Northampton Energy Reduction Plan 5 4 10 - SSNEED A FRONT COVER
Contents
PURPOSE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1
INTRODUCTION 3
Background 3
Facilities 3
Vehicles 3
Baseline Energy Use 3
Energy Use Forecast 4
STATEMENT OF GOALS AND STRATEGIES 4
RESULTS OF ENERGY USE BASELINE INVENTORY 6
Inventory Tool Used 6
Existing Municipal Energy Use 6
Existing efficiency measures implemented in last 2 years 8
LED Parking Lot Lights (fall 2009) 8
Lighting Upgrade in Parking Garage (winter ‘09-‘10) 8
13 kW PV Array in James House Adult Learning Center (spring 2010) 8
Improved Lighting and HVAC at James House Adult Learning Center (winter ’09-’10 and ongoing) 8
Senior Center - Silver LEED Designed, Geothermal Heat Pumps (Spring 2007) 9
Landfill gas to energy – 800kW facility (March 2008) 9
Adjustments to Baseline Energy Use 9
Areas of least efficiency/greatest waste 10
Areas that can be most easily addressed 11
Municipal Facilities via Performance Contract 11
Non-tax Income Streams: 11
SUMMARY OF ENERGY AUDIT 11
Summary of Proposed CES Investments at the City of Northampton 11
SUMMARY OF FOSSIL FUEL REDUCTION MEASURES 12
FOSSIL FUEL ENERGY REDUCTION MEASURES 13
Energy Conservation Tasks to Achieve 20% Reduction in 5 Years 13
City Facilities 13
Vehicles 15
Street, Parking, and Traffic Lighting 17
Municipally-owned and -operated clean renewable or alternative energy installations 19
Total Projected Fossil Fuel Energy Reduction 20
MEASUREMENT AND VERIFICATION PLAN FOR PROJECTED REDUCTIONS 24
LONG-TERM ENERGY REDUCTION GOALS – BEYOND 5 YEARS 24
Municipal Sector 24
Residential and Commercial Sectors 25
PURPOSE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The measures spelled out in this energy reduction plan stem from Northampton city staff, commissions, and boards enacting actions called for in the Sustainable Northampton Comprehensive
Plan. The Northampton 2010 Energy Reduction Plan consolidates and describes in one document Northampton’s efforts to reduce consumption of fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
as they stand in the spring of 2010. It describes the work of the Mayor’s Office, Central Services, Department of Public Works, Planning Department, Parking Commissioner, Department
of Economic Development, School Department, Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School, the Northampton Energy and Sustainability Officer, and the Northampton Energy and Sustainability
Commission. Multiple individuals from all of these organizations contributed to the development of this document and are instrumental in Northampton’s continuing work toward a cleaner
more efficiently operated City.
Northampton has a long history of prioritizing clean efficient energy use. The City has had an active energy commission and employed an energy officer on and off since the 1980s. Through
the years, the City has conducted multiple energy audits and has established a habit of regularly upgrading to higher efficiency energy systems. In 2007, Northampton began to track energy
use through the EPA’s Portfolio Manager Program. This program revealed many of Northampton’s buildings to be eligible for the Energy Star rating; however, Northampton is waiting until
the City completes an energy services performance project before submitting to the EPA for this recognition. ConEdison Solutions, an energy services company that just completed an investment
grade audit of Northampton’s municipal buildings, reported that efficiency improvements had already been completed for many of Northampton’s buildings.
The City’s efficiency work hasn’t stopped with its buildings. In 1992 the City conducted a study of street- and traffic-light use and, based on that study, implemented a street and traffic
light energy reduction plan that reduced the City’s operating costs for streetlights by 14%. More recently, in 2009, Northampton became the first city in Massachusetts to install high-efficiency
LED lamps in a downtown parking lot. This follows Northampton’s earlier installation of solar powered parking pay and display machines for downtown parking areas.
The Northampton Department of Public Works (DPW) has for years contracted for downtown trash to be collected by bicycle avoiding hundreds of gallons a year of diesel use. In 2007, both
the DPW and Parking Division began replacing four-wheel drive vehicles with more efficient two-wheel drive vehicles whenever possible. The DPW has also replaced two utility vehicles
with gas-electric hybrids. In 2008, the City launched a landfill gas-to-energy plant that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by more than four times the level of emissions produced by
all municipal energy use. The DPW now plans on generating electricity with an in-line hydro-electric plant in the water delivery system.
Recently the City has reduced car miles traveled by expanding 12 miles of bike paths by connecting to another 20 miles in other communities, has installed 140 bike parking spaces and
12 bike lockers, and has a goal to have a multi-use trail within ½ mile of 70% of city residents.
In 2000, Northampton joined the Cities for Climate Protection program run by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainabilty and established, in 2001, a Greenhouse Gas Inventory of Northampton’s
municipal, business, industrial, and residential emissions. Northampton will conduct a second inventory in 2011 to track its progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In 2008, Northampton
completed a 28-month comprehensive community planning process that resulted in publication of the Sustainable Northampton Comprehensive Plan. Amongst other guiding principals, this Plan
lays out a vision to significantly improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and make the City more walkable, bikeable, and transit-oriented. In 2008, Mayor Higgins
formally endorsed the Pioneer Valley Clean Energy Plan the first (and possibly only) regional clean energy plan in Massachusetts.
In Northampton, efforts to increase use of clean renewable energy and energy efficiency don’t stop with the municipality. Northampton had by far the most number of residents and businesses
of any city or town in Massachusetts participate in the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust’s GreenUp Clean Energy Choice Program. This participation by its citizens resulted in $254,000
in grant funds coming to Northampton for municipal clean energy projects. This and other grant funds have enabled Northampton to install 23 kW of photovoltaic panels on two City buildings
and more is planned.
Northampton’s City government is also committed to helping private residents and businesses increase efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. City staff are in communication with
local lenders to make sure energy efficient mortgages are readily available in Northampton. The City’s Economic Development Director and Energy and Sustainability Officer are working
with the Northampton Chamber of Commerce on a Green Business Initiative and the City has for years formally recognized local businesses for their green initiatives. Most recently, the
City has partnered with regional planning agencies, not-for-profit groups, and local businesses to lobby Massachusetts legislators to enable cities and towns to implement Property Assessed
Clean Energy (PACE) programs. While the City of Northampton is leading by example, its government is eager to launch initiatives such as a PACE program to expand energy efficiency and
use of renewable energy throughout the community. Northampton sees this 20% Energy Reduction Plan as only the next step in a long-range plan.
INTRODUCTION
Background
Northampton is located along the banks of the scenic Connecticut River in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. In 2000, the population was 28,978 with 11,880 households and 5,880 families
residing in the city according to the U.S. Census. Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County and was dubbed "the Paradise of America" by the Swedish Nightingale, Jenny Lind.
It is nicknamed The Paradise City.
Facilities
The City of Northampton has, or pays energy costs for, approximately 29 significantly sized buildings, 14 water and sewage pump facilities, and a dozen smaller buildings and garages.
