows us to focus on home-grown energy.  Did you know Massachusetts spends $22 billion on energy annually? Since Massachusetts has no native sources of traditional energy, $18 billion of that money is spent in other regions of the United States and in South America, Canada and the Middle East. Investing in renewable energy keeps those dollars here.

Responses from employers surveyed as part of the report show our policies are working. Below are some highlights.

Nearly two-thirds of the state’s 4,995 clean energy firms employ 10 or fewer workers, meaning this revolution is truly being built from the ground up at the small business level.

Manufacturing and assembly jobs within the clean energy sector grew by 37 percent over the past year, now employing more than 11,000 people across the state. These jobs provide a new industry in which seasoned workers can thrive. 

And one final number – 12.4 percent.

That’s the projected growth in the clean energy sector that employers are predicting for the next 12 months. If this estimate holds true, that’s nearly 9,000 more people who will have jobs in the industry by this time next year.

That’s truly something to get excited about.  I am happy to be joining MassCEC at this significant moment in our energy history. I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and start working with the team at MassCEC – and with our many partners – to build Massachusetts’ clean energy future.