Efficient Buildings
DOER works with Mass Save® (the investor-owned gas and electric utilities, plus Cape Light Compact) to provide efficiency services to the municipalities and public entities they serve (
Mass Save Municipal Sector Sheet 
file size 1MB
). In 2011, approximately 90 municipalities worked with Mass Save® to collectively save more than 25,000,000 kWh of electricity (equivalent to the electricity needed to power close to 3,500 homes) and 420,000 therms of natural gas (equivalent to the amount of natural gas needed to heat more than 400 homes).
If you are interested in identifying and pursuing energy efficiency measures, please contact your electric and gas account representative(s) or see the Mass Save website. Mass Save® has several efficiency programs designed to meet the needs of many types of municipal buildings.
A number of measures may be implemented at low or no cost and can build the case for implementing larger efficiency projects
(
Municipal Efficiency Best Practices Checklist
).
Guidance on utility contracts
for energy conservation projects of $100K or less under G.L. c.25A, sec. 14 is also available.
Additionally, municipalities may contract for energy evaluations directly with an auditor. Municipalities may use the state energy services contracts # DCP-0711-EX1 or PRF-46 to directly select an auditor qualified through the state’s competitive procurement process. If using these independent energy evaluation services, municipalities need to consult with Mass Save to determine if energy efficiency measures identified are eligible for financial incentives.
An excellent overview of the types of energy evaluations that are relevant and how to select the correct audit type has been released for New Hampshire municipalities. (Please note that the specific RFP and procurement content in this document was developed for New Hampshire and that Massachusetts municipalities must comply with all Massachusetts procurement rules.)
The Green Communities Division is available to help facilitate these energy evaluation services and to act as a technical resource to answer efficiency-related questions. Please contact your Regional Coordinator or Aimee.Powelka@state.ma.us (617-626-7356).
How to Handle Mass Save® Incentives
Municipalities working with their electric and gas utilities through Mass Save's efficiency programs may be eligible to receive incentives. The billing process for Energy Efficiency Measures and any subsequent distribution of incentives is determined by the municipal customer. Common procedures for applying incentives include on-bill credits for measures paid through on-bill financing, reduction of the total cost of measures by crediting the incentives to the vendor, or credit to municipal general funds. Please consult with your legal counsel.
Efficient Streetlights
DOER is working with the electric utilities to develop a statewide approach for widespread LED and induction streetlight conversions. Municipalities interested in exterior LED lighting should start with metered lights and a thorough lighting survey (
LED Street Lights 2-Pager
).
Efficient Vehicles
DOER is working with municipalities to address energy used by vehicles, an often overlooked usage that can be challenging to address. The designated Green Communities use an average of 19 percent of their total municipal energy use on vehicular fuel. In small towns, this number can be much higher - up to 35 percent. Energy usage by vehicles can be decreased by purchasing more fuel-efficient vehicles and by improving the efficiency of existing vehicles (
Municipal Fleet Efficiency
).
Efficient Water and Sewer Treatment
DOER is collaborating with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide energy management services targeted to drinking water and wastewater treatment plants. We participate in the Energy Leaders Roundtable, in on-site energy visits, and help connect drinking water and wastewater treatment plants with the efficiency services offered through Mass Save®. There are many cost-effective options available to reduce energy use and cost at drinking water and wastewater treatment plants.
Efficient Policies
The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has just released a policy analysis tool that may help municipalities assess the impact of the energy policies they implement.
Energy Audit Program
DOER’s Energy Audit Program (EAP) was designed to assess and decrease the energy use of cities, towns, regional school districts, and water/wastewater districts. DOER held two application rounds for communities interested in participating in the EAP. More than 100 communities received EAP services from the first round in 2008. Of these, DOER was also able to provide one-time funding to implement projects for the first 17 communities, using proceeds from the first Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative auction. The second application round closed in April 2009 with 135 applicants. Energy efficiency services for these applicants were provided by Mass Save®. See the maps below for participating municipalities and regional school districts. To request an energy evaluation of a building, see Efficient Buildings above.
DOER's Energy Audit Program Participants
If you have questions, please contact your Regional Coordinator or Aimee.Powelka@state.ma.us (617-626-7356).
This information is provided by the Department of Energy Resources.