Category Archives: Conservation & Efficiency

Reverse trick-or-treat CFL event!

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The Cambridge Energy Alliance has participated in many CFL exchange canvasses. On a chosen day, we and volunteers head out into neighborhoods and knock on doors, offering to give an equal number of CFLs for the number of regular light bulbs a household will hand us. As a special treat with Halloween approaching, Green Medford has announced an event that is a new take on this idea.

From the Green Medford blog:

Hi all! I want to share with you a very fun idea and ask for your help in making it a big success!

We’re calling our event “Reverse Trick or Treat,” thought up by JR Siegel, a student at the Fletcher School and a Medford resident. The idea is for a bunch of residents to get together on Halloween, hopefully including kids, to make it more fun for everyone.

Dressed in fun costumes (but nothing too scary), teams of two or three (no kids without an adult) will ring doorbells in a residential neighborhood during trick or treating time. We’ve been given several hundred energy-efficient lights (CFLs) by National Grid and Tufts to give away to folks who answer their doors. The more of us there are to participate, the more bulbs we can give out. The kids, of course, will do regular trick or treating at the same time!

We want to focus on a neighborhood with lots of families that might not already have CFLs or know all they need to about saving electricity and money by switching to energy-efficient lights.

We also would like to find a reporter to walk around with us and take pictures and talk to people about the event.

In addition to us in Green Medford, we already have all these sponsors committed!

EFI/National Grid, Tufts University Office of Community Affairs, Fletcher Green (a student group at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy/Tufts), and the Medford Energy and Environment Office.

Please join us! Contact Susan Altman, Green Medford, susan.altman@comcast.net, 781-395-4664, or J.R. Siegel, Fletcher Green, j.r.siegel@gmail.com.

Happy Halloweeeeeeeen!

Eveything you know is wrong

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♫ Everything you know is wrong ♫
♫ Black is white, up is down and short is long ♫
♫ And everything you thought was just so ♫
♫ Important doesn’t matter ♫

—”Everything you know is wrong,” Weird Al Yankovic

Presumably Mr. Yankovic was just having his usual way with words and catchy tunes, but somewhat surprisingly the refrain from this song also reflects the public’s continuing misunderstandings about energy conservation.

New Scientist had a recent summary of a new journal article Public perceptions of energy consumption and savings. It uncovers some mismatches between what people consider to be significant means of conserving energy, and practices that actually do. The New Scientist article is a nice summary, but it glosses over a lot of detail, and if you have any objections to the findings or want more detail it is worth checking the paper itself, which is freely available, before dismissing it outright.

An older article from Science Blog discusses common misconceptions in general, but opens with a discussion of energy used to heat homes.

Energy Efficiency: Why Is the Low-Hanging Fruit so High?

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The Green Light Distrikt has posted video of their even, “Energy Efficiency: Why Is the Low-Hanging Fruit so High?” which occurred a few weeks ago. Panelists included CEA’s community outreach manager Lilah Glick (below) as well as representatives from Wattzy, Next Step Living, EnerNOC and Powerhouse Dynamics. Additional videos of their presentation are available
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Are you living in a hot air balloon?

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Pittsfield Hot Air Balloon Rally - 2006 by Heartlover1717 Although double-hung windows are quite common in the Boston area, it seems many people do not take full advantage of their features. With proper use, windows can increase comfort, and all but eliminate the need for air conditioning; and on the odd days where lemonade and mind-over-matter won’t cut it, visit a local library or catch a movie.

How can you take full advantage of windows? If you have two, placing a fan in one to blow warm air out during the evening will pull cool air in the other, especially with a closed door. If you have only one window, a window fan with two fans blowing in opposite directions will also pull air through a space. These are rather obvious practices, but there is a no-cost technique particular to double-hung windows: opening the top sash.

IMG_1548 by dawniecakes If you have but one window, open both the top and bottom sash’s part-way. If you have two windows, you can open the top sash of one and the bottom sash of another. Using the top sash allows for a natural convection current to develop. Since warm air rises, it can more easily flow out of the top sash, while cooler air replaces it from the bottom. If you open only the bottom sash air above the window is caught in a bubble (like a hot air balloon), and will only cool down through dilution as the air in the top and bottom of the room slowly mix.

Storm windows can complicate the procedure of getting windows into the above configurations, but the problem is not insurmountable. You may also be concerned about bugs, since many double-hung windows only contain a single screen. Use the screen to cover the bottom opening. Since bugs naturally fly up to escape windows, any errant insects will be able to easily evacuate your home over the top sash.

