Cambridge Energy Alliance » Newsletters

Spring 2012

sjordan — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:06:40 +0000

Hello friends of the Cambridge Energy Alliance!

Spring seems to be here early this year – take time during spring cleaning to get a free home energy audit available for homeowners, renters and landlords. There are also free business energy audits, so let your favorite business know how they can go green.

Events coming up include a Landlord Workshop this weekend on Saturday, March 3rd and Live Better Porter Square Volunteer Training on Saturday, March 3rd.

Volunteer opportunities include Phone Bank for Efficient Apartments, Tuesday, February 28th.
We hope to see you there!

Best wishes,
Meghan Shaw

Outreach Director
Cambridge Energy Alliance

In this edition…

Recent Events with the Cambridge Energy Alliance

Phone Bank for Efficient Apartments
Volunteer Opportunity Tuesday, February 28th
5:30pm-8:30pm
City Hall Annex
344 Broadway, Cambridge
5 minute walk from Central Square
CEA and a handful of partners are organizing a workshop to explain to landlords how making their buildings more energy efficient that would help them reduce water bills, tenant turnover, etc.
Bringing energy efficiency to apartments is a great way to reduce our impact on the planet and help many struggling students and low-income residents lower their energy bills.
Help us get a lot of landlords there by calling them to invite them to the workshop.
We’ll provide free chai and green tea, muffins & lollipops. Take home some free energy efficiency goodies.
Please sign up to help!
———-

Live Better Porter SquareLead a Neighborhood to Greatness!
Saturday, March 3rd
1:00 – 4:00pm
Main Library – Beech Room
449 Broadway, Cambridge
Live Better Porter Square is a brand new pilot project to make Porter Square and its neighborhoods a better place for residents and businesses. We are recruiting Neighborhood Captains who are interested in promoting community involvement and highlighting Porter Square as a model for the rest of the city in terms of thinking locally.
Over the next four months Neighborhood Captains will work in the Porter Square area to help neighbors boost the local economy by lowering their energy bills through energy efficiency and renewable energy, so more money stays in our local economy.
Want to get involved and learn more, sign up!
———-
Landlord Profitability Workshop
Water bills high? Hefty common-area bills?
Bed bugs, rats, or mice? Too much garbage?
Saturday, March 3rd
9:00 – 12:00pm
MIT Student Center
84 Massachusetss Ave, Cambridge
Free Workshop. Lunch by Whole Foods. Only 100 spaces.
Reducing Water Bills
Tackling Common Area Electricity Bills
Reducing Tenant Turnover
Vermin, Mold, and Smoke
and more topics…
Get paid to install solar!
Register for email alerts when water use spikes!
Sponsored by Cambridge Energy Alliance, HEET and Sustainable Business Network
Register today!

News!

Cambridge
$2000 for Solar Hot Water

Cambridge Energy Alliance, with the City of Cambridge, is proud to announce that we have funds available to help people install solar hot water heaters on their home or business. Solar hot water systems provide an easy and low cost way to create hot water sustainably. Solar hot water systems can heat water for laundry, bathing and washing dishes, and can often provide 50 percent to 75 percent of a household or businesses total hot water needs – reducing you utility bills and carbon footprint.

Cambridge Solar Hot Water Grants cannot be processed until you complete the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Program.

Start the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center application process as soon as possible.

Applications for the Cambridge Solar Hot Water Grant must be received by November 19, 2012.

Massachusetts
We’re #1! We’re #1!
In 2011, Massachusetts outranked California as the #1 energy efficiency state! Our clean economy is growing too – according to the 2011 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report 4,909 clean energy firms and 64,310 clean energy jobs were created, with a 6.7% industry growth rate in this past year alone. Clean energy investments are paying off. Energy and Environment Secretary Rick Sullivan reports that the state’s investment of $2 billion has led to consumer savings of $6 billion.

NSTAR Merger an Historic Win for Cape Wind, Clean Energy

Governor Patrick announced an agreement with NSTAR allowing their merger with Northeast Utilities (NEU) to move forward and providing a rate freeze for ratepayers for the next four years. Most importantly, the announcement also represents an historic win for Cape Wind, allowing it to move forward as the first off-shore wind farm in the United States.

Under the agreement, NSTAR would purchase 27.5% of Cape Wind’s energy. In addition to the 50% of Cape Wind energy earlier contracted by National Grid, the NStar contract allows Cape Wind to now finance the development of 100 off-shore turbines. Cape Wind has already received all state and federal permits required to begin construction.

