More than a dozen area communities have received state grants to help pay for energy-saving projects, such as new lighting, more efficient heating and air-conditioning systems, and weatherization measures in municipal and school buildings.
Acton, Arlington, Ashland, Berlin, Carlisle, Hopkinton, Lexington, Lincoln, Maynard, Medway, Mendon, Natick, Sudbury, Wayland, and Weston were among the 43 cities and towns statewide to receive funding through the latest round of the Department of Energy Resources’ Green Communities competitive awards.
“We’re very grateful for the grant, which will help us save further energy,’’ said Weston Town Manager Donna VanderClock. “Any money that’s available for this purpose is welcome because it helps save us energy costs in the future.’’
Weston will use its $243,707 grant to replace the boiler at the Fire Department headquarters, and recondition the heating systems at four schools so they will run more efficiently, VanderClock said.
She said a town committee had put together a list of all of the public buildings in town and their energy needs to determine which ones are the most in need of attention. “We’ve been working through the priority list of projects that will give us the best payback for energy savings for the dollars spent,’’ she said.
The state agency’s Green Communities program provides each eligible community up to $250,000 to pay for energy-conservation or renewable-energy projects. The participants had to meet a number of requirements to be included in the program. This year’s grants total about $7.9 million.
“These 43 municipalities demonstrated their commitment to clean energy leadership in becoming Green Communities and investing their initial grants in projects that cut municipal energy use,” Meg Lusardi, acting commissioner of the Department of Energy Resources, said in an announcement on the funding. “With the nearly $8 million in additional grants we’re announcing . . . they will make further progress toward energy independence while locking in long-term savings for local taxpayers and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
Acton received $234,511; Arlington, $247,894; Ashland, $250,000; Berlin, $120,962; Carlisle, $72,389; Hopkinton, $111,702; Lexington, $54,068; Lincoln, $249,995; Maynard, $102,233; Medway, $205,925; Mendon, $242,796; Natick, $239,092; Sudbury, $250,000; Wayland, $250,000; and Weston, $243,707.
In Ashland, one of the communities that received the maximum amount, the money will go toward replacing street lights, according to Michael Herbert, the assistant town manager and finance director.
Ashland has 800 high-pressure sodium street lights. Earlier this year, the town replaced 15 of them with LED lights as a test to see how well they worked.
Satisfied with the results, town officials decided to move forward with replacing the rest with LED fixtures, which not only reduce energy consumption but also save about $40,000 a year, Herbert said.
“Everybody in town has been very positive about it,’’ he said. “Ashland is not just designated as a green community but the people in town are really conscious of sustainability and green measures and have embraced this. It’s going to be a win-win.
“It would have been hard for us to do this without the state’s assistance,’’ Herbert added.
Lexington, Lincoln, Hopkinton, Sudbury, Maynard, and Medway also plan to use at least some of the grant money for exterior LED lighting.
In Lexington, for example, new LED lights will go up at Diamond Middle School, Fiske Elementary School, Harrington Elementary School, Clarke Middle School, and Carey Memorial Library.
In Hopkinton, LED exterior lighting will go up at Town Hall, the Hopkins School, Hopkinton Middle School, Hopkinton High School, and the Elmwood School. In Medway, Lincoln, and Sudbury, the lights will go up at various locations throughout the towns, including Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School.
Maynard will be using some of its money to improve exterior lighting at the fire station, Fowler School, Green Meadow School, library, police station, Town Hall, public works building, and water treatment plant. The remainder of its money will be used for weatherization at the Fowler School and police station, Town Administrator Kevin Sweet said.
“We are very excited about this award,’’ he said. “It will allow us to increase the sustainability and energy efficiency of the town and to devote more resources to our green initiatives.
“This grant is a testimonial to Maynard’s standout status as a town with a top-to-bottom commitment to efficiency and green initiatives.”
Jennifer Fenn Lefferts can be reached at jflefferts@ yahoo.com.