Author Archives: AKaufman

(Cancelled)Join Our Course: The Value of Greening Your Home

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** Check out the Winter Courses at Cambridge Center for Adult Education to sign up for this class when it is offered again**

Many homeowners worry about the value of their home in these times and wonder how to make sensible improvements. Come to learn how to improve the value of your home by increasing energy efficiency and conserving natural resources. We will discuss both small, easy D.I.Y. changes and large capital improvements, from weather stripping to installing geothermal systems. We will present financing options from grants to subsidized loans, and introduce expert contractors who will address your specific question and concerns. Come ready to learn and leave with concrete next steps to improve your home, take care of the planet, and invest in a sustainable future for all. Limited to 16.

5 Mondays, 5:45-7:45 pm. Begins Sep. 24
http://www.ccae.org/catalog/detail.php?id=563066

Report Shows Schools’ Environmental Progress

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Cambridge Public Schools published its 2012 Sustainability Year-In-Review this summer and celebrated several environmental successes. The report outlines the schools’ environmental progress and accomplishments in energy reduction, recycling, eco-friendly products and other green topics.

Over the past two years, multiple energy-efficiency projects have been implemented. The result is a net projected annual savings of $295,738 for the whole school district; 618,313 kWh of electricity savings; and 29,863 therms. Projects included:

  • the installation of a high-efficiency condensing boiler at the Longfellow School Building
  • high-efficiency lighting and occupancy sensors at the Peabody School, Kennedy-Longfellow School, Baldwin School, Haggerty School, Morse School, Solomon Garage, and High School Field House
  • the installation of Direct Digital Control systems at nine schools
  • additional energy upgrades

But energy isn’t the only area of improvement. Custodians now use metered green cleaning supplies, and six schools are now composting their lunch leftovers. From March 2009 through April 2012 the King Open School alone composted nearly 20 tons of food scraps. The school’s food waste is picked up and taken to a farming facility in Massachusetts for composting as part of the “Food to Flowers” program. The Cambridge Green Schools Initiative also partners with local organizations such as “Walk-Ride Days” and the Cambridge Health Alliance to promote sustainable and healthy modes of transportation.

Time is Running Out: Get Up To $2,000 from Cambridge for Installing Solar Hot Water

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Through November, Cambridge Energy Alliance is offering Cambridge businesses and residents up to $2000 to install solar hot water heaters. The CEA Solar Hot Water Grant combined with the state and federal incentives, will allow you to install a new 20-year hot water heating system for up to 75% off. Average systems that are normally about $8,000 will cost less than $2000 in out-of-pocket costs.

Cambridge resident Ken Bader installed a solar hot water system a few weeks ago, saying “the grants and tax credits made this deal a no-brainer! I’m looking forward to paying (almost) nothing to heat my water.” Since his solar system allowed him to eliminate his hot water heating tank entirely he’s looking forward to the added benefit of “not having to buy a new water heater every six or seven years.”

With only three and a half months remaining the Cambridge Energy Alliance is urging any business, non-profit, or resident that is considering solar to install a solar hot water system now, while generous grant money is available.  Many people will also qualify for a 0% interest rate HEAT loan, meaning they can put in a system with no upfront cash needed.

Claudia Majetich, of Concord Avenue is pleased with the solar hot water rebate, saying “The Cambridge rebate program for solar hot water is a wonderful help to home owners who need to replace their hot water systems.  It makes our installation costs very affordable–just about the same as a new gas or oil system.  And that doesn’t even include the savings I’m anticipating from reduced oil usage.   Staff at the Cambridge Energy Alliance returned my calls right away, and provided lots of helpful information.  Great program, Cambridge!”

Residents are not the only ones who can benefit. Businesses like gyms, laundromats, restaurants, and hair salons are excellent solar hot water candidates. Solar hot water installer Eric Lorenz of S&H Construction points out that “business owners investing in solar hot water systems can realize a 20-50 percent savings in monthly fuel costs, expand their marketing opportunities to reach new audiences and simply enjoy the fact that they are harvesting the sun’s energy for use in their day-to-day operations.  Installing solar guarantees a positive return on investment and with current incentives in place today, the returns are the best they have ever been.”

