Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree Announces Saugus Awarded $250,000 Green Communities Grant

In the photo to the right, Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree (center) is joined by Lt. Governor Karyn Polito (left) and House Speaker Robert DeLeo (right). 

(Saugus, MA) July 23, 2018 – Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree is pleased to announce the Town of Saugus has been awarded $250,000 in Green Communities Competitive Grant Funding through the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to fund several sustainability-related projects within the community. Saugus is one of only a handful of recipient communities to receive the maximum possible amount per municipality under the grant.

Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree accepted the award during a ceremony at the Robert A. DeLeo Senior Center in Winthrop, Mass. on July 20, 2018. He was joined by Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Matthew A. Beaton, and Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Judith Judson.

This is the third time the Town of Saugus has received funding through the Green Communities initiative. The Town was awarded a grant of $242,903 in 2017, and a grant of $208,335 when Saugus was first designated as a Green Community in 2015.

“I want to thank the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, and Town Meeting for their support of these important green initiatives for our community, residents, and taxpayers,” said Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree. “I would also like to thank the Baker/Polito administration, House Speaker DeLeo and the Legislature for their continued support of these imperative initiatives.”

This most recent Green Communities grant will assist with the following clean energy projects:

• The conversion of fluorescent bulbs to LED bulbs at the Town Hall and Senior Center interiors and exteriors, as well as the exterior of the Public Safety Building, to reduce electrical costs by $27,930 annually;
• The replacement of a rooftop unit at the Public Safety Building to ensure proper functioning and improved interior air quality and temperatures within the building;
• The replacement of pumps, drives, and motors on the heating system in Town Hall, to include hi-efficiency variable motors, reducing wear-and-tear and energy use costs; and
• The replacement of the hot water boiler at Town Hall to reduce energy consumption and costs.

These projects, which will be paid for entirely through the Green Communities grant, will reduce energy consumption by 132,304 kWh and save the Town and the taxpayers an estimated $33,000 annually.

“Advocating for protecting the environment and energy efficiency for the citizens of Saugus has been an enormous priority of mine, this Board of Selectmen, and our Town Manager. The Green Communities grant program has been instrumental in strengthening these priorities within our community,” said Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta. “I want to commend the Town Manager for his efforts obtaining this distinguished Green Community state designation in 2015 and continuing to maintain and secure Green Community grants in the last three years, totaling approximately three quarters of a million dollars for the taxpayers of Saugus and this significant cause.”

The Town of Saugus applied for this grant earlier this year. 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 DOER Green Communities Division weighed each project proposal individually, and found that Saugus was deserving of funding. This competitive round of funding awarded 80 communities with a total of $14.8 million.

Last year, funding received through the Green Communities grant program allowed the Town to invest in the following projects:

• 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.

In total, DOER has awarded nearly $100 million in Green Communities grants since the program’s inception. Under the Green Communities Act, cities and towns must meet certain criteria to be designated a Green Community and receive funding. The grants provide financial support for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that further the designated communities’ clean energy goals. This seventh annual round of DOER Green Communities competitive grants is awarded to existing Green Communities that have successfully invested their initial designation grants and previous competitive grant awards.

Since first being designated as a Green Community, Saugus has been committed to reducing its energy consumption by 20 percent over five years. This award and the projects selected are crucial to achieving this ambitious goal.

“We are extremely grateful that the Town of Saugus has been awarded 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,” Town Manager Crabtree concluded.

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.

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