This includes four elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and one vocational-agricultural high school campus (six classroom / laboratory / administration buildings,
three barns / greenhouses, and several sheds / storage facilities), five administration buildings, a Department of Public Works (DPW) complex (administration building, garage, sheds,
transfer station), one water treatment plant, one sewage treatment plant, two fire stations, two libraries, one music hall, one senior center, one adult education center (James House),
and several smaller facilities. Specifically, these buildings include:
City Hall
Memorial Hall
Puchalski Municipal Bldg.
Fire Department Headquarters
Florence Fire Substation
Police Station
DPW Admin Building
DPW Garage
Transfer station
DPW “Old salt shed”
James House
Senior Center
Bridge St Elementary
Feiker School
Florence Learning Center
Jackson St Elementary
JFK Middle School
Leeds Elementary
Northampton High School
Ryan Rd Elementary
Smith Vocational & Agricultural High School (SVAHS) Campus
Sewage Treatment Plant (four building campus)
Water Dept. Admin Building
Water Treatment Plant
Landfill buildings
Leachate Plant
Rec. Dept. Admin Building
5 Recreation Comfort Stations
2 Cemetery Buildings
14 Water & Sewer Facilities
Vehicles
The City has on-road licenses for 192 vehicles, most of which are heavy-duty public works vehicles, school buses, trailers, police cruisers, and fire trucks. Thirty-eight vehicles qualify
as “non-exempt” under the DOER’s Green Community Criteria 4.
Baseline Energy Use
In fiscal year 2009 (FY09), Northampton consumed 10,695,126 kWh of electricity, 413,714 therms of natural gas, 95,426 gallons of #2 fuel oil, 86,704 gallons of propane, 63,531 gallons
of gasoline, and 58,585 gallons of diesel fuel as summarized in Table 1. In addition to importing the above energy sources, Northampton consumes an average of 10,236 kWh a year produced
on site by a 10 kW photovoltaic array at the JFK Middle School.
City of Northampton Imported Energy Use for FY2009 (% MMBTU)
Table 1: City of Northampton Imported Energy Use (FY2009)
Fuel Type Qty. (conventional units) Million BTU Equivalent (MMBTU) Electricity 10,695,126 kWh 36,491.8 Natural Gas 413,714 therms 41,371.4 Fuel Oil 95,426 gal. 13,264.2 Propane 86,704
gal. 7,890.1 Gasoline 63,531 gal. 7,878.1 Diesel Fuel 58,585 gal. 8,143.1 Total all energy 115,038.7
Energy Use Forecast
Within the next five years, the City of Northampton expects to maintain its current fleet of 192 municipal vehicles. Construction for a new building for the Department of Public Works
as well as a new headquarters for the Police Station is possible within the next five years. If completed, however, the old buildings will cease to be used, and the newly constructed
buildings are expected to reduce energy through more efficient building and operating practices. In addition, the City will sustain its commitment to the installation of LED parking-lot
lights for any new parking-lot lighting for continued energy and maintenance savings.
STATEMENT OF GOALS AND STRATEGIES
In 2008, Northampton completed a 28-month comprehensive community planning process that resulted in publication of the Sustainable Northampton Comprehensive Plan, a vision for Northampton’s
future and the principals, goals, and strategies required to support and implement that vision. Two of the Plan’s guiding principals read:
“Significantly improve energy efficiency in city buildings and programs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and encourage conservation and use of alternative and renewable energy sources
throughout the community;”
“Make the city increasingly more walkable, bikeable, and transit oriented;”
In this document, under the section Energy, Environment and Climate Protection, the Plan sets goals to, “Reduce community’s and City’s energy demand and natural resource consumption”
and “Reduce emissions of greenhouse gases [GHG]” with the following specific metrics:
Trend in total energy demand from City facilities: 2 to 3% reduction per year
Percent of municipal energy supplied by renewable sources: 25% energy demand supplied from renewable sources by 2017
Match comparative performance standards from ICLEI, The Climate Registry, and others: Lead in local climate protection efforts
Percent of FY2000 Equivalent CO2 Emissions from all City functions: 8% below 2000 levels by 2010, 25% below by 2017, and 30% below by 2020
The Plan specifies thirty-six individual strategies and actions to meet these goals, many of which are already being implemented by City staff (including a newly hired Energy and Sustainability
Officer), the Energy and Sustainability Commission, the Transportation Commission, Capital Improvement’s Commission, the Mayor, and City Council. Of specific note, several of these strategies
and actions parallel Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources’ criteria to become a Green Community. These include:
Investigate contracting with an Energy Service Company (ESCo) [for an Investment Grade Audit and a comprehensive energy performance contract]
Prepare, as an addendum to Sustainable Northampton, a plan for climate protection for all sectors
Keep energy audits and operations audits of all public buildings, vehicle fleets, and public lighting (street, parking, and traffic)
Petition the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for state approval of Energy Star ratings as the minimum standards for local building code
Present a report for public review that identifies where, as allowed by state law, the City land use ordinances could further address greenhouse gas emissions
Several years prior to development of the Sustainable Northampton Plan, in 2001, the Northampton City Council voted to join ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection Campaign and recognized
the need to address the global warming problem swiftly, effectively, and on a local level. In 2001, the City completed its first Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory. The Sustainable Northampton
Plan calls for the City to, “In 2011, update the City’s ICLEI inventory for climate protection with 2010 data to determine the City’s progress toward its GHG reduction targets and modify
the City’s Climate Change Protection Action Plan as needed to ensure the City can meet its GHG reduction targets.”
Regionally, in 2008, Clare Higgins, Mayor of Northampton, signed a Memorandum of Agreement for Promoting and Implementing the Pioneer Valley Clean Energy Plan (2008) that calls for:
a reduction in energy consumption to 2000 levels by the end of 2009 and reduction of that by 15% by 2020
an 80% reduction in GHG emissions by 2050.
a 28% reduction in energy use through efficiency improvements (in buildings) over 10 years.
In 2007, the City of Northampton joined the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) New England’s Community Energy Challenge and committed to specifically:
Assess – benchmark – the energy performance of all municipal buildings, schools and/or drinking water/wastewater treatment facilities in our community
Set a goal to reduce energy use in buildings by 10% or more
Promote energy efficiency and renewable energy to companies and organizations in our community
RESULTS OF ENERGY USE BASELINE INVENTORY
Inventory Tool Used
Northampton uses Excel spreadsheets to track monthly energy use for all City facilities.
In the near future the City intends to use the DOER MassEnergyInsight on-line program concurrently with the Excel spreadsheets to track the City’s energy use. Two City employees have
attended trainings on this on-line data monitoring software and if the MassEnergyInsight program proves convenient and can provide the information that Northampton needs, the City anticipates
transitioning to this on-line database to track monthly and annual energy use.
