.
What are other communities doing to integrate energy efficiency into the local planning process?
My community is thinking about starting an energy program. Where do we begin?
Can NRPC come and talk to my community about starting an energy efficiency program?
Question ~ What are other communities doing to integrate energy efficiency into the local planning process?
Answer ~ There are several examples of local initiatives throughout the state and right here in the Nashua Region:
Nashua Green Team—in 2001, Nashua’s aldermen signed a resolution committing the City to ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection program. Four years later, the Green Team became an official city committee, responsible for advising the mayor, board of aldermen, and division directors on how to meet goals of increased energy efficiency, decreased air pollution, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The Green Team’s efforts have certainly paid off for the town, resulting in:
- Over $2.2 million dollars in savings within the School District alone since 2002 as a result of an energy conservation program
- Over $42,000 in savings from light fixture replacement at Street and Traffic buildings
- Annual savings of $6,500 from lighting upgrades at City Hall
- 30% annual energy savings resulting from new windows and frames in City Clerk offices
- The installment of an anaerobic digester in 2000, which recovers methane from sewage treatment, thereby reducing its volume by 50% and saving the town $9,000-$12,000 per month in electricity costs through cogeneration
For more information on the Nashua Green Team click here.
Town of Epping—at Town Meeting 2007 Epping passed an article requiring applicable developments to implement energy efficiency, energy production, energy conservation, and sustainable design principles. Click here for complete details.
LEED in Portsmouth—the Portsmouth Public Library is the first municipal project in the state of NH to be LEED certified. LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) is a voluntary, consensus based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. The 38,000 ft2 library features energy efficient technology, certified wood products, daylighting, and recycled materials. 75% of all construction waste and 95% of all demolition materials from the building formally occupying the site were recycled. For more information on LEED, click here.
Manchester’s Green Roof—the City Hall Connector between City Hall and the Annex will soon feature Manchester’s first green roof demonstration. This joint project between UNH Cooperative Extension and the Manchester community will have many benefits, including reduced stormwater runoff, improved air quality, and decreased air temperatures. It will also save the City money by decreasing energy consumption and increasing the lifespan of the roof.
Local Action Plans—several communities throughout the state have established Local Action Plans on Climate Change, including Keene and Portsmouth, with Nashua’s on the way. Communities realize that taking action locally can have significant benefits, including decreased air pollution, job creation, reduced energy expenditures, and overall cost savings. Click here to view Keene’s Local Action Plan.
Green Schools—environmentally friendly schools do more than help the planet. They provide a safe and healthy environment for students that improves their learning conditions, while saving money through increased energy efficiency. The Town of Hudson has a contract with Honeywell to perform school energy efficiency retrofits.
There are many more examples of green projects going on throughout the state. If you have a question on a specific project or know of a case study to share please contact us.
Question ~ My community is thinking about starting an energy program. Where do we begin?
Answer ~ Communities can jumpstart an energy program by following these 4 simple steps:
1. Make the commitment—the first order of business is to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and becoming more efficient. Many communities in the region have already done this by passing the recent Climate Change Resolution at Town Meeting. Building on this momentum, gather interested citizens and establish a team or committee to spearhead your community’s efforts.2. Determine your impact—the next step is to conduct an energy audit, which tells how much energy is being used in buildings, and an emissions inventory, which provides a snapshot of greenhouse gas emissions by source (ex. transportation, buildings, streetlights, landfills). These serve as a baseline so you’ll know where you currently stand and where you can make improvements. Click here to view Nashua’s Emissions Inventory.
3. Develop a plan—now you’re ready to draft an Action Plan with recommendations to reduce emissions, increase efficiency, and decrease costs. Click here to view an example from Brookline, MA.
4. Take action – it is tempting to try and tackle everything all at once, but consider starting with smaller, more manageable projects. PSNH’s Smart Start program is a great first step. It produces quick paybacks, achieves emissions reductions, increases energy efficiency, and provides a great incentive to do more! The City of Nashua has used several Smart Start programs as examples of how investing in energy efficiency techniques really do pay off!
Question ~ Can NRPC come and talk to my community about starting an energy efficiency program?
Answer ~ Yes! Each community is different, but we would typically begin by making a presentation to the Planning Board that outlines the steps needed to establish an energy program and the services NRPC could provide. If the community is interested in pursuing a program we would then convene a Green Team of local residents who would work with NRPC staff to spearhead energy initiatives.
Page updated 3/18/08
