An Energy Committee strategy that seeks to maximize the solar power generation for the Town of Wellfleet

By Marcus Springer; Linnean Solutions, Springer Architects, Town of Wellfleet Energy Committee

The fundamental purpose of Wellfleet Solar is to drastically lower or eliminate Wellfleet’s carbon footprint.  Through maximizing the solar power generation in town, Wellfleet can realize a zero net energy future. This will serve to greatly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and our use of fossil fuels.  This in turn will have a positive effect on our shellfish economy, watershed and financial stability.

The strategy to maximize and expedite solar installation is to create a Solar Map of the town of Wellfleet. We are doing this through a privately funded project, performed by Mapdwell (www.mapdwell.com). In conjunction with the obvious benefits of a totally solar powered town the result will serve to educate and inform the residents, businesses and Town government of the benefits of renewable energy and the efficiencies that are created by its adoption ranging from the environmental to the economic. 

This is a LIDAR map of Wellfleet  illustrating the potential town roof structures. Image courtesy of Mapdwell.

We plan to have a Solar Map in place by the end of 2013 after which we will monitor and facilitate the installation of solar power on the rooftops of Wellfleet residential, commercial and Town owned structures. For installation we will either go through the MA CEC “solarize” program or create a “solar challenge” similar to the Town of Stowe. These two procurement routes allow for greatly reduced pricing on a tiered system depending on how many installations we can sign up.  This, in combination with the newly funded SREC program (1600MW), the 30% Federal Tax credit (sunsets in 2017) and the accelerated depreciation for commercial owners, should make installation of Solar PV pretty attractive.

(Excerpted from the USGBC MA August 2013 Newsletter)

Say Goodbye to the Incandescent Lamp - and perhaps the CFL?

by Chris Liston

Say goodbye to the incandescent lamp - and perhaps the CFL? As the federal government continues to phase-out A-type incandescent light bulbs, a price war between Cree Lighting and Philips Lighting has pushed the life-cycle cost of A-type LEDs below the life-cycle cost of A-type CFLs. 

                                            greensavingsco.com

The A-type light bulb is the most common type of lamp uses in Massachusetts homes. Under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), the 100-watt incandescent was phased-out in 2012, the 75-watt incandescent will be phased out in 2013 and the 40-watt and 60-watt incandescent will be phased out in 2014. Since EISA was announced, LED manufacturers have been scrambling to develop cost-effective alternatives. 

In March 2013, Cree Lighting shattered LED price points with a 9.5-watt A-type LED at a cost just under $15 and Philips responded by lowering the price point of its own A-type LED. As of June 2013 Home Depot locations in Massachusetts are carrying the Cree 9.5-watt LED (60-watt equivalent) for $12.97 and the Philips 12.5-watt LED (60-watt equivalent) for $10.97. Analysts expect these prices to fall below the $10 mark sometime before the end of the year. 

How is a $13 LED less expensive than a $5 CFL? The answer is in the life-cycle cost. Over a 25,000 hour period a 9.5-watt LED will cost approximately $51 in lamp costs and energy costs. Over the same period a 13-watt CFL will cost approximately $61 in lamp costs and energy costs. When Philips and Cree dropped below the $15 price point, LEDs became a better financial investment than CFLs. 

Life-cycle cost analysis remains a difficult sell for budget conscious consumers. When CFLs hit the market in the mid-1990s they retailed for $20-$30 and claimed a $40 savings over the life of the lamp, but by 1999 incandescent lamps still outsold CFLs 25-to-1. In a similar trend, analysts expect LED sales to surpass CFL sales sometime between 2018 and 2020.

Boston's Mayor Menino has announced an Energy Disclosure Ordinance. 

The establishment of this requirement will “provide information to owners, residents, and prospective buyers and tenants, and, through education and the operations of the market, create incentives to participate in energy efficiency programs.” 

Energy efficiency in existing buildings is the single most important component of the City's plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent by 2020. 

New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Francisco, Minneapolis and other cities have enacted energy reporting and
disclosure requirements in their jurisdictions.

Leading by example, Boston would annually disclose its energy and water use in all of its facilities starting with 2012 building data. In following years, the ordinance would apply to non-residential buildings greater than 25,000 square feet and residential buildings 25 units or more. The proposed roll out schedule for reporting requirements is as follows:

• Non-residential buildings 50,000 square feet or more in 2014
• Residential buildings with 50 units or more in 2015
• Non-residential buildings 25,000 square feet or more in 2016
• Residential buildings with 25 units or more in 2017

In addition to reporting energy and water use, buildings may be required to conduct energy audits or other evaluations every five years to identify opportunities for energy efficiency investments.  Buildings in the top tier of energy performance or already taking significant efficiency actions will be exempted from this requirement.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through investments in energy efficiency is the largest component of the Mayor’s Climate Action Plan. Mayor Menino has established Boston as a national leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting a clean energy economy through initiatives such as Renew Boston and the first in the nation green building standards for private developments. To further inspire action, Mayor Menino has launched Greenovate Boston, a new sustainability movement to ensure a greener, healthier and more prosperous future for the City. 

More information is at the City of Boston website.