Beginning in 2007, the City also began to track energy use of some of its buildings concurrently with the EPA’s on-line Portfolio Manager Program. Portfolio Manager, however, does not
include categories for all of the City’s facilities and does not provide any added convenience in use (e.g., it cannot receive City energy use data from utilities) and so did not supplant
the City’s use of Excel spreadsheets.
In 2000, through the efforts of an intern, Northampton analyzed its baseline energy use using ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection Software. The City intends to repeat this in 2011
as a way to monitor its progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, however, the ICLEI software has not been used to track energy use annually.
Existing Municipal Energy Use
Table 2 provides a full inventory of the City of Northampton’s electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, and propane use in fiscal year 2009.
Table 3 provides a full inventory of the City of Northampton’s consumption of unleaded and diesel fuels in fiscal year 2009. Note that this includes fuel consumed by all 192 of Northampton’s
vehicles including both “non-exempt” and “exempt” vehicles under the DOER’s Green Community Criteria 4. The City is currently unable to distinguish fuel use per vehicle.
Table 2: Municipal Buildings, and Parking, Street and Traffic Lighting - Fiscal Year 2009 Energy Use
Sq-Ft (ft2) Electricity Natural Gas Fuel Oil Propane MMBTU kWh MMBTU therms MMBTU Gal. MMBTU Gal. MMBTU Total per ft2 City hall 16,675 94,800 323 3,774 525 848 .051 Memorial
Hall 19,875 50,320 172 7,017 975 1,147 .058 Municipal Building 13,545 126,840 433 7,447 744.7 1,177 .087 Senior Center 20,934 218,280 745 1,264 126.4 871 .042 James
House Adult Learning 8,500 29,120 99 4,313 600 699 .082 Academy of Music 10,178 72,360 247 8,942 1,243 1,490 .146 Main Fire HQ 21,246 281,440 960 14,970 1497 5,159 717
3,174 .149 Florence Fire Substation 7,832 51,833 177 5,161 717 894 .114 Police HQ 5,000 188,960 645 645 .129 DPW Administration Bldg. 3,868 56,092 191
191 .049 Water Department Administration 6,385 11,281 38 2,085 208.5 247 .039 DPW Garage 20,700 155,360 530 285 28.5 16,813 2,337 2,896 .140 Misc. DPW Campus
Energy Use n/a 33,337 114 114 Waste water treatment plant 22,760 2,010,600 6,860 5,985 832 52,288 4758 12,450 .547 Waste water pumping facilities n/a 59,623 203 646 64.6
268 Water treatment plant 40,740 408,300 1,393 32,274 2937 4,330 .106 Water pumping facilities n/a 209,895 716 499 49.9 766 Landfill and cemeteries n/a
113,556 387 2,077 207.7 4,897 681 1,276 Bridge Street Elementary 60,489 215,280 735 28,808 2880.8 3,615 .060 Jackson Street Elementary 73,500 311,700 1,064 34,583 3458.3
4,522 .062 Leeds Elementary 72,085 249,240 850 43,157 4315.7 5,166 .072 Ryan Road Elementary 53,332 184,080 628 19,970 1997 2,625 .049 JFK Middle School
141,851 859,500 2,933 79,555 7955.5 10,888 .077 Northampton High School 203,617 1,159,000 3,955 68,333 6833.3 10,788 .053 Smith Vocational and Agricultural HS 173,720
1,232,000 4,204 104,824 10482.4 7,770 1,080 2,142 195 15,961 .092 Feiker Pre-School 11,256 21,377 73 3,856 536 609 .054 Florence Community Center 29,253 88,653 302
12,281 1,707 2,010 .069 Forbes Library 44,274 326,080 1,113 9,458 1,315 2,427 .055 Lilly Library 9,981 89,520 305 5,211 521.1 827 .083 Street lights (S1,
S2, and S3 accounts) n/a 1,173,597 4,004 4,004 Misc. outdoor metered lighting n/a 58,796 201 201 Parking lot lights (metered) n/a 336,489 1,148
1,148 Signal Lights n/a 72,186 246 246 Misc other accounts n/a 145,631 497 497 Total 10,695,126 36,492 413,714 41,371.4 95,426 13,264 86,704 7,890 99,017
Table 3: All Municipal Vehicles - Fiscal Year 2009 Energy Use
Unleaded (Gal) Diesel (Gal) DPW-Streets 1,429 22,683 WWTP 2,384 1,416 Sewer 470 7,879 Water Dept. 5,441 7,929 DPW-Recreation Crew 1,960 3,175 Cemetery 1,325
1,737 DPW-Engineering 2,533 127 Police 29,825 30 SVAHS (and SVAHS Farm) 4,599 2,178 K-12 School 3,020 6,171 Council on Aging 379 - Fire Department 4,776
16 Libraries 69 - Central Services 2,291 - Recreation Department 257 - Parking 2,419 223 Bldg. Inspector 139 - Board of Health 213 - Landfill
5 5,024 Total Gallons 63,531 58,585 Total MMBTU 7,878 8,143
Existing efficiency measures implemented in last 2 years
LED Parking Lot Lights (fall 2009)
In the fall of 2009, Northampton upgraded sixteen high-pressure sodium (HPS) lighting fixtures in the Armory Avenue Parking Lot to LEDs.
Lighting Upgrade in Parking Garage (winter ‘09-‘10)
During the winter of ’09-’10 the City replaced 220 HPS interior parking garage fixtures with high-efficiency fluorescent fixtures.
13 kW PV Array in James House Adult Learning Center (spring 2010)
The City installed a 13 kW photovoltaic array on the James House Learning Adult Center that began producing power in March 2010.
Improved Lighting and HVAC at James House Adult Learning Center (winter ’09-’10 and ongoing)
Note, in FY 2009 – Northampton’s baseline year – the James House was underutilized due to a hold-up in renovation of the building. A 2008 scoping study of the James House building projected
that, with no lighting or HVAC upgrades, when the full building is brought into use as an adult learning center, the building will consume 115,142 kWh. The FY09 oil consumption of 4,300
gallons is consistent with the building’s historic need for heating oil.
With substantial funding from MassCEC, the City is in the process of upgrading the lighting and HVAC systems at the James House Adult Learning Center, which will result in a net energy
reduction of 34,200 kWh and 4,300 gallons of oil annually once the full building is brought into use as an adult learning center.
Senior Center - Silver LEED Designed, Geothermal Heat Pumps (Spring 2007)
In April 2007, Northampton completed construction of a silver-LEED designed Senior Center that is heated and cooled with a ground-source heat pump system. By investing in ground coupled
heat pumps to cool the space, condition the ventilation air, and heat water for supplementary radiation, the City reduced the calculated energy load of the building by 1,337 MMBTU per
year over what the building would have used if heated and cooled with a more conventional gas-fired boiler and reciprocal chiller.
Landfill gas to energy – 800kW facility (March 2008)
In March 2008, Northampton began selling landfill gas to a private vender (Ameresco) to power a 0.8 MW landfill gas to energy facility. According to the US EPA, this facility provides
an annual emissions reduction equivalent to reducing the City’s gasoline consumption by 3,828,533 gallons a year, or a total reduction of energy (MMBTU) that is four times the City’s
current energy use.