Green Sells: Energy Upgrades Raise Home Value

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Row of purple Monopoloy houses with a green house in the middle.The housing market, like the U.S. economy, is a mess. GDP growth dropped from 3.7% to 2.4% in the second quarter. In the housing market shrinking incomes and greater lender restrictions mean fewer qualified buyers are looking, which is driving down prices.

Here is the bottom line: if you want to sell your home without losing your shirt, you need an edge.

To find an edge, just look to the part of the economy that’s still growing – the green sector. In Massachusetts, major utility companies have stepped up energy efficiency investments this year with the goal of tripling enrollment in their programs. A recent report funded in part by the state department states that renewable energy use is at “a clear tipping point” for growth. Never before has it been more affordable to green your home.

Green home improvements enhance comfort, make homes more durable, save on monthly utility costs, and reduce pollution. One benefit that people don’t often think about is higher resale value. While your real estate agent may have asked you to add a fresh coat of paint, refinish your basement, or plant some flowers to spice things up, she probably hasn’t asked you to upgrade your insulation or qualify your home for ENERGY STAR.

A recent study published in The Appraisal Journal indicates that the market value of a home increases by $10 – $25 for every $1 decrease in annual fuel bills. An ENERGY STAR qualified 3,000 square foot new house can save around $800 per year (around $70/month) on utility bills compared to the standard new home. According to the report, this level of investment in improvements would add $8,000 to $25,000 to the market value. Energy savings and sale value benefits to existing homes are typically even higher because of the greater opportunity to upgrade energy performance. And unlike a new paint job, these investments will actually pay for themselves.

The financial benefits of energy improvements don’t stop at utility savings and higher market value. The New Homes with ENERGY STAR program provides an incentive of $750 to $8000 to homeowners, builders, realtors, or architects who meet standards that are 15-60% more energy efficient than a standard home, depending on the level you want to shoot for. Whoever applies to the program can earn the incentive.

Additions of at least 500 square feet can qualify for ENERGY STAR as well. To qualify, you need a third-party Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Rater to verify that the home is truly energy efficient. Total Green Energy Solution will do a HERS Rating for new homes or additions in Massachusetts at a price that is typically fully recouped with program incentives.

So, as you get ready to unload the biggest financial investment of your life, take the time to sell it right: go green first.

Volunteers Take Energy Efficiency to Cambridge’s Main Streets

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CEA canvassing interns: Stephanie, Mira, Danit, Trevor, Federico, Laurence

On July 7th CEA’s six volunteers took to the streets for the first time, canvassing businesses in Inman Square, and eastward on Cambridge Street. Over the next three weeks, they would reach out to over 440 people in small local businesses—barber shops, cafes, hardware stores, book stores, florists, bars, convenience stores, restaurants, bike shops, you name it—in North Cambridge, Leslie and Porter Square, Harvard Square and Church Street, Mount Auburn and Brattle Street, Dana Hill, Bow Street, Central Square, Lafayette, Concord Ave, Huron, East Cambridge, and Broadway.

In 90+ degree heat, over previously unfamiliar terrain, and sometimes through rain storms, the teams of interns  met with over 190 business owners and discussed energy efficiency opportunities—programs and incentives from NSTAR—while also providing information on other sustainability resources, as detailed in my first canvass blog.

These canvassers, our 14 to 18 year-old Northeastern University Summer Discovery and Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment interns—Stephanie, Federico, Danit, Laurence, Mira, and Trevor—distributed information and opportunity all over Cambridge, and gained valuable life and work experiences. For that, they thank the small business community of Cambridge.

We can all thank them for something, too.

After canvassing for 12 days and following up with phone calls to visited businesses, CEA has received 100 requests for energy assessments through NSTAR’s Direct Install, Small Business Program. We expect many more to accrue, as folks have time to browse the literature and call to talk with our Energy Advisor, or sign up online.

If you own a small business in Cambridge, please feel free to call CEA to talk, or sign up online at any time; our canvassers have gone home, but the operation is not over, by any means.

Thanks to NSTAR, CEA, and our six interns, Cambridge has now taken one step further in the direction of reducing its carbon footprint, and thereby, toward taking a concrete stab at the Climate Change caused by Global Warming. Congratulations, Cambridge businesses!

Home Star Dunner

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colin, with the only gun the UN will allow him to have by sandwichgirl Alas, attention to the administration’s Home Star/Cash for Caulkers program has waxed and waned since it first appeared last fall, and this component of a stimulus package meant to address the nation’s energy issues, and aid the (then) ailing construction industry has languished in the shadows, until it finally passed the House in May. It may now be approaching approval in the Senate, edged on by the FHFA’s unfortunate decision to with withdraw support for PACE. treehugger contrasts Home Star with the perpetually paralyzed American Power Act, and The Construction Blog at Software Advice provides a thorough overview of the former bill’s proposed incentives.

