Media Type: Toolkit – Page 4

Use a Performance Contract for Municipal Efficiency Projects

Posted on November 22, 2017 at 11:35 am. Written by Kit Un

An energy savings performance contract (ESPC) is a special contracting tool that allows building owners to pay for energy efficiency upgrades out of the energy cost savings guaranteed by the contractor. In Massachusetts, ESPCs are defined as a subset of energy management services (EMS) agreements, which can also include performance-based energy generation projects. MGL Ch. 25A sections 11c and 11i allow public entities to contract for the full range of EMS through a single solicitation process. This eliminates the costs associated with multiple bidding processes, as a single vendor is selected to complete engineering, design, construction, commissioning, and savings measurement and verification.

EMS agreements are often used for “big ticket” asset modernization projects with long paybacks but will typically also address a range of end uses, building systems, and equipment. This guide outlines the process for hiring a qualified energy services company (ESCO), including creating an energy baseline, developing a business case, drafting and issuing a solicitation, selecting a vendor, securing project financing, and implementing the project. Read more.

Additional Resources:

MAPC Municipal Energy Efficiency Finance Workshop Presentations – 11/15/2012

Tracking Monthly Energy Usage with WegoWise

Posted on November 22, 2017 at 11:34 am. Written by Kit Un

Many organizations currently utilize energy management software as a means to track their energy consumption and identify potential opportunities for savings. WegoWise is one such tool. Housing authorities in Massachusetts have been provided access to WegoWise via the MA Green Retrofit Initiative, a program that was developed in partnership with Boston Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and funded by The Barr Foundation and the Department of Housing and Community Development. In addition to providing WegoWise’s energy management software to its participants, the program also offers assistance in identifying green retrofitting opportunities.

This is a guide that MAPC developed in collaboration with WegoWise to help Housing Authorities use the WegoWise tool more frequently and to effectively identify any potential trends in monthly building energy consumption. Read more.

Additional Resources:

MA Green Retrofit Initiative
Boston LISC
MassEnergyInsight (free energy management tool for municipalities in Massachusetts).

Track Municipal Energy Use with MassEnergyInsight

Posted on November 22, 2017 at 11:33 am. Written by Kit Un

Continual measurement of municipal energy consumption is an integral part of evaluating the effectiveness of energy action plans. To support municipalities in Massachusetts in monitoring energy usage, developing baselines, and benchmarking savings, DOER provides municipalities with the free online database MassEnergyInsight (MEI). Once utility accounts are entered into the database, their usage information is imported automatically, but some effort is needed to organize information and identify what must be entered manually. Additionally, some discussion is needed among municipal departments about managing the municipal MEI account on an ongoing basis. This strategy outlines how to establish a standardized process for maintaining and updating a municipality’s MEI account and using the data to benchmark energy reductions. Read more.

Start a Community Choice Aggregation Program

Posted on November 22, 2017 at 11:26 am. Written by Kit Un

Community Choice Aggregation (CCA), also known as municipal electric aggregation, is a way for one or a group of cities and towns currently served by investor-owned utilities to use bulk purchasing power to negotiate electric supply on behalf of their residents and small businesses currently on basic service. Typically in Massachusetts, residents and businesses receive their utility’s basic service supply by default. Communities with CCA can contract for rates and renewable energy content with competitive suppliers and obtain funds to provide energy efficiency services to residents. This strategy outlines how to initiate a community choice aggregation program. Read more.

Retrofit Streetlights with LEDs

Posted on November 22, 2017 at 11:23 am. Written by Kit Un

Street lighting constitutes a significant portion of municipal energy consumption and expenditures. By buying back streetlights from their utility provider, converting to energy-efficient fixtures, and procuring products and services in bulk, municipalities can achieve energy and financial savings. For many municipalities considering upgrades to their street lighting system, LEDs have become a viable option. In addition to its environmental and economic benefits, undergoing a system-wide conversion can provide an opportunity for a municipality to standardize certain fixture types and styles, which can help create a unified aesthetic appearance or signature statement for a community. The benefits of LED lighting include:

Decreased energy consumption and costs
Reduced maintenance costs due to longer life
Visible commitment to efficiency
Improved safety through enhanced visibility
Decreased light trespass and pollution
Instant-on
Opportunity for programmable controls
No mercury, lead, or other known disposable hazards

This guide outlines the planning process for a conversion to exterior LED lighting systems, describes options for implementing projects, and summarizes available resources for cities and towns. Read more.

Additional Resources:

DOE Municipal Solid-State Streetlighting Consortium – visit this page for more detailed information on technical specificaitons of LEDs, case studies, etc.

Clean Energy Toolkit Topic: Review Energy Plan Annually

Posted on November 22, 2017 at 11:23 am. Written by Kit Un

An energy plan should be treated as a living document that can be continually supplemented and passed down to new community stakeholders on an ongoing basis. To that end, a community should annually review progress made towards implementing the actions and meeting the goals described in the plan and update it as needed. This strategy outlines how a community, its energy volunteers, and municipal staff can establish an annual process to review and update the energy plan, evaluate action taken, document achievements, and identify new opportunities and goals for municipal, residential, and commercial sectors. Read more.

Clean Energy Toolkit Topic: Receive Green Communities Designation

Posted on November 22, 2017 at 11:17 am. Written by Kit Un

The Green Communities Designation and Grant Program, is an initiative of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) that supports and rewards communities that meet certain clean energy goals established by DOER. In addition to receiving the title of “Green Community,” a city or town that receives this designation is qualified for special energy efficiency, renewable energy initiatives and incentives offered by DOER.

This strategy outlines how to receive a Green Community designation, how to obtain grant funding, as well as ways to demonstrate a public committment to “green” efforts at the local level. Read more.

Additional Resources:

Massachusetts’ Department of Energy Resources
DOER’s Green Communities Program

Report Monthly Energy Use

Posted on November 22, 2017 at 11:16 am. Written by Kit Un

As part of a long-term energy plan, after baselining energy use across their portfolio of accounts and facilities, municipalities should track the changes in their energy use over time. This strategy shows municipalities and municipal light plants how to develop monthly energy reports, building on available data in MassEnergyInsight (MEI) to institutionalize the practice of reviewing energy consumption and expenditures on a regular basis, and identify opportunities for efficiency upgrades. Read more.

Additional Resources:

View Peregrine’s entertaining and useful resource, “Cut the bad spots out of your energy data”.

Procure Energy Services with Chapter 25A

Posted on November 22, 2017 at 11:11 am. Written by Kit Un

The Green Communities Act (MGL Chapter 25A) put in place several mechanisms to encourage the implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, including streamlined procurement pathways for energy conservation measures and energy management services. Solicitations issued pursuant to 25A, as well as questions pertaining to these procurement processes, fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Energy Resources (DOER). Any solicitations, executed agreements, and annual reports based on 25A must be filed with DOER. This strategy describes how to use 25A procurement pathways for energy projects. Read more.

Additional Resources:

Best Practices for Procurement of Energy Management Services – DOER

Plan for Municipal Retrofit Projects

Posted on November 22, 2017 at 11:10 am. Written by Kit Un

Energy retrofit projects can have multiple benefits for municipalities in addition to resiliency preparation and climate change mitigation, including operational cost savings, reduced maintenance, and greater comfort. However, large retrofits in particular require significant oversight in order to identify the most effective projects to prioritize and the resources and timeframe needed to complete them. This strategy outlines how to create and maintain a plan for completing municipal retrofit work, including a list of priority projects, how projects will be funded, and how they will be completed. Read more.

Additional Resources:

How to Choose An Energy Assessment for Municipal Buildings in Massachusetts – Green Communities