Adjustments to Baseline Energy Use
In order to accurately account for the impact of some of the energy conservation measures being implemented by Northampton, adjustments to the baseline are needed.
Adjustment due to Reduced Energy Use In Baseline Year at the James House
As previously mentioned, the City expects that the James House would consume 115,142 kWh a year once the full building is brought into use as an adult learning center if no efficiency
measures were taken. However, in our baseline year (FY09), because the building was underutilized due to renovations, it consumed only 29,120 kWh. Therefore, if the City is to consider
the effects of efficiency measures taken at the James House, the baseline electrical use value must be adjusted by adding in 86,021 kWh to bring the annual consumption of electricity
up to 115,142 kWh.
Adjustment due to Geothermal vs. Conventional HVAC System at Senior Center
Similarly, if Northampton is to consider the effects of installing a geothermal HVAC system at the James House, it must adjust the baseline energy use at the Senior Center to one that
would have been experienced had the City installed a conventional HVAC system.
Table 4: Adjusted Baseline Energy Use (MMBTU)
Electricity Natural Gas Fuel Oil Propane Gasoline Diesel Total FY09 36,492 41,371.4 13,264 7,890 7,878 8,143 99,017 Reduced Energy Use In FY09 at the James House 294 294
Geothermal vs. Conventional HVAC System at Senior Center 1,337 Adjusted Baseline 116,669
Areas of least efficiency/greatest waste
Northampton’s largest energy users per square-feet are: the waste water treatment plant, fire department headquarters, Academy of Music, DPW Garage, police headquarters, Florence fire
substation, water treatment plant, Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School, municipal building, Lilly Library, and James House Adult Learning Center. (See graph below of MMBTU
per area of all buildings but the waste water treatment plant.) The JFK Middle School consumes the highest level of energy per sq.-ft. of all the K-12 school buildings, however, this
is most likely due to it housing the community pool.
Historically, the City has directed most of its energy efficiency efforts at the k-12 public schools, therefore, it is not surprising to find that other municipal buildings use the greatest
energy per square foot. However, the k-12 schools, due to their high level of total energy consumption, still provide some of the highest value in energy savings as has been revealed
in an investment grade audit of Northampton’s municipal facilities.
MMBTU per Square-Foot
In 2008, the City of Northampton solicited an Investment Grade Audit (IGA) through a competitive procurement process under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 25a, Section 11i. Subsequently,
the City contracted with ConEdison Solutions® (“CES”) to conduct the audit, which was completed by CES on February 16, 2010. After City review, CES finalized a package of energy conservation
measures (ECMs) in 33 buildings that will be included in a performance contract between the City and CES. The final IGA identified the annual cost savings shown in Table 5. When looked
at in magnitude of annual savings, many of the k-12 school buildings will still provide some of the highest energy savings.
Table 5: Cost Savings per Building Sorted by Annual Savings
Building Annual Cost Savings (FY09 energy costs) % Cost Reduction WWTP SPB $93,469 48.4% Forbes Library $36,261 32.2% Leeds Elementary $31,719 35.4% JFK Middle School $28,626 12.8% Water
Treatment Plant $28,405 24.8% Smith Voc Building B $27,975 27.1% High School $27,785 10.5% Jackson Elementary $24,943 22.9% Smith Voc Building A $23,011 24.9% DPW Garage $15,570 41.3% Bridge
Street Elementary $14,669 21.2% Ryan Rd Elementary $13,267 25.1% Memorial Hall $12,729 40.1% Academy of Music $12,054 35.0% Fire Dept. HQ $11,095 20.5% Smith Voc Building D $10,049 20.5% Leachate
Bldg $9,460 57.2% Florence Fire $9,269 40.3% Smith Voc Building C $8,713 28.1% Feiker Pre-School $7,150 41.2% City Hall $6,791 19.7% WWTP Control Bldg $6,036 10.7% Municipal Building $4,479 13.7% Senior
Center $3,643 12.2% Lilly Library $3,473 14.6% WWTP Flood Bldg $2,715 29.8% Smith Voc Multi-spec Barn $2,338 24.9% Smith Voc Small Animal Barn $1,674 33.6% WWTP Maintenance Bldg $1,562 23.4% WWTP
Digester Bldg $1,494 32.3% Misc Bldgs $1,156 38.8% Smith Voc Admin Bldg $489 8.9% Recreation Dept. Admin $486 8.9%
Areas that can be most easily addressed
Municipal Facilities via Performance Contract
Northampton’s energy services performance contract with ConEdison Solutions will enable the City to fold a large number of conservation measures into one far-reaching package. Not only
does this allow the City to design a comprehensive program of efficiency improvements, but it also greatly simplifies the procurement process that the City would otherwise have to engage
in to complete these same set of conservation measures and it does not require up-front capital expenditures.
Non-tax Income Streams:
Northampton’s enterprise funds allow the City to implement least-cost efficiency improvements that benefit a specific enterprise fund without using tax dollars. This provides enterprise
fund projects freedom from the need to compete for tight capital improvement funds. Fees from parking and water supply will support efficiency improvements at the City’s parking lots
and in its water delivery system respectively.
Measures underway include upgrading HPS lamps in the City’s parking lots with high-efficiency florescent and LED fixtures and inserting a small conduit hydroelectric turbine (11.8 kW)
at one of two pressure reduction valve stations in the City’s water transmission system. Lighting upgrades at the Armory Avenue parking lot and parking garage are expected to reduce
electric use by 94,870 kWh a year. The 11.8 kW hydroelectric turbine is expected to produce 73,200 kWh of electric power annually.
The City estimates that lighting upgrades at the City’s six surface parking lots, along the bike path, and along City streets with metered decretive streetlights, the operations of which
are paid for through enterprise funds, can reduce electricity consumption by an additional 115,000 kWh annually.
Securing grants provides another way the City can avoid using tax-dollars for efficiency improvements. Currently the City is completing HVAC and lighting upgrades to the James House
Adult Learning Center through a grant by Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Renewable Energy Trust (Now Massachusetts Clean Energy Center).
SUMMARY OF ENERGY AUDIT
An Investment Grade Audit (IGA) was solicited by the City of Northampton through a competitive procurement process under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 25a, Section 11i and completed
by ConEdison Solutions® (“CES”) on February 16, 2010. The IGA describes how CES plans to implement Energy Conservation Measures (“ECM”s) at municipal buildings and schools throughout
the city.
The final package of ECMs to be included in a performance contract between the City and CES has a project cost of $6,500,000 and a cumulative 15 year savings of $9,240,000. The project
financing term will be 15 years.
Summary of Proposed CES Investments at the City of Northampton
ECM Category 1: Upgrade Lighting and Lighting Controls: Selected lighting fixture replacements, comprehensive lamp/ballast retrofits, and lighting control upgrades in all building.