NSTAR has also agreed to fully support the intent of the Green Communities Act (GCA) passed in 2008, calling on utilities to increase their purchase of renewable energy and increase their customers’ energy efficiency.
Beyond Cape Wind, NSTAR will provide ratepayers a 50-50% split of anticipated savings from the merger, resulting in a one-time $21 million credit to ratepayers. The agreement will also protect Massachusetts workers should NEU seek to move jobs to Connecticut.
“This is a win-win-win,” said George Bachrach, President of ELM. “The Governor, Secretary Sullivan and their team deserve great credit for negotiating a critical settlement that protects ratepayers, protects the workforce and insures the Commonwealth’s national leadership in renewable energy with Cape Wind.

To read more on this historic development, please go here.

Resources

Business Discounts for LEDs

LED’s are twice as efficient at CFL’s, last up to 10 times longer and do not contain mercury. They can be a great way to cut down energy bills and be more environmentally friendly. LED’s are available at your local hardware store.

If you have a commercial energy bill, Energy Federation Incorporated is selling LED’s for as little as $5! The bulbs normally cost $50 to $100 each. Order through EFI and they range in cost from $13 down to $5 plus the cost of shipping. Whether you own a business or just work at one, check out the incentives.

To order contact Steve Lavelle
Energy Federation Incorporated
(800) 876-0660 ext. 4437
Cell: (508) 439-0208
www.efi.org/wholesale

Free CFLs for ALL
Pill Hardware is running a special on CFL’s (while supplies last)
One free CFL – Every Saturday
10am-3pm

Free CFL’s to any non-profit (packs of 10, 20, and 50)

Energy Advisor
If you live or work in Cambridge and have questions related to the energy assessment/audit process, energy efficient home and business renovations, or changes you can make in your own life to save energy, you can contact the Cambridge Energy Advisor. Whether you have already had an assessment/audit or are considering how you should proceed, Cambridge Energy Alliance is eager to answer your questions and help you navigate the process.

Stay Connected to Cambridge Energy Alliance

Stay up to date on Cambridge Energy Alliance events and other environmental activities around the city by checking out our Calendar or follow our Blog to learn more about local, statewide and national news related to energy and the environment.

Calling All Bloggers!

The Cambridge Energy Alliance’s Energy 2.0 blog is looking for new contributors. Do you like to follow local environmental happenings? Are you interested in writing about Cambridge, Boston, and even national energy news? Do you already have a blog that you’d like to cross-post with CEA? Contact us at work@cambridgeenergyalliance.org with the subject “Blog” if you are interested in being a part of the Energy 2.0 blog.

Summer 2011

AKaufman — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 05:55:45 +0000

In this edition…

Summer Energy Saving Tips

Summer is finally here and it’s an important time to be saving energy.

Try to hold off turning on the air conditioner; instead, use ceiling fans to keep the air circulating, shut the blinds and windows tight during the hottest parts of the day, and open them up at night to let the cool air in.

If you do use the A/C, install an Energy Star rated air conditioner, preferably on the north side of the house or in a shaded spot. Set a programmable thermostat to 78°F when you’re home and warmer when you are out of the house, and you’ll be a champion energy saver.

Another great way to save energy – grilling! Fire up your outdoor grill on summer afternoons. It’s a great way to enjoy some family time while keeping your house cool!

Postpone laundry and dishwashing until nighttime to prevent extra heat being added to your home. Go old-fashioned and try using a clothesline to dry clothes. The summer sun will dry your clothes crisp in no time and make you feel good about using the oldest renewable energy source known to man. Take cooler showers and reduce the temperature of your water heater thermostat to 120°F.

Make good use of the warm weather by walking or biking whenever possible. It’s a great way to exercise. Use public transportation to travel long distances so you don’t have to waste time and energy trying to find parking! If you are heading out on that big road trip, try to carpool and keep your car running in optimum condition.

Pick Up Energy Efficiency at Cambridge Farmer’s Markets

Keep an eye out for the Cambridge Energy Alliance tables at your local farmer’s market this summer! Farmer’s markets help the environment and boost the local economy, so take the next step and sign up for a free home energy assessment while you’re stocking up on fresh produce.

Who likes to Read?

Does your book club need a fresh focus? Are you looking for ways to get a group talking about conservation and other green topics?

Let us know and we’ll get you started with a Cambridge Energy Alliance book club. We’re sponsoring book clubs across the city this summer and fall. Whether you’re environmentally inclined, enjoy the great outdoors, or just enjoy thought-provoking reads, keep your eyes and ears peeled for our upcoming CEA Green Book Clubs.

If you’re interested in hosting your own, email outreach@CambridgeEnergyAlliance.org.

The Cambridge Energy Alliance is Moving!

