CDM and the Cambridge Energy Alliance (CEA) have formed the first-of-its-kind partnership 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.
The project team includes ConEdison Solutions, an energy service company, which is conducting a comprehensive energy efficiency audit of the 180,000 square feet that CDM leases at One Cambridge Place. The audit will create an accurate energy model of the building; identify electric, gas, oil, and water efficiency opportunities; and optimize building functions. Proposed infrastructure investments could yield more than $100,000 per year in energy, water, and operational savings—as much as 16 percent of CDM’s projected 2009 energy and water/sewer costs.
Tom Pedersen, CDM director of sustainability, states, “This effort is an integral part of our corporate-wide sustainability performance improvement program and further demonstrates CDM’s commitment to develop lasting solutions for our clients, communities, operations, and people that meet current needs while preserving resources for future generations.” CDM is one of the city’s top 20 employers with 683
employees at One Cambridge Place.
“We’re excited to be the first major business in Cambridge to be collaborating with CEA and ConEdison Solutions on this pioneering partnership in energy and water efficiency,” says Robert Cabral, CDM vice president, facilities. “Proposed savings would not only cover the cost of doing this study and the implementation of recommended measures, but significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and
pay back the investment within 6 to 8 years.”The audit will be complete by the end of 2009 with the installation of improvements slated for early 2010.
ConEdison Solutions will supervise the installation of energy efficiency measures and ensure that the expected savings materialize. Measures being considered include improved heating, ventilation, and air conditioning controls; energy-efficient lighting, refrigerators, and ice machines; as well as enhanced facility management processes, procedures, and policies.
CEA, the result of a first-in-the-nation collaboration between the city of Cambridge and major foundations, is a non-profit organization that is facilitating increased sustainability through large-scale implementation. “CEA aggregates all aspects of energy and water efficiency—from energy service providers, government rebates, and financing to renewable energy and demand reductions and community education and outreach—into one effort,” explains Deborah Donovan, CEA executive director. “The inclusive program allows businesses, residents, and institutions across Cambridge to save energy and money, and dramatically reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions. We’re grateful for the city’s forward-thinking support for CEA and to CDM for putting this project on the map by becoming the city’s first major participant.”
“This is an exciting development for CEA and the city,” says Robert W. Healy, Cambridge city manager. “When the city co-sponsored the creation of CEA, we aimed 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. I congratulate CDM for stepping up to the plate and leading the way for our businesses. We hope many others will follow their example.”
MetLife, the owner of One Cambridge Place, is working to obtain U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Existing Building certification and an Energy Star™ rating for the property.
The Cambridge Community Center will receive a major energy efficiency upgrade this Sunday when
community members and experts gather to reduce the building’s energy consumption. The community
“barn raising” project is a combined effort of the Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET) and the
Cambridge Energy Alliance (CEA) that aims to improve the comfort and efficiency of the Cambridge
Community Center while teaching volunteers energy efficiency and conservation skills.
Volunteers are gathering at the Cambridge Community Center, 5 Callender St, Cambridge, MA from
12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on June 28th. The project is expected to draw approximately 60 community
volunteers, primarily from the Riverside neighborhood in Cambridge. A team of eight volunteers from
Mass Climate Summer will also be joining this neighborhood effort as part of their broader campaign to
educate residents on efficiency solutions in partnership with the Cambridge Energy Alliance. Mass
Climate Summer volunteers are spending their summer bicycling across Massachusetts to promote
climate change solutions in collaboration with community groups in the commonwealth.
Community volunteers will learn how to make doors and windows less drafty, seal air leaks in the
building, install interior storm windows, and save on electricity through simple changes. They will also
receive energy efficiency kits that contain materials to make their own homes more energy efficient and
information on community environmental resources and programs. The volunteers will apply these
valuable skills and conservation tools to start saving energy and money in their own homes.
These community-style energy efficiency barn raisings have garnered remarkable popular support since
HEET’s launch in August of 2008. Coming together with neighbors and local energy experts to
improve the efficiency of the Cambridge Community Center will have benefits for both individuals and
the community. It is a chance to meet neighbors, try out a green job, cut energy bills at the Community
Center, and get a free energy savings kit, while learning to save energy and money at home.
Wednesday- Over forty businesses attended a Green Your business Affair hosted by the Cambridge Energy Alliance (CEA) and the Sustainable Business Leadership Program (SBLP). Participants represented a diverse background of small and large commercial entities from the efficiency, renewable energy, nonprofit, design, and retail sectors. The business affair connected attendees to sustainable programs including the New England Wind Fund renewable energy program and Prism Consulting Inc., which provides energy efficiency audits to commercial entities.
The Cambridge Energy Alliance shared information about its free one-stop-shop service available to Cambridge businesses including access to NSTAR’s business audit and rebate program, financing
options through local banks, and an in-house energy advisor to help businesses connect to the services they need. Lilah Glick, Outreach Manager for the Cambridge Energy Alliance notes that there is a huge opportunity for energy efficiency improvements in the business sector. “Almost 80% of Cambridge’s greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings, and the commercial sector makes up 2/3rds of total emissions. Energy efficiency is a great way for businesses to not only become green leaders but also reduce their energy bills.” Ms. Glick noted that saving energy is easy and makes financial sense, with robust incentives made available through the Cambridge Energy Alliance.
Emily Kanter, consultant at the Sustainable Leadership Program, has over nine years of working with local businesses and recognizes the challenges they face in a global economy. Ms Kanter performs sustainable assessments and shares that, “greening a company’s operations reduces both resource usage and expenses.” The Sustainable Leadership Program identifies viable environmentally sustainable improvements and then pairs companies with the tools and resources to make those changes happen. Participating businesses learn about ways to become sustainable through improvements in energy efficiency, water conservation, recycling and waste reduction, transportation, pollution prevention, and sustainability management
The event was hosted at Greenward Eco-botique located in Porter Square. Greenward is a small,
locally-owned eco-boutique in Cambridge, MA, owned by the husband-and-wife team of Scott Walker and Simone Alpen. Locally brewed beer was provided by Cambridge Brewing Company, pizza was donated by Stone Hearth Pizza, and organic fair-trade chocolate from Theo. Ms. Kanter concluded that the, “event was a great success and the Sustainable Business Leadership Program and the Cambridge Energy Alliance aims to host similar Green Affairs in the future.”
This summer (July 6-22) CEA and NSTAR will be reaching out to Cambridge’s small business community to promote energy efficiency measures and accompanied incentives. The Cambridge commercial canvass is made possible through a partnership with Northeastern University’s Summer Discovery program which is supplying six volunteers for the duration of the small commercial campaign. After several days of training, volunteers will visit Cambridge’s small businesses establishments, and alert businesses of money-saving opportunities in their buildings.
Businesses that implement qualified energy efficiency improvements will be eligible to receive a window sticker certifying them as a Green Business Leader. Benefits incurred from energy efficiency improvements include: using less energy, saving money, catching up on deferred maintenance, and improving comfort and productivity of staff and customers.
The Cambridge Energy Alliance (CEA) is a community-based nonprofit organization sponsored by the City of Cambridge that helps residents and business owners invest in making their homes and buildings work smarter and more efficiently-saving energy, water and money. CEA aims to tackle building inefficiencies because 80% of the greenhouse gas emissions in Cambridge are from buildings, and over 60% of those emissions come from the commercial sector. In order to reduce Cambridge energy use CEA helps residents, businesses, and institutions of all sizes make their buildings work smarter and better by presenting them with tips, incentives, and rebates to help them save energy, water, and money. The incentives CEA presents are offered through NSTAR, Cambridge’s local environmentally-forward utility company.
