School Committee, Selectmen Vote To Cut Energy Use By 20 Percent

BURLINGTON, MA — The Burlington School committee followed the select board in approving the public works department's energy reduction plan, Tuesday. The plan, which the selectmen approved Monday, commits to reducing municipal energy usage by 20% over the next five years, a necessary step to attaining Green Communities status with the commonwealth. There are no consequences for failure, and the plan applies only to government uses.

Department of Public Works officials said they're very hopeful that the plan is achievable. The town must submit its Green Communities materials by Nov. 21, and stands to receive a designation grant of $173,000, as well as hundreds of thousands in future grants.

The plan is one of five requirements to be designated a Massachusetts Green Community. Rachel Caplan of the public works department outlined the other four, which the town has already achieved: identifying areas where zoned for green energy, research or manufacturing facilities, having expedited permitting for those facilities, having a fuel-efficient vehicle policy, and having a new building efficiency code, which the town achieved by passing the Stretch Code at the May town meeting.

With the selectmen and school committee's support, the town says it has met all five criteria. The state provides financial and technical support, including grants, to Green Communities. Over $44 million in grants have been handed out to Green Communities.

"This is pretty much continuing what we've been doing, with the addition we'll be able to get grants," said Public Works Director Sanchez. Some recent energy reduction actions the town has already undertaken are part of the plan.

The school committee approved the plan without a second reading, to give the public works department time to submit materials before the deadline.

"Every dollar we save on energy we can spend on education," said committee member Stephen Nelson. "These designs work."