UPDATE: FHFA’s decision is especially dubious since evidence exists that Energy Efficiency Helps Homeowners Avoid Foreclosure.

Free Energy Audit Program Began Last Week

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Audit team members prepare for conducting home energy audits.

Cambridge residents looking to save on utility bills for electricity and heating can request a free audit this summer from the Youth Energy Audit Partners, a collaborative project of HEET (Home Energy Efficiency Team) and the Cambridge Community Center. Three audit teams will install energy and water-saving devices, calculate the dollar savings from these devices, and advise homeowners and tenants on the costs and benefits of additional energy efficiency work and how to obtain rebates and contractors. On average, households can realize a 10%-15% savings on electric and heating bills, or an estimated $200 a year by implementing simple measures.

Each team is led by a trained supervisor, and two high school students employed by the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program. The project is made possible by material resources and advice contributed by the Cambridge Energy Alliance, and grant awards from Constellation Energy EcoStar and the Cambridge Agassiz Harvard Fund, which serves as a catalyst for innovative programming to address emerging community needs.

To sign-up for a free audit for home energy savings , contact:
Ms. Doreen Wade, Cambridge Community Center, Tel. 617-547-6811

See also CEA and NSTAR canvass Cambridge businesses

CEA and NSTAR canvass Cambridge businesses

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CEA canvassing interns: Trevor, Laurence, Stephanie, Mira, Danit, Federico

Starting Wednesday, July 7th, a city-wide canvass will be visiting Cambridge business squares, bringing money- and planet-saving opportunities to the doors of hundreds of small businesses.  Canvassers will talk with business owners about what they can do to make their businesses more energy efficient, supplying them with ample information about which programs to employ to best suit their needs. During these short interactions, businesses will have the chance to sign up for a free energy assessment, and connect with other community resources including:

  • New Generation Energy works with green-minded individuals, corporations, and foundations to develop funds to help support green energy upgrades for community nonprofit organizations.
  • The Sustainable Business Leader Program assists businesses in Boston and Cambridge to become more sustainable by offering technical, hands-on assistance that is affordable, actionable and practical.

In previous residential canvasses, the numbers of buildings reached has been substantial.  Through the efforts from Northeastern University’s Summer Discovery Internship program as well as the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program, the Cambridge Energy Alliance will reach an estimated 1,000 small businesses by the completion of the campaign–  July 22nd. These students range from age 14 to 18 years of age, and have come from both nearby (Cambridge) and far (UK, China, Nicaragua, California, and New Jersey)  to make a real difference in this community, while gaining experience that they will surely employ in future ventures.

This campaign is especially significant due to the nature of the target audience. Eighty percent of energy used in Cambridge goes to buildings, and 67% of energy used in Cambridge goes to commercial use. Reducing the commercial energy used by implementing efficiency measures from simply replacing incandescent lighting with CFL bulbs to improving heating and cooling systems within businesses will go a long way toward reducing Cambridge’s overall carbon footprint.

The CEA interns will be out in the field Monday-Thursday from 1pm-3:30pm. So that you may be on the lookout for their friendly faces when they’re in your area, here’s the tentative schedule:

July 7th: Inman Square & Cambridgeport

July 8th: North Cambridge

July 12th: Leslie & Porter Square

July 13th: Harvard Square & Church Street

July 14th: Mt. Auburn & Brattle Square

July 15th: Dana Hill, Bow Street, & City Hall

July 19th: Central Square & Lafayette

July 20th: Concord Ave, Huron, & Strawberry Hill

July 21st: East Cambridge

July 22nd: Kendal/Brookline/Sherman/Broadway

Climate Legislation Panel, Cambridge

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On June 3rd, a panel of experts was convened at the Cambridge Public Library to discuss the federal climate policies being proposed at that time to regulate greenhouse gases, and what their impacts might be. The panel was moderated by Rob Garrity, the Executive Director of Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN). The panelists were three climate policy experts: Policy Consultant Sonia Hamel, Professor Michael Dorsey, and Policy Analyst Peter Shattuck.

The panel discussed the American Power Act extensively, concluding that there were both positive and negative aspects of the bill and there was not agreement whether the bill should be supported or not.

If you could not make it, or would like to revisit the panel session, we have posted a version for your viewing pleasure, the question and answer period is a separate video:

E2.0 Blogger nikitaob contributed a climate legislation status update on Monday.