# Presentation: 770218

## Making a City Energy Efficient

**Experiences from the City of Medford**

## Historic Medford

## History of Medford

- Founded in 1630, 4th oldest English settlement in America
- Established as a City in 1892
- Medford was a leader in the Clipper Ship building industry and also manufactured brick and tile
- Also famous for it's "Medford Rum" and "Medford Crackers"

## About Medford

- Located 5 miles north west of Boston
- 8.64 square miles
- Population 55,765
- Primary Languages
- English
- Italian
- Portuguese

## Medford Demographics-Race

- White				86.5%
- Black African American	6.1%
- Native American		0.1%
- Asian				3.9%
- Other Race			1.1%
- Two or more Races		2.3%

## Medford Demographics-Age

- 0-19 years 		21.1%
- 20-35 years		24.7%
- 35-54 years		28.0%
- 55+ years		26.1%

## Medford’s Energy Efficiency History

- August 1999: ICLEI Cities for Climate Protection
- September 1999: Creation of Medford Energy Task Force
- October 1999: Solar Panels installed at City Hall and High School
- October 1999-City Hall Retrofits and Conversion to Natural Gas heat

## Medford’s Energy Efficiency History (cont’d)

- January 2001: Hire Energy Efficiency Coordinator (Environmental Agent)
- October 2001: First City in Commonwealth with approved Climate Action Plan
- March 2002: Join Rebuild Massachusetts/ Rebuild America Campaign
- September 2002: Begin benchmarking building energy performance

## Medford’s Energy Efficiency History (cont’d)

- October 2002: Receive 5 electric vehicles from Ford & convert cemetery to Biodiesel
- April 2003: First Earth Month of Events, including Energy Efficiency Fair
- July 2003: Creation of Energy & Environment Office
- September 2003: Receive 2 Electric Vehicles from GM (EV-1) for 2 year use

## Medford’s Energy Efficiency History (cont’d)

- October 2003: Medford is only MA City to receive Clean School Bus USA grant
- October 2003: Development of schools maintenance plans
- January 2004: Mayor McGlynn appoints 9-member Medford Clean Energy Committee
- April 2004: Medford High School EIS online

## How Medford is doing it

- Full-time staff & Energy Task Force
- Interns/volunteers
- Grants (over $500,000 to date)
- Utility Rebates
- Partnerships-Rebuild America, EnergyStar, Clean Cities Coalition, Clean School Bus
- Press coverage

## Traffic Lights- Conversion to Light Emitting Diodes

- The “no brainer” project
- Utility rebates
- Mayor behind 100%

## Traffic Lights-Light Emitting Diodes

- Converted from 118 watt lights to 12 watt LEDs
- Cost of project = $89,204
- Utility Rebates = $40,874 ($70Red;$90Gr)
- Net cost to City = $48,330
- Estimated savings = $27,600/year with a 21 month pay back

## Traffic Lights-Light Emitting Diodes

- Actual savings were $32,220/year generating an 18 month pay back time
- Life expectancy of LEDs is 7-10 years vs. incandescents at 1-2 years
- This creates an additional savings on parts and labor

## Building Retrofits/Conversions

- _Retrofits_
- Lighting Retrofits at City Hall, Public Safety Building, Library
- New Windows at Public Safety Building

- _Conversions_
- Natural Gas Heat at High School, City Hall, Fire Stations
- All new schools have natural gas heat

## City Hall Example

## Solar Panels at Hormel Stadium

- No money
- Local Contractor donates time and expertise
- Municipal Workers install
- Panels will cover lights for all night home games

## Plan for Schools Maintenance

- EIS in high school, 15 minute intervals of real time data
- Working with State Division of Energy Resources and utilities-audits and inventories of all schools
- Develop O&M plans for each building
- Train current staff
- Initiate energy education in schools

## Slide 19

## Keys to Success

- Helpful to have a plan
- Need a champion, preferably elected official or decision maker
- Partnerships
- Utility Rebates!!
- Publicity

## Contact Information

- Kim Lundgren, Environmental Agent
- Energy & Environment Office
- City of Medford, MA
- 781-393-2137
- klundgren@medford.org