Boston Saves $400,000 in Energy Costs this Year

City Saves $400,000 in Energy Costs this Year

And Offset 270 Homes Worth of Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Renewable Energy Credits

            Mayor Thomas M. Menino today announced three major steps forward toward his goals of reducing municipal greenhouse gases and energy consumption. The City recently launched a new municipal energy management system; completed 23 energy efficiency projects this past fiscal year; and purchased 28,000 wind-generated renewable energy credits (RECs). All of these efforts build off Mayor Menino’s stated environmental goals, including 20 years of municipal energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction work Citywide.

            “The City of Boston continues to do its part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while cutting our energy costs, saving taxpayer dollars and increasing our level of service to the community,” said Mayor Thomas M. Menino. “I am proud to report that City government is leading by example and is on track to meet our greenhouse gas reduction goals.”

            The City’s new Enterprise Energy Management System (EEMS) will help identify energy and greenhouse gas emissions savings opportunities throughout municipal buildings and is an important step in the City’s ongoing energy efficiency efforts. Through a contract with Schneider Electric, the software will allow the city to track all energy and water consumed by each of the City’s:

·                     253 facilities

·                     Traffic lights at 850 intersections

·                     64,000 street lights

·                     All 3,100 vehicles and buses in the City’s vehicle fleet

            The software will also enhance the City’s ability to plan future energy efficiency projects, identify undesired spikes in energy use more quickly, actively manage energy use system-wide,  and allow the City to closely monitor progress toward meeting Mayor Menino’s greenhouse gas reductions goals—25 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050.

            This progress was been underway throughout Mayor Menino’s administration and continued in full force during the last fiscal year, which ended June 30. During that time, the City completed 23 projects that will annually:

·                     Save 2.5 million kilowatt hours of electricity

·                     Save 9,500 therms of natural gas

·                     Save about $400,000 in energy costs

·                     Prevent 1,109 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

            The amount of C02 saved equates to the approximate electricity needed to power 270 homes for one year.

            “While programs like Renew Boston and the new Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure ordinance are helping Boston residents and businesses greenovate, it is important that the public know that we are working to greenovate our own operations as well,” said Brian Swett, the City’s Chief of Environment and Energy. “Initiatives like the energy management software and credit purchases will further help us move closer towards our 2020 and 2050 goals

            The City has been purchasing renewable energy credits for the past 7 years to help offset some of its greenhouse gas emissions. The City purchased 28,000 wind-generated RECs from Renewable Choice Energy for fiscal year 2013—33 percent more than were purchased in fiscal year 2012. With each REC representing 1 megawatt hour of renewable electricity, this recent REC purchase represents an investment in 28,000 megawatt hours of clean, wind-generated electricity. This is equivalent to approximately 18 percent of the City’s electricity use or the electricity use of City Hall, the Central Library at Copley, and Boston Police Department Headquarters combined.