Starting in July, Cambridge Energy Alliance has a new home at the City of Cambridge. As you may know, CEA was created as a non-profit entity sponsored by the Kendall Foundation and the City of Cambridge in 2007 with the goal of stimulating large-scale energy efficiency and renewable energy activities in all sectors of the community.

Over the past four years CEA has done a lot of very innovative and important work, especially in the residential and small commercial sectors, but the original business model – which would enable CEA to become economically self-sustaining – has not worked out, in part due to the global recession limiting lending and financing.

Given the City of Cambridge’s long-standing and strong commitment to energy efficiency and renewable energy, Cambridge Energy Alliance will be continuing our work as part of the Community Development Department at 344 Broadway.

You can still find us at CambridgeEnergyAlliance.org and outreach@CambridgeEnergyAlliance.org.

Our new phone number is 617-349-LEAF.

Partnering with Faith Communities

GIVE (Green Interfaith Volunteer Engagement) has just launched in Cambridge. GIVE’s aim is to foster strong community involvement for all houses of worship and faith centers around environmental stewardship. Energy efficiency and green transportation can save your faith group and its members’ money while improving the environment.

GIVE will connect with a liaison in each congregation to discuss faith groups’ green goals and help carry out community-building activities that promote creation care.

Faith groups can host a weatherization barn-raising at their house of worship, leading to reduced energy bills and more comfortable facilities. After working with HEET, a Cambridge non-profit, St. Bartholomews’ barn-raising will save the church $486 per year as a result of an NSTAR energy assessment and energy efficiency improvements made by volunteers. St. Bartholomew’s is also planning on upgrading over 100 lights with the assistance of NSTAR rebates. They will receive a return on their investment the very first year, with an average savings of $6,000 annually in electricity costs.

Congregation members can challenge themselves to make their own home more efficient through no-cost home energy audits and generous utility rebates by working with the Cambridge Energy Alliance.

Lastly, during “Walk/Ride Days,” the last Friday of each month, patrons are encouraged to walk, bike, and carpool to services.

If you are part of any type of faith organization and would like to learn more about GIVE, please email outreach@CambridgeEnergyAlliance.org today with the subject line “GIVE.”

Environmental Trivia Nights

Who discovered the Greenhouse Effect? Which animals are the biggest methane gas emitters? CFL’s use how much less energy than regular light bulbs?

The Cambridge Energy Alliance is working to set up environmental trivia nights at local restaurants in Cambridge! Environmental trivia nights will feature a variety of questions concerning topics like recycling, energy efficiency, and famous environmentalists. You will be invited, but first we would love to know about some of your favorite places to do trivia.

Please send suggestions to Melissa at melissa.skubel@gmail.com.

Small Business Canvass

The Cambridge Energy Alliance has kicked off the summer with a canvass targeting small businesses in the city. With the help of a dedicated group of volunteers, we are scheduling appointments with business owners to let them know about various energy- and money-saving programs.

First and foremost we are getting the word out about how CEA can help businesses by making them aware of energy efficiency programs and assisting in navigating them. We will also promote NSTAR’s Direct Install Small Business Program, as well as partnerships with other environmental- and efficiency-related organizations.

Throughout the canvass we will introduce CEA as a resource for any business energy efficiency needs. Whether it is questions on efficiency-related events and programs, guidance through the process of financing efficiency upgrades, how to connect to other environmental organizations in the Boston area, general questions about efficiency, or how to sign up for a free audit; our staff will be happy to assist.

NSTAR’s Program offers a NO COST energy assessment from Prism Energy Services. The assessment points out mechanical fixes that businesses may invest in to save 15%–25% on monthly utility bills, improving the air quality and comfort of the business, taking part in a city-wide initiative to reduce overall energy demand, and position a business as environmentally conscious.

Are you a business owner who’d like help being more sustainable? Do you shop in Cambridge and know a business we should reach out to?

Email outreach@cambridgeenergyalliance.org and put “canvass” in the subject line, and we’ll get in touch.

A/C Swap

During the months of May through July, CEA’s Air Conditioner Swap program offered Cambridge residents $125 towards a new Energy Star rated A/C unit when an old, non-Energy Star unit is picked up by the Department of Public Works (DPW) and recycled in a responsible way.

We are happy to announce that, as of the writing of this newsletter, approximately 450 residents have received rebate vouchers through the program, with several more expected!

If you didn’t get the chance to participate in our A/C Swap, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has recently launched a new state-wide energy efficiency program. Households can receive a $150 rebate towards an eligible refrigerator replacement and a $50 rebate towards an air conditioner replacement. For more information, see the program website at http://massenergyrebates.com/.

Have a great summer, stay cool, and stay hydrated!