New, high efficiency fixtures or lamp/ballast retrofits will reduce the connected kW of lighting systems. Improved occupancy and daylight controls will reduce lighting system run hours.
ECM Category 2: Major HVAC System Upgrades: Proposed upgrades include replacement of inefficient oil-fired boilers and inefficient oil-fired burners; installation of high efficiency
cooling systems, infrared heating systems, and dehumidification systems; and improvement of warm-up time with heating capacity upgrades.
ECM Category 3: Process System Upgrades: Proposed improvements include upgrade of process odor control system; replacement of process dehumidification system; installation of VFDs
on plant water booster pump system, new pumps and VFDs to design pool water pumping system, and pool cover; and reduction of irrigation water use.
ECM Category 4: New Central Energy Management Control System and Upgrade/Repair Standalone Controls and Mechanical Deficiencies: Upgrades include new central energy management control
system and repair of standalone controls; reduction of steam use; recommissioning pneumatic and existing computerized controls, and installation of self-contained temperature control
valves.
ECM Category 5: Building Shell Upgrades: Improvements include installation of new double-pane windows and storm windows; upgrade of ceiling/roof insulation; and replacement/upgrade
of weather-stripping.
ECM Category 6: Minor HVAC Projects: Upgrades include replacement of all steam traps with mechanical traps, improvement of control of DHW recirculation pumps and/or installation of
instantaneous DHW heaters; and reduction of mechanical room infiltration and heating in seldom-used areas.
ECM Category 7: Install Improved Local (Non-EMCS) Controls: Improvements include installation of local programmable thermostats, bus engine block heater controls, and vending machine
controls.
ECM Categories 8-11: Renewable Projects, Water Savings, and Misc.: Projects include installation of solar DHW heaters, Trombe wall outdoor air preheaters, water-saving fixtures, kitchen
hood controls, and high-efficiency motors.
SUMMARY OF FOSSIL FUEL REDUCTION MEASURES
Increasing energy efficiency is Northampton’s top priority strategy to reduce fossil fuel consumption. The City is counting on a municipal-wide energy efficiency project of most existing
City facilities to achieve the bulk of our 20% energy use reductions and will enact a long-term services agreement with an energy services company to implement a measurement and verification
plan to maintain this efficiency. All new facilities will be built to a high-efficiency level, an example being the new LEED-Silver designed Senior Center completed in early 2007.
Where economically feasible, the City will install renewable energy systems to offset imported energy use. Such projects become even more attractive when they combine measures to increase
efficiency along with adding a renewable energy system as was done with the James House energy upgrade project. As the State has changed its incentives for installation of renewable
systems to encourage larger systems, Northampton will explore ways to use these incentives to build systems with capacities of more than 200 kW.
While Northampton has already begun to purchase higher efficiency vehicles, the City will enhance its efforts by upgrading its systems for tracking fuel use per vehicle and by meeting
the specifications of the City’s new fuel-efficient vehicle purchasing policy. And while, increasing the efficiency of its fleet will remain the highest priority strategy, replacing
fossil-based diesel fuels with biodiesel will also be used to reduce consumption of fossil fuels.
The City will continue to improve the efficiency levels of its streetlights and will expand on the leadership it has already shown in converting parking lot lights over to high-efficiency
LED lamps.
FOSSIL FUEL ENERGY REDUCTION MEASURES
Energy Conservation Tasks to Achieve 20% Reduction in 5 Years
City Facilities
Northampton will move forward with a performance contract in two phases. Phase one will include 33 facilities and, based on ConEdison Solutions’s investment grade audit, will produce
energy reductions as shown in Table 6.
Table 6: Energy Use Reductions by Fuel Type per Energy Conservation Type for Northampton’s 2010 Performance Contract
Electricity Natural Gas #2 Fuel Oil Propane Total kWh MMBTU Therms MMBTU Gal MMBTU Gal MMBTU MMBTU ECM-1: Lighting and Controls Upgrades 355,914 1,214 1,214 ECM-2:
Major HVAC System Upgrades 9,906 34 -29,248 -2925 44,023 6,119 1,815 165 3,393 ECM-3: Process Upgrades 313,455 1,070 2,000 200 1,206 168 28,312 2,576 4,014 ECM-4: EMCS Upgrades 809,976 2,764 45,801 4580 11,948 1,661 14,528 1,322 10,327 ECM-5:
Building Shell Upgrades 483 2 9,725 973 7,457 1,037 1,272 116 2,126 ECM-6: Minor Equipment Replacement Upgrades 2,118 212 4,032 560 755 69 841 ECM-7: Local Controls and Plug Load
Upgrades 25,802 88 477 48 1,134 158 1,283 117 410 ECM-8: Cogeneration and Renewables Upgrades 9,030 31 2,318 232 193 27 289 ECM-9: Water Upgrades 2,412 241 21 3 244 ECM-10:
Kitchen Upgrades 21,575 74 6,878 688 761 ECM-11: PHE Motors Upgrades 5,198 18 18 Total Utility Savings: 1,551,339 5,293 42,481 4248 70,014 9,732 47,965 4,365 23,638
Phase II will include a selection of facilities for which the City is deciding on their use and timeframe for renovation, expansion or disposal. These include building a replacement
Police Headquarters, combining the Water Department and DPW administration buildings at the current location of the DPW administration building, expanding the DPW garage, and deciding
on whether to keep or sell the Florence Community Center.
While City practice has been to construct all new buildings to a LEED-Silver level design, in March 2010, the Northampton Energy and Sustainability Commission issued the following recommended
official policy:
All new significant City buildings or major building renovations shall
Meet LEED™ certification standards; and
Achieve as many of the LEED categories of Energy and Atmosphere and Sustainable Sites pertaining to energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable transportation strategies as
feasible and practicable; and
If practical, be LEED-certified.
In April 2007, Northampton completed construction of a silver-LEED designed Senior Center that is heated and cooled with a ground-source heat pump system. By investing in ground coupled
heat pumps to cool the space, condition the ventilation air, and heat water for supplementary radiation, the City reduced the calculated energy load of the building by 1,337 MMBTU per
year over what the building would have used if heated and cooled with a more conventional gas-fired boiler and reciprocal chiller.
The City has completed phase one of an upgrade of all light fixtures at the James House Adult Learning Center to high-efficiency light fixtures and lamps and installation of occupation
sensors in all rooms. Once completed and the full building is brought into use as an adult learning center this energy conservation measure is expected to reduce annual consumption of
electricity by 30,000 kWh.
The City has begun to replace use of the oil-fired furnace and single oversized air-cooled chiller that are currently used to heat and cool the James House building with multiple air-source
heat pumps under timed thermostatic control. Once complete and the full building is brought into use as an adult learning center this will reduce the oil use at the James House by an
estimated 4,300 gallons a year, replacing this heat source with an electricity-driven high-efficiency heat pump system (HSPF of 9.0) that is expected to use 51,800 kWh per year, and
reduce summer-time consumption of electricity for cooling by 30% (28,000 kWh).
