Hopkinton News : energy

Town, schools take energy-efficiency pledge

Bow Editor — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:56:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Don’t let the white stuff covering the town fool you, Hopkinton is getting greener.

As part of the state Environmental Protection Agency’s Community Energy Challenge, Hopkinton has joined 21 other towns in pledging to assess energy use, improve energy efficiency, save money and work to expand renewable energy.

The effort has several different approaches, according to Bob Veloski, Hopkinton’s interim town administrator.

“We have to look at the energy we use, where we use it and how it’s being used.,” he said. “Over the next few years we’ll look at the lighting in most town buildings, and insulation to make things more efficient. It’s a long-term investment, not just a one shot thing.”

Last year, town officials replaced the windows on half of the town hall with more energy efficient ones, and this year they will replace the other windows.

According to Selectman Don Lane, the process will include an energy evaluation of Columbia Hall, Town Hall, Bates Library (town clerk’s office), Slusser Center, town library, Horseshoe Tavern Building and the fire station.

“We’re interested in reducing our footprint from an energy point of view to not only save money, but to have a green impact. The Greener Hopkinton group got us going on this and we’ve taken advantage of some of PSNH’s offerings,” said Lane.

PSNH helped Hopkinton look at the types of energy-efficient lights that would work for town buildings.

“They suggest alternative lighting and finance it over a certain period of time. You pay half, they pay half and then you show the benefits,” said Veloski. “For multiple reasons, we got involved. The cost, the benefit to the environment. There isn’t just a single benefit.”

Hopkinton residents have shown a willingness toward being energy conscious, forming the Greener Hopkinton committee and taking a stand on the reopening of the Bio Energy power plant.

Lane also said of the 27 towns using the Penacook incinerator, Hopkinton is second in recycling efforts.

“That’s the people of the town. They’ve put money into open space to purchase lands and easements, they’ve done a lot for that. In the case of Bio Energy, they didn’t want things burnt that weren’t clean,” said Veloski. “The town has a lot of involvement with the environment. It’s very nice to see that people really care about the town and environment that they live in.”

Lane has also been impressed with the efforts of town members. “I don’t know if I’d say we’re unique, but the town is aggressively working on reducing our energy usage and we’re working on all of the green aspects,” said Lane. “Hopkinton has been very positive about things like this, with great support from the citizens.”

With the project, the entire town will benefit.

“The biggest benefit is to the town of Hopkinton. We can reduce costs and energy usage, therefore contributing a smaller footprint to the town,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll continue on that effort.”

Hopkinton school officials are also working on a separate energy project, said Lane.

The New England Community Energy Challenge is a regional program of the Energy Star Challenge, a nationwide campaign to improve energy efficiency in commercial and industrial buildings across the United States by 10 percent or more. Nationally, Energy Star, across all of its programs, saved Americans $14 billion and prevented 37 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2006 alone.

Towns and cities participating in EPA’s New England Community Energy Challenge include:

New Hampshire – Alstead, Barrington, Bedford, Brookline, Chester, Colebrook, Dover, Enfield, Fitzwilliam, Hanover, Hillsborough, Hopkinton, Hudson, Lincoln, Manchester, Nashua, Rochester, Rollinsford, Sanbornton, Shelburne, Somersworth and Tuftonboro. Connecticut – Burlington, Canton, Hamden, Harwinton, Ridgefield, Stamford and West Hartford.

Massachusetts – Billerica, Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Cohasset, Dartmouth, Dedham, Easton, Groton, Hanson, Haverhill, Ipswich, Lancaster, Lowell, Mansfield, Medford, Melrose, Milton, Needham, New Bedford, Northampton, Plymouth, Quincy, Salem, Sharon, Somerville, Springfield, Wales, Waltham, Warwick and Woburn.

Maine – Berwick, Denmark, Falmouth, Kennebec Sanitary Treatment District, Kingfield, Kittery, Madison, Mechanic Falls and Stockton Springs.

Living green – Builder creates energy-friendly home

Bow Editor — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 13:59:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Steve Reddy is ahead of the game in New Hampshire.

The Hopkinton builder, and owner of Zetland Homes, thought he was building the third “green home” in the state of New Hampshire when he started digging in mid-June. However, he and his team built
the house so fast, they actually turned out to be the second.

The Loudon home, which is certified as more environmentally friendly than the average residence, was on display during the New Hampshire Parade of Homes the week of Oct. 8, when about 1,000 visitors came to see the custom building during an open house.

“I have an interest in the building science, high-performance house thing. Also, I believe we’re called to be good stewards to the environment, and I think we should all take care of things when we are here,” said Reddy.

To be considered a green home, a building must meet U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program guidelines.

Energy efficiency, high air quality and the materials used are just a few of the qualities the new home has.

“Environmental protection is very important. We’re reaching critical mass. People have an interest on the impact they’re making,” said Reddy. “The people who came to see the home were shown how to take a conventially built home and make it a green home to some extent.”

The home will be on display through November, and will then be listed for sale. Reddy said he has been thrilled with the response to his project.

“It’s obviously been a very exciting process, especially in a marketplace like this to generate that level of interest from people involved in homes, the public as well as construction and real estate people,” he said.

Reddy is not only ahead of the game in the New Hampshire real estate market, but also throughout the country as there are only about 280 homes with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification.

Although the number of green homes is small, Reddy believes it will jump soon.

“For builders who are interested, it will be a very good market. It’s not for every builder. It’s paperwork-intensive as you’re thinking about the whole building and the system,” he said.

“It’s the wave of the future. Experts are predicting half of new homes will have some aspect of green building, which is encouraging.”

Property owners need to OK herbicide spraying

Bow Editor — Wed, 09 May 2007 19:00:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Hopkinton resident Derek Owen wasn’t happy when National Grid power company started spraying herbicides under power lines near his home 36 years ago, from 1971 to 1973, and he is again taking issue with the company’s spraying this spring.

“Before (1971), you would hear them coming through with chain saws every year, cutting the young saplings and stuff that would be a threat to maintaining power, but they didn’t take down the blueberries or anything like that. When they started spraying, they just ran through there with disregard to everything that grew,” said Owen, who once chased sprayers off his property with a shotgun.

“After that we just decided we didn’t want them to spray anymore.”

In 1973, residents in Hopkinton passed a petitioned warrant article, initiated by Owen, banning the use of herbicides on private property without the consent of the property owners.

This year, with National Grid power company prepared to begin spraying, some locals shared their concerns with selectmen at a recent meeting.

Though it was discussed by board members, including the possibility of filing a cease and desist order or creating an updated warrant article, Selectman Don Lane says the board likely won’t take action.

“I think (National Grid) will operate under the guidelines of that article, which says you better check with the property owner before you do it, which is what they’re doing, so it’s basically a non-issue,” said Lane.

“Besides, they do it very rarely. It’s not an annual event and I’d be willing to bet they haven’t done it three times since the town passed that article.”

The only point where it would become an issue for selectmen to intervene, said Lane, is should those spraying ignore their responsibility of obtaining approval from property owners.

Though Lane noted one resident suggested banning herbicides altogether, he said it would be devastating to local industries involving farming and agriculture.

“We had a meeting with farmers and they say the stuff is pretty benign and only goes after species that can grow tall enough to get in the way of the power lines,” said Lane.

Still, Owen said National Grid doesn’t need to use herbicides anymore because the initial treatments were effective in preventing future growth to this day.

He added that National Grid need to do a better job of notifying residents than simply printing an announcement in the newspaper.

Representatives from National Grid were unavailable for comment.