Qualifying Medfield as a Massachusetts “Green Community”
Warrants # 34 & 35
Presented by the Medfield Energy Committee
Medfield Energy Committee
• Chartered by the Board of Selectmen in 2008 • 5 yr. Goal: reduce Town energy usage 20% • Energy savings of over $200,000 per year• Investigating solar energy generation on Town
land and buildings• Medfield is “Green,” now let’s become a
Green Community
2008 Green Communities Act
• Purpose: to encourage energy conservation and increase renewable energy in Massachusetts.
• $10 million/yr grants for energy reduction • 123 Massachusetts towns qualified as Green
Communities. $22 million in grants given.• Medfield qualifies for $148,000 grant• Competitive grant dollars available
2008 Green Communities Act
• Towns must meet 5 criteria to qualify:– #1 Provide siting for renewable energy– #2 Enable permitting within one year for sites– #3 Develop a plan for reducing municipal energy
use by 20% over 5 years– #4 Enact energy efficient vehicle policy– #5 Adopt a Stretch Energy Code for new
construction and renovations
Warrant Article #34 achieves GCA Criteria #1 & #2
• By-right siting for Solar Photovoltaic • Planning Board approved Bylaw Section 19, Large-Scale
Solar Photovoltaic Facilities Overlay District (POVD)• The Overlay district is the IE district (the industrial area
North of West Street)• Bylaw will facilitate Town interest in solar energy
generation to reduce Town energy bills. • 9 to 12% return on investment for solar• 50 MA communities have passed Solar Bylaws, 30 have
large-scale (over 250 kW) solar PV on town land
WWT Solar PV Study
• Add layout of WWT solar array
Warrant Article # 35 achieves GCA Criteria #5
• Adopt MA Stretch Energy Code.• 70% of energy use in Medfield is in buildings • Stretch Energy Code requires new buildings
and renovations built to a higher standard• 15 to 20% less energy usage • 14 to 22% return on investment• 134 MA towns use Stretch Energy Code• Stretch Code will become State Code this July
Cost/Benefit Analysis for New Home
Added construction costs to meet code
Increase in 30 year mortgage
Energy savings Annual Net Savings
Large Home * (4,462 sq. ft.)
$6.4 K $471 / year $1,455 / year $984 / year
Average Home* (2,672 sq. ft.)
$2.9 K $214 / year $507 / year $293 / year
Smaller Home* (as part of development)(1,706 sq. ft.)
$4.1 K $302 / year $583 / year $281 / year
* Source: Cash Flow Analysis conducted by Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) for DOER. HERS Rating = 65 for Large Home / HERS Rating = 70 for Average and Smaller Home
Cost/Benefit Analysis* Under New Stretch Energy Code
Large Home
Average Home
Smaller Home
$- $500 $1,000 $1,500 $2,000
$471
$214
$302
$1,455
$507
$583
Energy Savings/yearIncrease in 30 year mortage/year
* Source: Cash Flow Analysis conducted by Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) for DOER. HERS Rating = 65 for Large Home / HERS Rating = 70 for Average and Smaller Home
GCA Criteria #3 & #4
• Plan for 20% municipal energy reduction to be developed this Summer.
• Energy efficient vehicle purchase policy in progress.
• Approval of both by Board of Selectmen and School Committee will fulfill Criteria #3 & #4
• Medfield will make application to the DOER for Green Community Status in Fall of 2014.
YES to Green CommunitesYES to Articles #34 & #35
• PAST - In 2011, GCA effort stalled:– By-right siting for renewable energy R & D & Manufacturing
was complex and unattainable– Stretch Code was new and scaryNOW- Solar PV siting very well defined & aligned with Town interestsNOW- Stretch code mandated by State in July 2014- adopt it now and collect $148,000 for Medfield- do not adopt now, mandated in July anyway, = do not collect $148,000
VOTE “YES” ON ARTICLES #34 & #35
