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The following was submitted by the town of Winchester:
The Town of Winchester was recognized at an award ceremony on Nov. 22 by the state Department of Energy Resources (DOER) for having achieved a 20% reduction in municipal energy use since becoming a Green Community in 2010.
Annual energy savings from all projects completed since 2010 include 2.6 million kWh and 73,000 natural gas therms, resulting in a major reduction not just in carbon pollution, but also town utility bills.
This achievement is thanks in large measure to efforts by members of Winchester’s Energy Management Committee going all the way back to 2005, with invaluable support from Spark Energy consultants (and Winchester residents) Susan McPhee and Laura Turenne.
Individual projects are too numerous to list, but include lighting conversions to highly efficient LEDs at most town buildings and of all street lights, more efficient heating and cooling systems in town buildings, renovation of Winchester High School to much higher efficiency standards (achieving LEED Gold status), and many more.
This work was supported by $1.8 million in DOER Green Community grants, utility incentives, and town appropriations. Winchester continues to seek out opportunities for projects that reduce energy use and carbon pollution.
