Arlington has completed several energy efficiency upgrades to its buildings with a $125,000 grant from the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Green Communities program. This year’s grant is the Town’s fourteenth award from the competitive Green Communities program, which continues to support energy use reduction initiatives in Town buildings.

Four Town buildings have received improvements supported by the grant, utility incentives, and Town matching funds. At the Parmenter School building, energy losses via inefficient lighting, the building envelope, and mechanical pipes were addressed with insulation and high-efficiency LED lighting. Town Hall’s mechanical pipes also received insulation to prevent energy losses. The Peirce Elementary School received a new building management system to ensure efficient operation of heating and cooling equipment. Additionally, the Central Fire Station will receive new high-efficiency LED lighting to replace older fixtures and bulbs. The Green Communities Grant will cover 25% of the total cost of the projects. Eversource and National Grid are providing an additional 39% of the total cost via energy efficiency incentive funding. Nearly 15% of the Town’s $180,901 match will be paid back in energy savings in the first year alone.

“The Town is grateful for the continued support from the Department of Energy Resources via the Green Communities program,” said Town Manager Jim Feeney. “Saving money and energy continues to be a pillar of our strategy to achieve net zero GHG emissions.”

Green Communities projects are part of ongoing efforts to address inefficiencies at the Town’s most energy intensive buildings, with the goal of both saving money and preparing buildings for future electrification. Electrification refers to the reliance on an increasingly clean electric grid to power buildings and vehicles rather than fossil fuel combustion, in order to reduce polluting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Arlington has a goal of net zero GHG emissions by 2050, which requires reducing energy and electrifying heating systems.

This new grant puts Arlington’s cumulative Green Communities grant total at $2,323,393, one of the highest in the state, since program inception in 2010. DOER’s Green Communities Competitive Grants are awarded to existing Green Communities that have successfully invested their initial designation grants and previous competitive grant awards.

The Green Communities Division of the state DOER empowers the Commonwealth's cities and towns to reduce their energy use and their carbon footprint on the journey towards healthier communities and stronger economies. Read more about Green Communities.

New mechanical pipe insulation (in white) prevents energy losses at the Parmenter School.