Author Archives: lschwab

Massachusetts Still #1 in Energy Efficiency

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Earlier this month, the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) released its 2012 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard. The organization releases this state-by-state comparison of policies every year, and for the second year in a row, Massachusetts has clinched the top spot. According to ACEEE: “The report examines six of the primary policy areas in which states typically pursue energy efficiency: utility and ‘public benefits’ programs and policies; transportation policies; building energy codes; combined heat and power (CHP) policies; state government-led initiatives around energy efficiency; and appliance and equipment standards.” Massachusetts’ success is due largely to the Green Communities Act, passed in 2008, which requires ongoing efforts from utilities to be more efficient each year. The law also established the Green Communities program, which encourages cities and towns to carry out sustainability efforts in order to receive grant funding and other benefits. Cambridge has been a Green Community since May 2010 and has received over $600,000 in both designated and competitive grants to improve the efficiency of a number of city-owned buildings and sites.

State House in Boston

Massachusetts State House

This year, for the first time, ACEEE also ranked 34 of America’s most populous cities according to their energy efficiency policies and performance. Although Cambridge was not included in the study, Boston claimed the #1 spot on the list. The calculations included local government operations, transportation policies, energy and water utilities and public benefits programs, buildings policies, and community-wide initiatives. Boston achieved its superiority through its Renew Boston program, which provides free energy assessments to homeowners and small businesses and low-cost upgrades, its efficient building codes, and concrete targets for reducing energy use.

All this good news goes to show that our state and local leaders are on the right track when it comes to energy efficiency at all levels- from large utilities down to single family homes and rental units. This kind of success is only possible through collaboration between different levels of government as well as partnerships between government and the private sector. Of course, we still have a lot of work to do. Many of our old and historic homes need upgrading, our public transportation system is aging, and the state needs to set more efficiency standards for many of the appliances we all use on a daily basis. Now that we’ve achieved #1 status in the country, let’s use the momentum and grow our reputation as a leader on this issue.

 

 

Give the Gift of Energy Efficiency this Holiday Season

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Shopping for friends and family during the holidays can be stressful, and sometimes it’s hard to think of something your recipient will really use and enjoy. With this gift guide, that won’t be an issue. There’s something for everyone- from the energy novice to the efficiency aficionado. And these gifts will keep on giving, as your loved ones save money again and again on their energy bills!

  • The Belkin “Conserve” power strip is for that person who leaves everything plugged in, all the time.  Their electronics are sucking up energy even when not in use. The Master Outlet (green) detects when your TV is on or off and controls power to five controlled outlets (grey) for DVD players, VCRs, etc. Two uncontrolled outlets (black) give continuous power for items like cable boxes or phone chargers.

 

 

  • The Nest smart thermostat is the latest thing in home heating and cooling. Developed by former Apple and Google innovators, its smart and sleek aesthetic mirrors how intelligently it learns your heating and cooling preferences. Nest learns your schedule, programs itself and can be controlled from your phone.

 

  • The “Nest” is on the pricier end of smart thermostats. If you don’t feel like splurging, there are more affordable options out there, like this one from Hunter.
  • Under-the-door draft stoppers, like this snowman themed one, are both decorative and functional. Lots of different styles come up with a simple Google search.
  • Energy Star products are always a green choice when gifting someone a DVD player, sound system, etc. In order for a machine to qualify, it must use less energy during all phases (on, sleep, and off) than non-certified products.
  • CFL bulbs and LED bulbs are a great gift for those hold-outs on your list who are still using incandescent bulbs (and paying for it with higher electric bills).
  • Does someone you know love to decorate their home or yard with strings of blinking lights? Those can hike up your energy bill, especially if they’re on all season long. LED holiday lights use much less energy and are just as festive.

 

Or, give to a worthy organization in someone’s name. Here are a few:

Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET)

 Interfaith Power & Light

 New Generation Energy

Have a safe, happy, and energy efficient holiday!