City Manager Robert W. Healy
Deputy City Manager Richard C. Rossi

City Council
Mayor David P. Maher
Vice Mayor Henrietta Davis
Councillor Leland Cheung
Councillor Marjorie C. Decker
Councillor Craig A. Kelley
Councillor Kenneth E. Reeves
Councillor Sam Seidel
Councillor E. Denise Simmons
Councillor Timothy J. Toomey, Jr.

Spring 2011

AKaufman — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 21:52:00 +0000

In this edition…

Spring Efficiency Tips

Spring is the perfect time to get into good energy efficiency habits! Make weatherizing a part of your spring cleaning routine- as you’re sweeping corners and organizing drawers take time to seal any gaps in your home. Find cheap caulk or weatherizing strips at your local hardware store and make sure you let the sunshine in without letting your cool air out. Weatherizing your home keeps you comfortable and keeps your heating and cooling costs down.

Beat finicky New England spring temperature changes without running back and forth between your heater and air conditioner. Throw your shades open and let the sun warm your home on chilly days, then make sure to tightly close shades and curtains at night to seal in the warm air. On hot days block out the sun with drawn shades, then open them wide at night to let the cool night breezes in.

If you have to heat your house and use a hot water heating system, look into turning down the aquastat in your boiler. Often, these are set to 180 degrees for keeping your home warm in the middle of winter, which is overkill for the milder spring and fall months. Better yet, consider replacing your manual aquastat with one that modulates based upon the outside temperature, this change alone can save you up to 10% on your heating bill.

Try to last as long as possible before submitting to your air conditioner! Use fans throughout the house to keep air flowing, grill outside to keep the oven from heating up the house, and take shorter showers to decrease hot humid air in the house. Run your ceiling fan and be sure to flip the direction switch from the winter “pull cool air up for mixing” (usually marked as “Reverse”) to the summer “push a draft over me” position.

For more suggestions see our summer energy tips.

Take Advantage of Financing Options this Spring

Have you ever wondered how to finance the installation of your own solar panels? What about options for replacing your insulation or hot water heater? The Cambridge Energy Alliance works hard to answer these questions. Whether you’re a homeowner, renter, small business, non-profit organization, or landlord, there are great resources available to you that provide financial support for energy efficiency projects. From completely free services to no interest loans, there are multiple incentives available immediately that can simultaneously save you money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For instance, small businesses and non-profits can take advantage of New Generation Energy’s Community Lending Program, which provides low-interest loans from $10,000 to $50,000. Community-scale solar projects and food service efficiency upgrades typically qualify.

Are you a homeowner looking for ways to finance a major project? East Cambridge Savings Bank offers owners of 1-6 family owner-occupied properties unsecured Energy Efficiency Loans for projects up to $25,000. For residential property owners of single-family and multi-family buildings, NSTAR offers immediate incentives of 75% off the cost of energy efficiency improvements up to $2,000 per unit.

More information about these financing options (and more than 10 other programs!) is available online at http://cambridgeenergyalliance.org/.

Recent Events with the Cambridge Energy Alliance

The Cambridge Energy Alliance (CEA) conducted outreach to Cambridge residents in a series of targeted events that make for an exciting first quarter. CEA built stronger bridges among industry professionals, low-income communities, the city’s youth and even landlords, all with the help of nine dedicated volunteer interns.

In a collaborative event this February, CEA partnered with Coldwell Banker to host a Green Condominium seminar that brought together realtors, banks, and energy auditors. Participants learned how to make energy efficiency improvements based on advice from Sustainable Life Solutions, Next Step Living, Inc., S & H Construction, Coldwell Banker Agents Amy Tighe and Robin Miller, and the Cambridge Portuguese Credit Union.

On February 25th, CEA hosted a successful event at East End House in conjunction with Green Streets’ Walk/Ride Day. Members of the community signed up for their free home energy audit, and children played educational energy games, all while enjoying a healthy complimentary breakfast.

Looking to boost the energy and money-saving power of energy efficiency within the low-income community, CEA hosted a Leadership Roundtable on Energy Efficiency Outreach Strategies in March. The event provided a collaborative forum that drew 14 representatives from housing providers, senior services, and community organizations looking to improve outreach to under-served members of the Cambridge community. “This is an important step in our shared effort to help the low-income households we serve learn about the value of conserving energy. We look forward to working together on this issue,” said Cambridge Housing Authority Executive Director Gregory P. Russ.

Wrapping up a busy first quarter was a Landlord Conference on Energy and Weatherization hosted by the City of Cambridge, CEA and MA Rental Housing Association. The conference helped Cambridge property owners take advantage of weatherization incentives. The event highlighted zero-percent interest loans offered by NSTAR for landlords and incentives such as a 75% rebate for energy efficiency improvements up to $2,000 per unit.