To get started, contact a local solar hot water installer and apply for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) rebate. After receiving the MassCEC rebate, Cambridge residents, businesses and non-profits can apply for the non-competitive CEA Solar Hot Water Grant.  The CEA Solar Hot Water Grant will reimburse system owners up to $2,000 for out-of-pocket costs after all other rebates and incentives have been calculated.

Solar hot water systems provide an easy and low cost way to make hot water sustainably. Solar hot water systems heat water for laundry, bathing and even space heating. Anyone with heating oil can expect a short 5-year payback on the investment.  A solar hot water system generally works in conjunction with your existing hot water heater or utility incentives can be used to replace old systems with new, super efficient hot water heaters and boilers installed in combination with solar hot water systems.

Solar hot water systems generate heat from sunlight to make hot water. Roof mounted solar ‘collectors’ for hot water systems look very similar to solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, which generate electricity rather than hot water.  A solar hot water system can be connected to a building or home’s existing hot water tank to heat water. Some solar hot water systems can also connect with the heating system to provide space heating.  Because about 20 percent of the energy a consumer uses at home goes to heating hot water, solar hot water systems can generate significant savings by decreasing the amount of gas, oil or electricity used to heat the water.

To find out more about solar hot water, see the MassCEC Solar Hot Water Fact Sheet.

The Cambridge Energy Alliance grant will amount to approximately $2,000 for a typical solar hot water system for a four to five person household, in addition to the approximately $1,000 in MassCEC rebates.  Combined with other federal, state, and utility incentive programs, the total rebate can cover more than half of the cost of a system. Cambridge Energy Alliance’s Solar Hot Water grant is funded with $40,000 from the federal Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant.

Get started by calling a local Solar Hot Water installer to begin MassCEC’s Commonwealth Solar Hot Water rebate application.

Applications for the CEA Solar Hot Water Grant must be received by November 19, 2012. CEA Solar Hot Water Grants cannot be processed until you complete the MassCEC Commonwealth Solar Hot Water application process.

Solar rebate programs have helped spur a vibrant solar industry in Massachusetts. According to a MassCEC survey of clean energy companies, employment in solar manufacturing, installation, and services has increased nearly three times since Governor Patrick first took office, and solar manufacturing jobs alone have close to tripled from 2007 to 2010.

Energy Efficient Lighting Upgrades for City Buildings

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The City has taken another exciting step toward reducing energy use by performing lighting upgrades at the Coffon Building, Engine 8 (Taylor Square), Fire Headquarters and three buildings at the Cambridge Cemetery. Existing lights within these facilities have been replaced with high-efficiency lamps and fixtures, and occupancy sensors have been installed in many locations throughout the buildings in order to reduce energy use and costs even further. Projected energy savings from these lighting efficiency upgrades is an estimated 130,000 kilowatt hours/year, resulting in avoided costs of approximately $18,000/year for the City. These energy savings represent averting close to 200,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere annually, the equivalent of removing 18 cars from the road!

The electric use of these buildings will continue to be monitored as part of the City’s Green Community commitment to reduce energy use by 20% from its FY08 baseline. Energy efficient lighting technologies have been installed in 22 municipal buildings over the past two years with a projected total savings of 1.3 megawatt hours/year.

Stay tuned for future energy efficiency upgrades!

NSTAR has approved an extension to the Early Boiler Replacement Rebate Pilot

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Have you been thinking of replacing your 30+ year old boiler?

Now, only through the end of September 2012, the Mass Save® Home Energy Services Program is providing a temporary increased rebate for replacing 30+ year old boilers.  The rebate ranges from $1,750 to $4,000 for new efficient boilers using the same fuel and installed by October 31, 2012.  This is a large increase from the normal $400 to $1,500 in existing rebates.  A no-cost Mass Save home energy assessment is required by September 30, 2012 to determine if your boiler qualifies.

Not sure what a boiler is or if you have one?

Schedule your no-cost Mass Save home energy assessment and your home energy advisor will let you know if you have a boiler and he/she will also collect the information needed for the rebate.  Boilers heat your home with hot water or steam.

Want to make your boiler upgrade even more energy efficient and save more –  consider installing solar hot water?