The Northampton Energy and Sustainability Commission has identified a need to produce a Sustainability Practices Guide for municipal employees that will reduce energy use, increase recycling,
and promote sustainable transportation habits.
Energy Conservation Task 1-A
Task: Guaranteed Energy Services Performance Project – Phase I
Timeline: Phase I construction to begin in the spring of 2010 and run for 18 months.
Responsible Party(ies): Central Services, Energy and Sustainability Officer, Mayor, Financial Director, City Council.
Projected Annual Energy Savings: 23,638 MMBTU
Estimated Project Capital and Operating Costs:
Project cost = $6,500,000
Financing cost = $1,690,000
Total cost w/financing = $8,190,000
Cumulative 15 year savings = $9,240,000
15 year net positive cash flow = $1,050,000
Energy Conservation Task 1-B
Task: Guaranteed Energy Services Performance Project – Phase II
Timeline: Phase II IGA and construction contract to be developed in the fall of 2010.
Responsible Party(ies): Central Services, Energy and Sustainability Officer, Mayor, Financial Director, City Council.
Projected Annual Energy Savings: TBD
Estimated Project Capital and Operating Costs: TBD
Energy Conservation Task 1-C
Task: Ground Source Heat Pump at Senior Center
Timeline: Completed April 2007
Projected Annual Energy Savings: 1,337 MMBT
Energy Conservation Task 1-D
Task: HVAC and Lighting Efficiency at James House
Timeline: Phase I was completed in spring of 2010. Phase II to be completed in fall 2010.
Responsible Party(ies): Central Services, Economic Development Director, Energy and Sustainability Officer, Mayor
Projected Annual Energy Savings: 618 MMBTU
Estimated Project Capital and Operating Costs:
Lighting Upgrades: $17,600
HVAC improvements: $57,000
Grant support: $31,452
Energy Conservation Task 1-E
Task: Sustainable Practices for City Government
Timeline: Develop guiding document 2010 - 2011
Responsible Party(ies): Energy and Sustainability Commission, Energy and Sustainability Officer, Department Heads, Mayor
Projected Annual Energy Savings: TBD
Estimated Project Capital and Operating Costs: TBD
Vehicles
While Northampton has recently adopted a fuel-efficient vehicle purchasing policy, the City has been purchasing high efficiency vehicles for several years. For instance, in 2007, the
DPW switched from purchasing four wheel drive (4WD) to two wheel drive (2WD) vehicles used for reading water meters and Ford Escape Hybrid utility vehicles. Similarly, the parking division
began purchasing Kia Rios (at 24 mpg) for light-duty parking lot chores. Adoption of the fuel-efficient vehicle purchasing policy will result in the City purchasing even higher efficiency
vehicles.
In addition, in 2007 Northampton’s DPW began to use a biodiesel/diesel blend in all diesel vehicles. They found that a 20% biodiesel blend in warm months and 5% biodiesel blend in cold
months worked well. Unfortunately, due to the national financial downturn’s effects on City finances (i.e., budget cuts), the DPW went back to 100% diesel in 2008.
Currently, the City tracks vehicle fuel use by individuals, which effectively provides a history of fuel use by department. In addition, fuel use is not matched to miles driven for any
vehicles. The City has begun to investigate ways to track fuel use per vehicle in a way that can be used to monitor individual vehicle’s fuel efficiency fill up by fill up.
Energy Conservation Task 2-A
Task: Upgrade to high efficiency vehicles
Timeline: Ongoing
Responsible Party(ies): City Department Heads, Mayor
Projected Annual Energy Savings: TBD – Inadequate tracking of fuel use per vehicle prohibits an estimate of savings from being made at this time. Anticipate a 3% to 6% energy use reduction
per vehicle upgrade.
Estimated Project Capital and Operating Costs: TBD
Energy Conservation Task 2-B
Task: Upgrade Tracking of Fuel Use by Individual Vehicles
Timeline: 2010 or 2011
Responsible Party(ies): DPW, Energy and Sustainability Officer, Energy and Sustainability Commission, Mayor
Projected Annual Energy Savings: N/A – will enable planning for measures that will reduce energy use.
Estimated Project Capital and Operating Costs: TBD
Energy Conservation Task 2-C
Task: Use a blend of biodiesel in all DPW diesel vehicles
Timeline: Anticipated to start in 2011 or 2012
Responsible Party(ies): DPW, Mayor, Financial Director
Projected Annual Energy Savings: 424 MMBTU
Estimated Project Capital and Operating Costs: $6,000 annual price premium for biodiesel blend versus 100% diesel plus added cost of increased fuel filter changes.
Street, Parking, and Traffic Lighting
Northampton has already upgraded all of its red and green traffic lights to LED fixtures. A cost and energy use analysis conducted in 2007 by the Energy and Sustainability Officer determined
that the energy savings that could be realized by upgrading yellow traffic lights to LEDs were not worth it, the funds would be more effectively spent on other efficiency projects.
In the fall of 2009, Northampton replaced sixteen 400-watt high-pressure sodium (HPS) parking lot fixtures in the Armory Ave. parking lot with eight 128-watt LED fixtures and eight 96-watt
LED fixtures. These are expected to reduce the City’s energy use by 23,564 kWh a year.
During the winter of ’09-’10 the City replaced all 220 70-watt HPS interior parking garage fixtures with high-efficiency fluorescent fixtures with photovoltaic controls. These are expected
to reduce the City’s energy use by 71,306 kWh a year.
The City’s Parking Division maintains and operates cobra-head light fixtures at seven parking lots (Hampton Ave., South St., Union Station, Strong Ave., Masonic, James House, and Round
House); pole-top fixtures similar to the Armory Avenue lot at Hampton Ave, Gothic Street, Strong Avenue, Pearl Street, and along the bike path from Hampton Avenue to the railroad bridge;
and six pole-top fixtures on top of the parking garage. The parking division will continue to phase in LED and other high efficiency light fixtures at all of these sites over the next
one to five years. LED fixtures for the six pole-top fixtures on top of the parking garage are already on order. The City roughly estimates an annual savings of about 5 times the savings
seen at the Armory Avenue lot once all upgrades are complete.
The City has and continues to seek grant funds to implement a LED streetlight pilot project to determine cost-effectiveness, energy reduction potential, and user acceptability of LED
fixtures for street and sidewalk lighting.
Twenty years ago, Northampton completed a municipal streetlight survey to evaluate light levels throughout the city and recommend improvements to reduce energy use and improve traffic
safety. Eight out of ten recommended phases from the study were completed that resulted in a net removal of 691 streetlights and an overall 14% reduction in lumens. Since then, new construction
and individual requests by property owners to adjust light levels in their neighborhoods have occurred and the City has passed a dark-sky ordinance.
Over the next year or two, Northampton intends to conduct a new municipal streetlight survey taking into consideration new technologies (such as LED light fixtures), current recommended
light levels for traffic safety, and specifications from the dark sky ordinance. At a minimum, the City anticipates achieving energy and cost savings that were identified in phases 9
and 10 of the 1992 survey.