Find Out Exactly How Much Energy Your Appliances Use!

Plug a “Kill a Watt” energy meter into any household appliance and watch as it shows you exactly how much energy your refrigerator, or video game console, or television uses. These devices are now available for Cambridge residents to borrow from the Cambridge Public Library. Kill-a-Watt meters are a great way to find out which appliances in your home are secretly sucking up all your electricity, and to demonstrate to children the importance of turning off appliances.

Coming Soon: The A/C Swap

This summer the Cambridge Energy Alliance in partnership with the City of Cambridge and your local hardware stores is offering residents the chance to swap their old, inefficient window air conditioner units for new Energy Star-rated models. Participants will receive a $125 voucher towards the purchase of Energy Star-rated air conditioners, which use 10% less energy than old models.

Stay Connected to Cambridge Energy Alliance

Calling All Bloggers!

Spring 2010

mshaw — Thu, 06 May 2010 20:47:36 +0000

In this edition…

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Programs

Starting this Spring, the Cambridge Energy Alliance will be ramping up its Cambridge Community Energy Efficiency Campaign. The City of Cambridge has allocated funding comes from the federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program which is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, to support the campaign.

The two-year Community Energy Efficiency Campaign will reach substantial portions of the Cambridge community including the residential building sector, low-income residents, and the small commercial building sector. The campaign will educate the community about energy efficiency opportunities in homes and businesses, connect them to existing energy efficiency services, and provide additional direct services for Cambridge residents and business. The campaign will include unique offerings and support for each building sector by partnering with the City, NSTAR, ESCOs, financial institutions, and local citizen and business groups.

For residential buildings, CEA will implement an efficiency program built upon an extensive awareness and outreach campaign connecting Cambridge residents to the existing Mass Save efficiency program and enhance those services with the CEA Energy Advisor, Smarter Cambridge website, and incentives for Cambridge residents including a new matching grants. Particular attention will be directed toward low-income residents to inform them of special programs and conservation techniques they can implement in their own home by providing do-it-yourself energy efficiency tool-kits and guides. Another program we are excited about is the distribution of several dozen plug-in appliance energy monitors to public library branches around the city, where they will be available for check out.

Similar to last year’s residential outreach effort, a business specific canvass will be conducted this summer to familiarize Cambridge businesses with existing utility efficiency programs and incentives along with additional direct services provided by CEA staff. Read on for more information about the canvass.

Community Report

CEA’s community outreach program has reached over 700 residents this winter through events and workshops. CEA collaborated with the Massachusetts Municipal Association, to connect residents to a free energy seminar which stressed the importance of reducing heat usage by providing do-it-yourself sealing techniques, tips on hiring a contractor for in-depth alterations, and resources for home audits and financing. Over fifty residents attended the event and learned about typical home inefficiencies, air sealing and insulation, efficient HVAC and appliances, plus rebates and grants to reduce the cost of home alterations and appliance purchases.

On the business front, CEA supported Cambridge Local First by awarding the Sustainable Business Leadership certification to the first class of the Sustainable Business Leader Program. Eleven businesses were awarded this prestigious award for their efforts to reduce energy, water, and waste. The certification ceremony, which was held at the Cambridge City Hall Annex, was co-sponsored by the City of Cambridge, Cambridge Local First and the Cambridge Energy Alliance in partnership with the Sustainable Business Network.

The first Cambridge graduating class included: 1369 Coffee House, Cambridge Brewing Company, Cambridge Naturals, Economy Hardware, The Fishmonger, Greenward, Harvard Bookstore, Harvest Co-Op Markets, Irving House, Stone Hearth Pizza and Veggie Planet.

Upcoming Events

Financing Your Solar Project

May 27, 2010 at 6–8:00 PM
4^th floor meeting room at City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway
Sponsored by City of Cambridge and the Cambridge Energy Alliance
RSVP here

This is an excellent opportunity for Cambridge citizens to learn about renewable energy programs and resources available to develop local projects. Larry Chretien, Executive Director of the Mass Energy Consumers Alliance will provide an update on net metering and investment opportunities in Massachusetts. In addition, a panel of local contractors and program providers will share their expertise to help residents and businesses take advantage of robust incentives and resources to develop renewable energy projects.

Green Your Marketing Workshop!

June 17th, 2010 at 8:30–9:30AM
Cambridge City Hall Annex
Sponsored by Sustainable Business Leadership Program and CEA
RSVP here

In this workshop, you will learn how to identify earth-friendly business practices you already use, and how to get the word out about them in a way that is both creative and consistent with your existing brand and communications plan. We’ll discuss how to avoid “greenwashing,” what elements of traditional marketing translate especially well to the green economy, and why it’s important to green your marketing along with the rest of your business. You’ll have a chance to see real-life examples of successful green marketing tactics, and there will be plenty of time for questions.

