MORE ENERGY INITIATIVES!

Sherborn is continuing its efforts to pursue energy efficiency as well as renewable and alternative energy. Last year, we participated in a regional solicitation through Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) for an energy services company. The Request for Qualifications resulted in 8 very good proposals. After an intensive evaluation process, the firm of Ameresco, based in Framingham, was selected.

The program consists of two phases. The first phase is to conduct "investment grade audits" of Town buildings. This process involves reviewing energy bills, occupancy patterns and conducting a comprehensive physical examination of Town buildings. The result is a list of recommended physical improvements, including the cost of the improvements and an estimate of the the energy cost savings that will result. As a result of this solicitation, we are able to get the audits done for 4.5 cents per square foot.

The second phase, which is optional, allows us to contract with Ameresco to implement a package of some or all of the recommended improvements. The contract would include a guarantee by Ameresco of a certain level of savings that will result. The cost of the improvements would then be paid for using the resulting savings. The Town can choose to use its normal bonding capacity to finance the improvements, enter into a lease purchase agreement or other mechanism, but whatever is chosen will be backed by the guaranteed savings.Since we have funding from our Green Communities grant, we can fold that funding into the program to enhance the level of capital improvements we can make through this program. Conversely, if we decide not to pursue a contract with Ameresco, we still have the series of improvements that we are funding with our grant.

Another effort, which is actually part of our Green Communities grant, is the installation of a "Big Belly" solar trash compactor. The unit was delivered to the Community Maintenance and Development recently and will shortly be installed near the concession stand at Jameson Fields. In addition to using solar energy to compact the trash, it also can send an automatic email when it is nearing capacity to indicate that it will soon need to be emptied. Thus, the compacting reduces the number of trips needed to empty it and the email notification further ensures that trips are not made needlessly when the unit is not nearly full.

Third, in a program similar to the ESCO solicitation, we have indicated our interest in working with MAPC again on a regional solicitation to develop a solar photovoltaic facility at our landfill site. Joining with other Towns in a regional solicitation is likely to generate more interest and a more beneficial  proposal than going it alone. We also have indicated an interest in a regional solicitation for the purchase of LED street lights, though no decision has yet been made on whether to pursue that.