Arlington Completes Energy Efficiency Upgrades At Municipal Buildings

ARLINGTON, MA — Several energy efficiency projects have been completed at municipal buildings across town with the help of a $125,000 state grant.

Arlington received the funding from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources through its Green Communities program to support improvements at four Town buildings. The award marks Arlington's 14th grant through the competitive program, which provides funding to municipalities working to reduce energy consumption and their carbon footprint.

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The funding supported improvements at the Parmenter School building, Town Hall, Peirce Elementary School, and Central Fire Station. The Parmenter School received insulation and high-efficiency LED lighting to address energy losses from inefficient lighting, the building envelope, and mechanical pipes, while mechanical pipes at Town Hall were also insulated. Peirce Elementary School received a new building management system designed to improve the efficiency of its heating and cooling equipment. The Central Fire Station will also receive high-efficiency LED lighting to replace older fixtures and bulbs.

The Green Communities grant will cover approximately 25 percent of the total project costs, while Eversource and National Grid are providing another 39 percent through energy efficiency incentives. Arlington is contributing $180,901 in matching funds, with the Town estimating that nearly 15 percent of that amount will be recovered through energy savings during the first year alone.

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

The projects are part of Arlington's broader effort to improve efficiency at some of its most energy-intensive buildings while preparing them for future electrification. The Town has set a goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, which includes reducing overall energy consumption and transitioning building heating systems away from fossil fuels toward electricity.

Arlington has received more than $2.3 million through the Green Communities program since its inception in 2010, which the Town said is among the highest cumulative totals in Massachusetts. Competitive grants are available to designated Green Communities that have successfully invested funding received through previous designation and competitive grant awards.

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