Spring Efficiency Tips

Springtime is a great time to save energy through a few small changes and also to prepare your home for the summer cooling season. You can also use your spring cleaning time to increase the efficiency of your house by sealing cracks in the building around windows and doors with new weather-stripping. Weatherizing your house helps to keep your house comfortable in all seasons while reducing your cooling costs in the summer and heating costs in the winter.

Spring in New England has a lot of changes in temperature from day to day that can sometimes make it tough to know when can stop using your heating system. However, you can also take advantage of warm spring days to carry you through chillier evenings without turning on your heat. Try opening your window shades during the day to bring in heat and then closing up the house tightly at night so you can keep the house warm through the chillier evenings. On warmer days do the opposite; keep the sun out during the day and open up the house at night to keep it cool and comfortable.

If you have to heat your house and use a hot water heating system, look into turning down the aquastat in your boiler. Often, these are set to 180 degrees for keeping your home warm in the middle of winter which is overkill for the milder spring and fall months. Better yet, consider replacing your manual aquastat with one that modulates based upon the outside temperature, this change alone can save you up to 10% on your heating bill.

Because spring months are generally milder, when you need to cool down the house try using fans as much as possible, they use only a fraction of the electricity as an air conditioning unit and can keep a home comfortable when combined with good management of the windows and shades to keep the sun out and the cool air in. Be sure to flip the direction switch from the winter “pull cool up for mixing” (usually marked as “Reverse”) to the summer “push a draft over me” position.

For more suggestions see our summer energy tips.

Summer Business Canvass

As part of the Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant program, CEA will be expanding its outreach efforts to the small commercial building sector including a canvass program this summer to connect small business owners with efficiency services and incentives. The small commercial sector faces a number of barriers to broad-scale energy efficiency adoption including lack of awareness, split incentives, cost of implementation, need for financing, and complexity of programs.

CEA will be working with program volunteers over the summer to canvass business districts in Cambridge, distributing information about commercial programs and discussing utility based incentive programs with small business owners.

The summer canvass is part of a two year program through which CEA plans to reach an estimated 500 Cambridge businesses and expects that at least 50 businesses will participate in efficiency programs and services, which is estimated to save approximately 437,500 kWh of electricity and 2,500 therms of heating fuel.

The map below outlines where most commercial activity in Cambridge takes place and where our volunteers will be canvassing. The pie chart gives a rough break-down of the number and type of businesses around the city, where “Mall” includes the any single address with multiple storefronts such as the CambridgeSide Galleria or shopping centers

Click map for larger view.

Winter 2010

mshaw — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:15:36 +0000

In this edition…

2009 was an exciting year for the Cambridge Energy Alliance, with the development of new program offerings, and the launch of numerous social media offerings including our community blog Energy 2.0 and a new social network to help residents save energy, money, and the planet: Smarter Cambridge

The Alliance’s enhanced capacity will soon include new efficiency products and services available through the city’s utility provider. NSTAR is part of an energy efficiency provider’s coalition that is unveiling a three-year plan to deliver services to residents and businesses that will ultimately net more than $4 billion in energy savings. If the plan is approved, the coalition will begin offering an increased level of services to their customers in 2010.

In addition, CEA has been collaborating with the commercial building sector to reduce carbon emissions that comprise over eighty percent of the city’s total emissions. CEA is currently working with CDM to evaluate energy and water efficiency at One Cambridge Place, CDM’s world headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This large-scale energy and resource conservation project for CDM represents an innovative, community-based approach to making energy efficiency a reality for residents and businesses.

CDM is the first major business in Cambridge to collaborate with CEA and ConEdison Solutions on this pioneering partnership in energy and water efficiency. The proposed savings are expected to cover the cost of doing the study and the implementation of recommended measures, as well as significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pay back the investment within 6 to 8 years.

The City co-sponsored the creation of CEA to spur energy efficiency and clean energy improvements in the commercial building sector because that is where most of the energy use and greenhouse gas emissions are occurring. CEA and the City of Cambridge congratulate CDM for stepping up to the plate and leading the way for our businesses. We hope many others will follow their example.

This fall, the Cambridge Energy Alliance organized its second community canvass to connect residents to home energy audits and energy saving resources. Community canvassers knocked on 1,751 doors and spoke to over five hundred households. The three day canvass garnered 162 audit requests and distributed 579 compact fluorescent light bulbs in exchange for inefficient incandescent bulbs, which will reduce 341,378 pounds of carbon emissions over the life of the bulbs. The Cambridge Energy Alliance is planning another community canvass in 2010 to share the exciting new programs available through NSTAR.