Heating water accounts for 20% of household energy consumption, even more with a boiler fed hot water or steam heating system. Solar water heating displaces 50-80% of the energy used to make hot water in a household. While you’re upgrading your boiler think about adding solar hot water to help you save more and become even more energy efficient.  Right now, Cambridge Energy Alliance has a solar hot water grant that rebates 50% of your out-of-pocket costs, up to $2000. Essentially you can install a solar hot water system for almost 75% off when you apply our rebate with the other state and federal incentives. You can also use a 0% interest HEAT loan to install solar hot water systems with no up-front cash. The grant will only continue through November so act quickly!

Schedule your no-cost Mass Save home energy assessment by calling Next Step Living at 866-867-8729.

NSTAR Customers: Summer Insulation Bonus…up to $100 VISA Gift Card

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Residents that sign their Mass Save insulation contract by August 31, 2012 and have the insulation work completed within 60 days of signing the contract, will receive a VISA Gift Card from NSTAR.  The VISA Gift Card value will match their out-of-pocket cost of the insulation work, up to $100!

You must be an NSTAR Gas heating customer or an NSTAR Electric customer that heats with a primary fuel other than natural gas.

2011 Intern Dana Rubin to Travel the U.S. in Search of Practical Environmentalism

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2011 summer intern Dana Rubin will be traveling around the country starting on September 1st, 2012 to seek out the practical and economical environmental projects that are occurring all across the nation.

Dana, and her partner-in-crime Hannah Blackmer, want to take the fear out of climate change and make it a more positive transition. There are so many projects that individuals and small businesses can conveniently do to build up a better resilience to save money and help the environment.  Their voyage is The Search for Convenient Resilience and they will be seeking out projects that range from homesteading, rooftop gardens, personal alternative energies and upcycling projects.

Dana and Hannah, recent graduates of Mount Holyoke College, really need your help to raise enough funding to make the endeavor possible. The duo is looking to raise about $15,000.

Have some cool projects they should check out? Want to follow their blog? Care to donate to their cause? Check out their website at: www.convenientresilience.com, like them on Facebook, or send them an e-mail at littlegreenthings.dh at gmail.com.

City Dwellers Can Make Roofs Greener

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Rooftop gardens, or green roofs, are popping up everywhere. These gardens add life and color to gloomy, industrial looking cities and drab roofs.

Rooftop gardens improve air quality, create local food sources, delay water runoff, and bring color to a dull roof.  They also help insulate buildings and reduce electricity and gas costs, which is  particularly beneficial for people who live in very hot or cold areas. According to GreenRoofs.com, green roofs allow buildings to retain 30% more heat in the winter than ordinary roofs. Green roofs also reflect light and heat, which may help buildings stay cooler in the summer. The insulation from rooftop gardens also helps block out noises from outside.

There are many different kinds of green roofs, but they are all essentially built in the same way. Several layers are needed to plant a rooftop garden:

  • Waterproof layer – This is the base layer. It’s added directly to the roof to make sure that water from the garden won’t leak onto the actual roof.
  • Roof membrane – The roof membrane is a pond/butyl lining. It is laid on top of the waterproof layer. Ideally, it should be laid as one continuous sheet of material. If this isn’t possible, you can overlap sheets by twenty centimeters.
  • Filter sheet – The filter sheet is laid down after the roof membrane. It lets moisture drain off the rooftop.
  • Moisture blanket – The moisture blanket is placed down next. It helps the growing medium retain just the right amount of moisture for plants to thrive. If you want to cut costs, you can use cardboard or an old blanket as your moisture blanket.
  • Soils, seeds, and plants – This is the last layer. It is the growing medium, and it should be light and nice. Find out what grows well in your area, and plant what you like. If you live in a sunny area, you may want to plant hearty bushes and shrubs, fruit trees, junipers, and grasses. If your roof is slightly sheltered, you probably shouldn’t plant top heavy, tall-stemmed flowers like peonies or lilies. Plants that do not require very much watering like moss, ferns, sedum, and sempervivum do well on most rooftops.

If the thought of setting up your own rooftop garden intimidates you, there are many professionals who specialize in rooftop garden installation, and they can be a huge help. Also, you don’t have to completely cover the whole surface of your roof with a garden. “Container gardens” are available to cover portions of your roof, and they are easy to install and cost-effective.

Make your life a tad bit greener by installing a rooftop garden! Whether you live in a suburban area or a big city, a green roof will transform your house and city for the better.