Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree Announces Energy-Efficiency Capital Projects Completed at Library, Public Safety Building
Photo: The Town Manager with Lt. Governor Karyn Polito (left) and House Speaker Robert DeLeo (right) at a Green Community award ceremony.
(Saugus, MA) October 23, 2018 – Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree is pleased to announce the Town of Saugus has completed a series of capital improvement projects at the Saugus Public Library and Public Safety Building as part of an ongoing effort to improve energy efficiency and increase cost savings within the community.
In 2017, the Town was awarded $242,903 in Green Communities Competitive Grant Funding through the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to fund five sustainability-related projects at the Library and Public Safety Building. These projects, which were paid for through the Green Communities grant, have saved taxpayers $242,903 in project costs, plus an additional estimated $29,984 annually in energy reduction costs.
The energy-saving projects that have been completed at the two Town buildings include:
- Interior LED Lighting replacements at the Public Safety Building;
- Interior and Exterior LED Lighting replacements at the Library;
- A Commissioning Advantage performed at the Library, which is a process of checking the entire mechanical system to ensure it is functioning at its optimal capacity prior to making any necessary upgrades;
- A new Energy Management System (EMS) installed at the Library, which will allow remote monitoring and better control over the HVAC systems; and
- The Roof Top Unit (HVAC) replaced at the Library, which will greatly improve the air quality and comfort of the building, as well as decrease energy bills over time.
“This necessary conversion to LED lighting at the Library and Public Safety Building alone will save taxpayers an estimated $25,441 annually,” said Town Manager Crabtree. “Not only have all five of these projects been completed at no cost to our residents, but they will also continue to save the Town tens of thousands of dollars in energy savings each year.”
The Library and the Public Safety building are two of the highest energy consumers of all municipal administrative buildings, excluding the schools. These projects built upon LED lighting upgrades at the Veteran’s Memorial and Belmonte schools, as well as the Commissioning Advantage performed at the Veteran’s Memorial School.
The Town was awarded the grant during a ceremony at the State House in Boston last year. This is the second set of funding the Town has received through the Green Communities initiative; the first grant of $208,335 was awarded when Saugus was first designed as a Green Community in 2015, and the most recent grant was awarded this year, when the Town received $250,000 to fund several additional sustainability-related projects within the community. The 2018 capital infrastructure projects are scheduled to begin soon.
The Town of Saugus applied for this grant through the first-round of Green Communities Competitive Grant funding in March of 2017. This round of funding was competitive and there was no guarantee the Town would receive any funding. The Town’s project proposals were compared to other Green Communities and the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Green Communities Division weighed each project proposal individually, and found that Saugus was deserving of funding.
This competitive round of funding awarded 72 communities with a total of $14 million, the largest amount awarded since the inception of the Green Communities program.
As a Green Community, Saugus has committed to reducing its energy consumption by 20 percent within five years. This award and the projects selected are crucial to achieving this ambitious goal.
“We are extremely grateful that the Town of Saugus is a three-time recipient of this generous grant through the Department of Energy Resources. This funding has and will continue to benefit the Town of Saugus through energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness,” concluded Town Manager Crabtree.
“I applaud the Town Manager for his prioritization of much-needed energy efficiency improvements within our community,” said Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta. “I would also like to thank the Department of Energy Resources for their continued support and assistance.”
For more information, contact the Town Manager’s office at 781-231-4111.
About The Town of Saugus
The Town of Saugus, Massachusetts, is a family-friendly, historic neighborhood Town located along the north shore, ten miles north of Boston. First settled in 1629, Saugus is home to historic sites, top-tier public services, and a thriving business community. Strong community support, a forward-thinking approach to town government, rich recreational opportunities, affordable choices, and easy access to all the amenities that Boston has to offer – they all contribute to make Saugus a Town where businesses flourish and families make their home.
###