CEA’s community outreach program has reached over 580 residents this fall through events and workshops. In partnership with the city’s Fuel Assistance program, CEA gave a series of presentations at the Cambridge Learning Center—connecting English as a second language students to efficiency programs and low cost solutions to save their families money and learn about climate change. Hyosill Yang, a workshop attendee, shared that, “as soon as I arrived home, I turn off the unnecessary lights and removed plugs from outlets. I also checked the leakage of heat that may escape out of windows. It was a wonderful time for me.”

The Cambridge Energy Alliance is looking for additional groups who are interested in learning about efficiency solutions. To request a workshop for your organization, please contact Lilah Glick, Director of Community Outreach at lgick@cambridgeenergyallinace.org.

On the business front, the Cambridge Energy Alliance and the Sustainable Business Leadership Program hosted a Green Your Business Affair on November 9th to help local commercial entities learn about energy efficiency and sustainability programs. Representatives of over forty businesses came out and mingled with other interested green leaders. The event brought together representatives from the efficiency, renewable energy, nonprofit, design, and retail sectors. The Cambridge Energy Alliance and the Sustainable Business Leadership Program are planning a second Green Your Business Affair event in early 2010.

On Tuesday, January 12 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, CEA is hosting an Energy Savings workshop at the Cambridge Public Library at 449 Broadway. This free energy seminar, presented by the Massachusetts Municipal Association, stresses the importance of reducing heat usage by providing do-it-yourself sealing techniques, tips on hiring a contractor for in-depth alterations, and resources for home audits and financing alterations. Please RSVP to reserve a space at the event.

On January 23rd the Mayor’s office is hosting the city of Cambridge’s second climate congress, bringing together delegates from across the community to learn and share climate solution ideas with the city. Phil Mckenna, correspondent for New Scientist magazine, summarized the December 12th Congress on our blog Energy 2.0.

A lot happened in the energy efficiency world in 2009: from the federal stimulus tax credits, to the insulation rebates from NSTAR, to the solar incentives from the state. The Cambridge Energy Alliance has promoted each of these programs and we hope that many of you had the opportunity to take advantage of these savings. However, if you didn’t, or would like to do more to stop wasting money and start saving energy and the environment, the good news is 2010 will have even more savings available for homeowners and renters.

At the Federal Level, there has been a lot of discussion of a “cash for caulkers” program which would give rebates to homeowners of up to $12,000 to make home efficiency improvements. This program will probably supplement the existing home efficiency tax credits passed through the economic stimulus bill which are in place until December 31, 2010.

Here in Massachusetts the state will be enacting a major new efficient appliance rebate program to encourage residents to replace their aging and energy inefficient home appliances. Details on that program should be forthcoming in February. NSTAR and the other utility companies will also be expanding their energy efficiency rebates and programs in 2010 as part of their new three year program.

Locally, the Cambridge Energy Alliance will build off its 2009 program and continue to offer comprehensive services to homeowners and businesses. CEA is also premiering a called Smarter Cambridge to help people calculate their carbon footprint and work together to reduce their energy use. Many grants and other funding opportunities are also under consideration, and may soon be available to Cambridge residents.

We will keep you apprised of all these opportunities and other developments as they happen. To stay informed subscribe to email updates like this newsletter, or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and our blog. Please stay in touch and we look forward to working with you in 2010!

Thanks to the dedication of several volunteers working through the summer, CEA has been able to establish a framework for evaluating energy use in neighborhoods across the city. This system has been designed with privacy in mind, and contains no information about individual users. Instead it reports electricity and natural gas consumption for all of the homes and businesses in each one of eighty regions of the city corresponding to divisions created by the U.S. Census Bureau. The hope is that with this data CEA might be able to better target areas that can most benefit from our assistance, or to gauge our impact e.g; compare the reported savings for Smarter Cambridge neighborhoods vs. actual changes in energy use.

We have not yet begun to process this mountain of data, but to give you an idea of the sort of interesting things that can be done, we’ve produced the animated map below which shows total electricity use across the city each September for the last four years. September was chosen because it’s a “shoulder month,” with mild and relatively consistent weather, calling for little to no heating or cooling, as indicated by the temperatures included in the legends. In this sample map—where white is missing data i.e; Fresh Pond, the Charles, and Harvard Square plaza in 2009—a number of patterns can be seen: the redevelopment of Inman square and the Alewife region, and increasing bio-pharmaceuticals in Central and Technology Squares. The orange circles are scaled to show the population of each “block group,” although clearly this did not remain constant year after year.