Prepare for Winter in your Rented or Multi-Family Home

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As the weather gets chillier, we all start looking forward to—or dreading—winter. In order to be comfortable while still being energy smart, there are some easy but important steps you can take. There is plenty of information out there on how to weatherize your entire home to keep heating costs down, but many of those actions don’t apply to people who are renting or living in a multi-family condo. Here are some tips that will still insulate your home and lower your heating bill even if you aren’t able to do bigger things like replace your boiler or add insulation in your walls:

  • Place 3M window insulator film on the inside of all of your windows to restrict drafts. It goes on and comes off easily without leaving a mark, and it’s a very cheap solution.
  • Programmable thermostats are inexpensive and need only a screw driver to install, so depending on your heating system type you can install it and then uninstall it when you move out.
  • Open your curtains during the day to take advantage of solar heating and close them at night to keep the heat in.  Some curtains also have insulating properties.
  • If you rent, ask your landlord to take advantage of the free Mass Save Energy Assessments and mention that CEA can help landlords with energy projects.
  • Use draft stoppers underneath doors that lead outside or to an unheated hallway or staircase. They are usually cloth tube-shaped objects filled with foam or pellets (like a bean bag). You can even put them underneath doors for rooms you plan on heating with a space heater to fully block cold drafts coming in from the rest of your space.
  • If you heat with oil, which is notoriously expensive, you can save on your bill by investing in a floor-standing electric space heater to more cheaply heat the room you are currently occupying, while keeping the thermostat low. You can save 3% on your heating bill for every degree that you turn it down.
  • Keep your thermostat very low (but above 50 degrees so your pipes don’t freeze) while no one is home, and put it as low as is comfortable when you are home and awake. Before you go to bed, turn it back down a few degrees. If you have warm blankets and a space heater, you won’t need to heat your whole space any more than that.
  • If your home has radiators, place an insulating panel between it and the wall. Insulating radiator panels reflect heat away from the wall and out into your home, improving radiator efficiency by 10-20%.

With these quick fixes, and perhaps a hot cup of tea each night, you will stay comfortable all winter long without using too much fuel or electricity.

Learn More! Don’t be an Energy Turkey this Thanksgiving.

Wednesday November 14th at 7pm

Cambridge College, 1000 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MA

Stay warm and SAVE MONEY through DIY apartment energy efficiency tips

Enjoy free apple cider and snacks
Win great prizes

 

Cambridge Unveils Solar Map

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In collaboration with MIT and Modern Development Studio, the City of Cambridge has put together an incredible online tool that will help spur solar development throughout the city.

In this “solar map,” to be launched on October 3rd, Cambridge has been overlaid with a layer of highly specific solar data. Any resident or business owner interested in installing solar on their roof can use the map to access information about their property’s potential without having to scour the Internet. You can click and drag your mouse, browse and choose rooftops at random. Alternatively you can search for a specific address and view information on the solar potential of the building’s rooftop, as well as financial, environmental, and installation details. Color-coding gives you an idea of the varying ability to catch decent sun rays at each point on a roof.

I was able to find out within seconds that my own building, for example, has a total roof area of 1,150 square feet and enough potential to host a 5-kilowatt system. The system would have a payback period of six years and could save the tenants approximately $2,847 per year in energy bills. That’s pretty convincing math. Now, if only my landlord were keen on the idea!

New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, San Fransisco, and Berkeley, CA all have solar maps up and running or in progress. Although some existing solar maps also calculate solar potential, none are quite like Cambridge’s. It is so far unique in that it uses more nuanced data to create as much accuracy as possible. For example, some solar maps assume all rooftops are flat, which can greatly alter a roof’s potential. The map’s creators also calculated solar radiation on an hourly basis, yielding more accurate and detailed information for each roof.

It is becoming more and more popular- and feasible- to power your home with solar energy. Costs have come down exponentially and they are only declining. Cambridge already has a over 110 projects installed on homes and businesses, as many residents have taken advantage of the lower electricity costs, increased property value, and reduced environmental impact that comes with generating over 1.6 MW solar power. It’s clear that there is vast solar potential in Cambridge. This map will prove to be an invaluable tool for homeowners, landlords and business owners who are interested in investing in solar but might not have the time or expertise to find all the answers themselves.

SPECIAL EVENT Launching the Cambridge Solar Map: You’ve Got (Solar) Potential!

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Location:
Main Library
449 Broadway
Lecture Hall

What’s your building’s solar potential? Meet installers, hear from homeowners who have installed solar on their homes and learn from the Cambridge Energy Alliance about the resources available to you! Don’t take our word for it, listen to what the homeowners and scientists have to say. “When the numbers work in such a compelling way, it’s almost hard not to install solar,” said David Neiman, Cambridge homeowner.

Professor Christoph Reinhart of MIT will speak about the science behind the NEW Solar Map. “MIT and MoDe Studio have installed an online tool that predicts electricity yield and costs for installing a photovoltaic system on almost any rooftop in Cambridge. What’s YOUR solar potential?”