The Office of Technical Assistance and Technology (OTA) provides a host of non-regulatory, strictly confidential services to businesses. Services encompass compliance assistance and on-site technical support to reduce toxics use, improve energy efficiency and conserve water and other resources.
OTA's services also reflect the changing profile of the Massachusetts economy. For instance, OTA supports life sciences, medical device and other emerging, high-growth industries by providing pre-permitting assistance to new and expanding businesses through our Right from the Start program.
Our areas of expertise include:
Toxics Use Reduction
Identifying environmentally-preferable products and chemistries • Identifying sources of elusive toxics like PFAS • Reviewing plant operations and maintenance to improve worker health and safety • Improving operating efficiencies • Reducing wastewater generation and discharge • Reducing materials waste
Compliance Assistance
Air emissions • Chemical usage • Hazardous waste management • Emergency planning requirements • Wastewater and storm water management • Recordkeeping requirements
Education and Training
Events on toxics use reduction and resource conservation • Trainings on chemical safety and climate change • Education and partnerships to advance environmental justice • Publications about emerging contaminants, changes in law, and toxics use reduction and resource conservation success stories
Energy Conservation
Identifying and evaluating opportunities to use electricity, gas, and oil more efficiently • Reviewing a facility’s energy bills to identify opportunities to conserve energy and reduce costs • Facilitating renewable energy projects by providing information on technologies, successful applications, funding, financial incentives, and site selection • Identifying opportunities for combined heat and power, lighting improvements, load management and demand response strategies • Increasing understanding of green building strategies
Water Conservation
Water conservation in manufacturing & non-manufacturing operations • Reduce wastewater discharge • Water reclamation and reuse • Water saving technologies (zero discharge systems, clean-in-place systems, membrane filtration systems) • Operations and maintenance best practices (cooling tower operation, steam systems, sanitary water use, employee education)
