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About MMA MunEnergy Ideas for 'greening up' your city or town
More and more cities and towns are now considering their options for going green.
The Patrick administration is making a push for more renewable energy in the state, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a “community energy challenge,” urging all New England communities to reduce air pollution by assessing their energy use, taking action to improve energy efficiency, and seeking renewable energy choices. So far, 31 Massachusetts municipalities are involved in the project.
“Greening up” your community does not have to mean a major overhaul or investment. There are a few key areas where a sustainable focus can make a difference.
Green power
By purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates, communities can offset some or all of their electricity usage with green power that is sourced from wind, solar, hydro and/or biomass.
Some customers prefer to buy RECs that are “Green-e” certified, an independent consumer protection program for the sale of renewable energy and greenhouse gas reductions in the retail market.
Green-e certification provides assurance that the RECs are sourced from clean, new, renewable resources. A Green-e certified product is best for municipalities that are more comfortable with the additional certification – or those seeking involvement in the EPA Green Power Partnership, EPA Climate Leaders, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, or a similar program.
Energy efficiency
Wiser use of energy is another aspect of being green. There are a number of measures municipalities can take to reduce energy use and lower costs.
For new buildings, building green can actually be a revenue gain. This is especially true when factoring in tax breaks and other funding that is available for green projects. To learn more, visit www.usgbc.org/LEED.
For current buildings, steps can be taken to reduce everyday energy use and costs. For example, there are now several energy-efficient options for office equipment from Energy Star that may offer tax breaks as well as electricity savings. Energy Star copiers, for example, can achieve savings of 40 percent in electricity compared to standard models.
Other areas that can make a difference include lighting and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Constellation NewEnergy, the endorsed supplier to the MMA’s MunEnergy program, is available to discuss environmentally responsible choices for communities. Contact MunEnergy Program Manager Emily Neill at (617) 772-7513 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
About MMA MunEnergy Ideas for 'greening up' your city or town
Ideas for 'greening up' your city or town
More and more cities and towns are now considering their options for going green.
The Patrick administration is making a push for more renewable energy in the state, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a “community energy challenge,” urging all New England communities to reduce air pollution by assessing their energy use, taking action to improve energy efficiency, and seeking renewable energy choices. So far, 31 Massachusetts municipalities are involved in the project.
“Greening up” your community does not have to mean a major overhaul or investment. There are a few key areas where a sustainable focus can make a difference.
Green power
By purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates, communities can offset some or all of their electricity usage with green power that is sourced from wind, solar, hydro and/or biomass.
Some customers prefer to buy RECs that are “Green-e” certified, an independent consumer protection program for the sale of renewable energy and greenhouse gas reductions in the retail market.
Green-e certification provides assurance that the RECs are sourced from clean, new, renewable resources. A Green-e certified product is best for municipalities that are more comfortable with the additional certification – or those seeking involvement in the EPA Green Power Partnership, EPA Climate Leaders, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, or a similar program.
Energy efficiency
Wiser use of energy is another aspect of being green. There are a number of measures municipalities can take to reduce energy use and lower costs.
For new buildings, building green can actually be a revenue gain. This is especially true when factoring in tax breaks and other funding that is available for green projects. To learn more, visit www.usgbc.org/LEED.
For current buildings, steps can be taken to reduce everyday energy use and costs. For example, there are now several energy-efficient options for office equipment from Energy Star that may offer tax breaks as well as electricity savings. Energy Star copiers, for example, can achieve savings of 40 percent in electricity compared to standard models.
Other areas that can make a difference include lighting and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Constellation NewEnergy, the endorsed supplier to the MMA’s MunEnergy program, is available to discuss environmentally responsible choices for communities. Contact MunEnergy Program Manager Emily Neill at (617) 772-7513 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Written by MunEnergy Program Manager Emily Neill