Energy Conservation Task 3-A
Task: High Efficiency Florescent and LED Fixtures at Parking Facilities: Phase I
Timeline: Completed in the fall/winter of 2009
Responsible Party(ies): Parking Commissioner, Energy and Sustainability Officer, Mayor
Projected Annual Energy Savings: 324 MMBTU
Estimated Project Capital and Operating Costs:
Project Cost: $60,000
Utility Rebates: $22,514
Simple payback LED fixtures: 1.5 years
Simple payback florescent fixtures: 4 years
Energy Conservation Task 3-B
Task: High Efficiency Florescent and LED Fixtures at Parking Facilities: Future Phases
Timeline: 2011 - 2015
Responsible Party(ies): Parking Commissioner, Energy and Sustainability Officer, Mayor
Projected Annual Energy Savings: 400 MMBTU once all parking facilities are addressed
Estimated Project Capital and Operating Costs: TBD
Energy Conservation Task 3-C
Task: LED Streetlight Pilot Project
Timeline: ASAP 2011 - 2015
Responsible Party(ies): Central Services, Energy and Sustainability Officer, Mayor
Projected Annual Energy Savings: TBD
Estimated Project Capital and Operating Costs: TBD
Energy Conservation Task 3-D
Task: Streetlight Survey
Timeline: 2011/2012
Responsible Party(ies): Central Services, Energy and Sustainability Officer, Mayor
Projected Annual Energy Savings: N/A – will enable planning for measures that will reduce energy use.
Estimated Project Capital and Operating Costs: TBD
Energy Conservation Task 3-E
Task: Streetlight Efficiency Improvements
Timeline: 2013 - 2015
Responsible Party(ies): Central Services, Energy and Sustainability Officer, Mayor
Projected Annual Energy Savings: TBD
Estimated Project Capital and Operating Costs: TBD
Municipally-owned and -operated clean renewable or alternative energy installations
In March 2008, Northampton began selling landfill gas to a private vender (Ameresco) to power a 0.8 MW landfill gas to energy facility. According to the US EPA, this facility will provide
a total equivalent annual emissions reduction of 4.051 tons of CO2, and 1,594 tons of methane (CH4), equivalent to reducing the City’s gasoline consumption by 3,828,533 gallons a year.
While the City is not considering this measure equivalent to reducing energy use, it is notable that 3,828,533 gallons of gasoline has an energy content of 474,738 MMBTU, which is more
than four times Northampton’s adjusted baseline energy use.
Total Equivalent Emissions Reduced [Total = Direct + Avoided] MMTCO2E/yr tons CH4/yr tons CO2/yr million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents per year tons of methane per year tons
of carbon dioxide per year 0.0340 1,594 4,051
In March 2010, the City began producing power from a 13 kW photovoltaic array installed on the roof of the James House Learning Adult Center. This array is expected to offset 13,114
kWh of City electricity demand a year.
In October 2009, Northampton received authority from the US IRS to issue $313,925 in New Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (New CREBs) under section 54C of the Internal Revenue Code, for
two photovoltaic projects in the City; one a 100 kW system at the Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School (SVAHS) and a second 13 kW system on the Jackson Street elementary school
(JSS). This would cover roughly 45% of the cost of these two projects. The anticipated energy savings due the estimated annual production of 139,960 kWh of electricity from these two
projects would be enough to pay off the CREBs. The City is currently seeking funds to pay the remaining project costs. If funds can not be obtained, the City will evaluate soliciting
a power purchase agreement (PPA) for one, both, or a modified version of these two projects.
Northampton’s landfill is currently slated to close in 2012, however, before that time an expansion may be approved. While the City does not want to consider installing a photovoltaic
array on the capped portions of the landfill while the current sections are in operation (i.e., before 2012), it may once the current section being filled is filled in. At that point,
the City would consider soliciting a power purchase agreement (PPA) for a photovoltaic array of 200 kW or more to be installed on the capped portion of the landfill.
Energy Conservation Task 4-A
Task: Landfill Gas to Energy
Timeline: Completed
Responsible Party(ies): DPW
CO2-equivalent Emissions Reduction from Equivalent Annual Energy Savings of: 3,828,533 gallons of gasoline
Energy Conservation Task 4-B
Task: 13 kW Photovoltaic Array on the James House
Timeline: Completed March 2010
Responsible Party(ies): Central Services, Energy and Sustainability Officer, Economic Development Director
Projected Annual Energy Offset: 45 MMBTU
Estimated Project Capital and Operating Costs:
Project Costs: $104,838
Grants: $104,838
Energy Conservation Task 4-C
Task: 113 kW Photovoltaic Arrays at SVAHS and JSS
Timeline: 2010-2011
Responsible Party(ies): Central Services, Energy and Sustainability Officer, Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School, Energy and Sustainability Commission, Financial Director,
Mayor
Projected Annual Energy Savings: 478 MMBTU
Estimated Project Capital and Operating Costs: $750,000
Energy Conservation Task 4-D
Task: 200 kW or greater Photovoltaic Arrays at the Landfill
Timeline: 2012 - 2015
Responsible Party(ies): DPW, Energy and Sustainability Officer, Financial Director, Mayor
Projected Annual Energy Savings: 833 MMBTU minimum
Estimated Project Capital and Operating Costs: Commitment by City to purchase electricity produced by the array at a rate equivalent to or better than market rate of electricity.
Total Projected Fossil Fuel Energy Reduction
Table 7 provides a summation of energy conservation tasks 1 through 4.