Click map for larger view.

Fall 2009

mshaw — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:01:01 +0000

In this edition…

Fall Greetings from the Cambridge Energy Alliance

The Cambridge Energy Alliance is happy to announce that we have expanded our programs and services for Cambridge residents and businesses. In July, Cambridge Energy Alliance had recently added new staff and capacity to help Cambridge residents and businesses connect to energy efficiency programs, renewable energy services, and financing to help get their homes and workplaces ready for winter. By partnering with several energy service companies and local banks, the Cambridge Energy Alliance can now offer a unique package of resources to meet the efficiency goals of almost any homeowner or business in Cambridge. In addition to these offerings, CEA updated our website and we are also spreading the message of energy efficiency and climate action through our blog at www.energytwodotzero.org.

Fall is an excellent time of year to weatherize your home or business to save energy and money during the winter heating season. In this season’s newsletter you will find upcoming events, fall efficiency tips, and helpful resources to start saving energy today!

Cambridge Community Report

This summer, the Cambridge Energy Alliance worked with volunteers from Massachusetts Climate Summer to provide free energy efficiency resources and compact fluorescent light bulbs to Cambridge residents. Volunteers talked to over 500 Cambridge residents and received 175 requests for home energy audits. In addition, 217 free CFLs were traded for used incandescent bulbs, which reduced emissions of CO₂ by more than 128,000 lbs. An additional 132,000 pounds were saved by a separate volunteer canvass of the Riverside Neighborhood in conjunction with the Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET).

There are several upcoming CEA events you may want to attend. The Cambridge Energy Alliance is promoting efficiency services for businesses at the Assistance for Retailers: Best Retail Practices Workshop on October 7^th from 8:30 to 11AM at the Cambridge City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway, 2nd floor conference room. In addition, CEA is providing an energy efficiency workshop at the Cambridge Senior Center, 806 Massachusetts Ave, on Thursday, October 8th from 1–2PM. Learn more about the Cambridge Energy Alliance and hear about new programs for Cambridge Residents at www.cambridgeenergyalliance.org

Winter Weatherization Tips from the Energy Advisor

As summer turns to autumn, and the leaves begin to change and fall to the ground you may find yourself consumed with the household tasks of preparing for the coming winter season. Buttoning up your house for the winter may include calling the oil company for a delivery or making sure your furnace has new filters, but no matter where you live and how you heat your home, there are a number of things you can do to save energy and money this winter as well as make your living space more comfortable.

First, make sure your heating system is operating at peak efficiency. Check your radiators or forced air registers for dust buildup and clean them off to avoid spreading this around your home, as well as allow your equipment to most efficiently transfer heat into your living space. If you use baseboard heat, check to see that the flaps are all the way open. Verify that air flow around baseboards and radiators is unobstructed in order to allow efficient convection.

Second, use your heater as little as possible, and take advantage of free heat. Open up your shades during the day to let solar energy into your house to help with the heating and lighting. Close heavy drapes at night to act as insulation over your windows. If you have rooms that you use infrequently, turn down/off available thermostats or close registers and doors in those rooms. Set your thermostat for a lower temperature when you are away, and consider adding another comforter to your bed so you can turn down the heat more at night.

Finally, make sure you’re only paying to heat your house instead of the great outdoors. Close and lock all the windows in your home in order to seal the weather–stripping between the panels. Speaking of weather-stripping, make sure you have some, and that is in good condition. Look at the frames of all your exterior doors and check for gaps in the weather-stripping. Think about other places outside air may be entering the house, and apply caulk or expanding foam to seal any gaps. One trick for finding air infiltration is to hunt for cobwebs. Spiders usually seek out locations where there is a lot of air movement. Air can even leak into your house through electrical outlets. Foam gaskets that form a seal behind cover plates are inexpensive and available at most hardware stores. For more tips about home weatherization you can always contact the CEA Energy Advisor. HEET also has some handy weatherization guides and checklists.

Inroads

Historically there have been about 30 audit requests per month originating in Cambridge, although the exact number depends upon a number of factors such as the weather, season, and cost of energy. Since August 2008 the Cambridge Energy Alliance has received approximately 500 audit requests. As shown on the map below, these requests have come from all across the city; some have been omitted due to oddly formatted addresses. The higher concentration of requests from “north” and “mid” Cambridge is due in part to this summer’s canvass. On the other hand, many requests have been received from residents in the vicinities of Cambridgeport and Strawberry Hill which have not been canvassed.

Click map for larger view.

Spring 2008

mshaw — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 23:28:18 +0000

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Winter 2008-2009

mshaw — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:28:36 +0000

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