Table 7: Summation of Energy Conservation Tasks Reduction/Offset of Fossil Energy Use
Factors in Calculating Adjusted Baseline Energy Use by Energy Source Total Current Energy Use (MMBTU) Electricity (kWh) Natural Gas (therms) Fuel Oil (Gal.) Propane (Gal.) Gasoline
(Gal.) Diesel Fuel (Gal.) BASELINE ENERGY USE FY09 Municipal Energy Use 10,695,126 413,714 95,426 86,704 63,531 58,585
115,039 Adjustment due to reduced energy use in baseline year at the James House 86,021 294 Adjustment due to geothermal
vs. conventional HVAC system at Senior Cen. 1,337 Adjusted Baseline 116,669 Energy Conservation Tasks Energy Reduction/Offset
by Energy Source Total Reduction (MMBTU) % of Adjusted Baseline Task # Task Descriptor Electricity (kWh) Natural Gas (therms) Fuel Oil (Gal.) Propane (Gal.) Gasoline (Gal.) Diesel
Fuel (Gal.) 1. City Facilities 1-A Guaranteed Energy Services Performance Project – Phase I 1,551,338 42,481 70,014 47,966
23,638 20.26% 1-B Guaranteed Energy Services Performance Project - Phase II TBD 1-C Ground Source Heat Pump at Senior Center 1,337
1.15% 1-D HVAC and Lighting Efficiency at James House 34,200 4,300 714 0.61% 1-E Sustainable Practices for City Government
TBD
Energy Conservation Tasks Energy Reduction/Offset by Energy Source Total Reduction (MMBTU) % of Adjusted Baseline Task # Task Descriptor Electricity (kWh) Natural Gas (therms) Fuel
Oil (Gal.) Propane (Gal.) Gasoline (Gal.) Diesel Fuel (Gal.) 2. Vehicles 2-A Upgrade to High Efficiency Vehicles TBD 2-B Upgrade Tracking of Fuel Use by Individual
Vehicles N/A 2-C Use a blend of biodiesel in all DPW diesel vehicles 3,050 424 0.36% 3. Street, Parking, and Traffic
Lighting 3-A High Efficiency Light Fixtures at Parking Facilities: Phase I 94,870 324 0.28% 3-B High Efficiency Light Fixtures at Parking
Facilities: Future Phases 117,820 402 0.34% 3-C LED Streetlight Pilot Project TBD 3-D Streetlight Survey N/A
3-E Streetlight Efficiency Improvements TBD
Energy Conservation Tasks Energy Reduction/Offset by Energy Source Total Reduction (MMBTU) % of Adjusted Baseline Task # Task Descriptor Electricity (kWh) Natural Gas (therms) Fuel
Oil (Gal.) Propane (Gal.) Gasoline (Gal.) Diesel Fuel (Gal.) 4. Municipally-owned and -operated Clean Renewable or Alternative Energy Installations 4-A Landfill Gas to Energy
N/A 4-B 13 kW Photovoltaic Array on the James House 13,114 45 0.04% 4-C 100 kW and 13 kW Photovoltaic Arrays at SVAHS and
JSS 139,960 478 0.41% 4-D 200 kW or greater Photovoltaic Arrays at the Landfill 244,130 833 1% Total
Determinable Energy Reductions Reductions from Energy Conservation Tasks 1 - 3 1,798,228 42,481 74,314 47,966 3,050
25,502 21.86% Reductions from Clean Renewable or Alternative Energy Installations 397,204 1,355 1.16% Total Determinable Energy Reductions 2,195,432
42,481 74,314 47,966 3,050 26,857 23.02%
MEASUREMENT AND VERIFICATION PLAN FOR PROJECTED REDUCTIONS
Each energy conservation measure (ECM) included in the performance contract will be associated with a specific measurement and verification (M&V) protocol agreed to by the City of Northampton
and ConEdison Solutions (CES). If deviations in performance occur, CES’s M&V plan will identify in a written report those deviations and identify clearly the party responsible for correcting
such deviations. Those deviations under the control and management of CES will be corrected as soon as they are identified (typically during CES’s operation and maintenance (O&M) oversight
activities, but sometimes only after completion of CES’s annual M&V activities) and, if such deviations cannot be corrected, savings will be recalculated using the agreed-upon building
simulation models to recalculate interactive energy savings for the building. Those deviations under the control of City of Northampton will be identified as soon as practicable and
the City will take corrective actions recommended by CES.
Because the City has included the new Senior Center in the performance contract, monitoring the performance of this building’s geothermal system will be included in this process. In
addition, the performance contract project will increase the City’s energy management systems capabilities, which the City will use to monitor energy performance on a daily or weekly
basis. For facilities not included in the energy services performance contract, the City will continue to monitor energy performance through its ongoing in-house energy tracking efforts.
The City anticipates moving over to the MA DOER’s MassEnergyInsight on-line tracking system as a way to upgrade the City’s current level of energy tracking reporting.
Central Services will oversee all energy tracking responsibilities and will work closely with CES to implement the performance contract’s O&M and M&V plans. Central Services will provide
at a minimum an annual report on the performance of the energy services project for the Mayor of Northampton and the City Council.
Northampton will upgrade it’s capability to track gasoline and diesel fuel use and miles driven per vehicle so the City can track individual vehicle’s fuel efficiency (miles per gallon).
Increased efficiency in outdoor lighting and energy produced by renewable energy projects will be verified by monitoring electric utility bills and on-line data monitoring systems respectively.
LONG-TERM ENERGY REDUCTION GOALS – BEYOND 5 YEARS
The Sustainable Northampton Plan sets a short term goal of 30% greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction by 2030. The Pioneer Valley Clean Energy Plan, which has been endorsed by the City,
sets a goal of 80% GHG reductions over 2000 levels by 2050.
Municipal Sector
Northampton will continue to make comprehensive efficiency improvements in all City facilities as new technologies become available and/or energy prices make feasible. The City will
evaluate at regular intervals whether technology and/or energy prices have changed enough to warrant the City undergoing another energy services performance project. In addition, the
City will continue to seek funding and financing opportunities that will allow it to install renewable energy systems at City facilities.
The City will continue to encourage Nation Grid to provide a rate-tariff for high-efficiency LED streetlights and upgrade all of Northampton’s streetlights to this new technology as
soon as the technology and cost make this feasible. Results from any LED streetlight pilot project will be shared with National Grid to encourage them to bring this option to their customers.
Residential and Commercial Sectors
In short, the City’s long-term strategy to assist private property owners is to reduce barriers to increased efficiency in residential and commercial sector. The City can do this through
policies and partnerships that provide funding, financing, and education and reduce uncertainties for private property owners to increase efficiency and use renewable energy. Some specific
programs include:
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing
Partnering with banks to provide:
energy efficiency loans
a deferred energy efficiency loan program for low income residents
Work with regional partners to develop a regional carbon-offset program
Establish seed money from for a local revolving loan fund for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects
Partner with the Chamber of Commerce to provide green business practices assistance to local businesses
Work with SVAHS and other local educational organizations to prepare our workforce for jobs in energy efficiency and renewable energy
Based on biodiesel providing a life-cycle reduction in fossil fuel use of 78% and 20% blend used for 7 months and 5% blend used for 5 months of the year
While, according to the US EPA, the greenhouse gas reductions from this measure are equivalent to not consuming 3,828,533 gallons of gasoline annually the City is not considering this
equivalent to reducing energy use. However, it is notable that 3,828,533 gallons of gasoline has an energy content of 474,738 MMBTU, which is more than four times Northampton’s adjusted
baseline energy use.
3
i think you need an executive summary that summarizes progress to date, and how wer’e going to achieve to 20% reduction
Is this project still being planned, with the uncertainty in the future of the dam?
Isn’t it more than just a publication? Didn’t it become somewhat binding by a City Council vote?
No so new, are you?
Nitpicking, but is it Silver LEED”, “Silver-LEED”, or “Leed Silver”; all three appear in this doc
This is a repeat of above
Delete heading? Repeat of the one above?
I’m losing the flow here – how does this fall under the heading of FOSSIL FUEL ENERGY REDUCTION MEASURES??
Need a new heading to introduce this section
So, need a strong summary statement here (or even better right at the beginning of this report) that says, WE’VE GOT A REAL PLAN TO ACHIEVE 20% AND WE’RE ALREADY MAKING PROGRESS.