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 Ken Pruitt, Sustainability Director |
Welcome to Sustainability NewsWelcome to the first issue of Winchester Sustainability News. Winchester is a recognized leader among Massachusetts communities working to reduce carbon pollution, prepare for a changing climate, and become more environmentally sustainable. As Sustainability Director since October 2021, I work with all levels of Town government, as well as residents and businesses, to implement Winchester's Climate Action Plan and other sustainability plans and programs. You'll learn about Winchester's sustainability efforts in this newsletter, including ways you can make your home and business, and our town, more sustainable.
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New Program to Help Residents Go Solar with ConfidenceIf you’ve been considering solar power for environmental or financial reasons, now is a great time for Winchester residents to go solar. First, federal solar tax credits just increased to 30 percent, up from 22 percent in 2022. Second, Winchester has partnered with EnergySage, a company dedicated to making solar affordable and accessible. EnergySage provides a user-friendly online application, impartial Solar Advisors, and easily allows you to request and evaluate quotes from local, vetted installers. You will save even more since Winchester residents who proceed with a solar project via EnergySage receive a $200 rebate. Visit EnergySage's dedicated site for Winchester residents here. Shaded roof? EnergySage also offers a Community Solar option: you can purchase a share of solar power produced elsewhere and still receive the financial and environmental benefits of going solar. For more information about the benefits of going solar, visit Winchester's Sustainability Department website.
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Improve Your Property with Sustainable LandscapingDid you know that you can make your property more attractive and sustainable at the same time? Winchester was recently awarded a grant to help homeowners, landscapers and others learn how to maintain their properties in ways that save water, reduce pesticides, improve wildlife and pollinator habitat, reduce soil erosion, and make properties more attractive. With the grant from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Winchester will create a Sustainable Landscape Handbook and hold training sessions on sustainable landscaping practices. The project is just getting started now, and will be completed by the end of the year. Keep an eye on this newsletter and the Town’s social media channels to obtain a Handbook and attend training sessions.
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Winchester Sustainability Quiz
Question: What percentage of carbon pollution (greenhouse gas emissions) in Winchester is attributable to buildings (homes and businesses), including heating, air conditioning, and electrical usage?
Answer:
a) 25%
b) 37%
c) 63%
d) 76% The answer is located near the end of this newsletter. |
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 Conceptual Design for Rooftop Solar Panels at the New Lynch Elementary |
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Lynch Elementary: Winchester's First Net Zero SchoolDid you know that there are currently no Net Zero schools in Winchester? The great news is that’s about to change. The new Lynch Elementary School, approved for construction by Winchester voters on January 7, 2023, is being designed to be Net Zero. That means 100 percent of the School's energy use will be met or offset by on-site solar power. The building’s design is all-electric with no on-site combustion of fossil fuels: electric heat pumps will provide heating and cooling. The building will be extremely efficient, with highly insulated walls, windows and doors. And not only will the parking lots include electric vehicle charging stations, they will be partially covered with parking canopy solar arrays - another first for Winchester. When completed in September 2025, the school will meet the educational needs of Lynch students, teachers and administrators with an exceptionally small environmental impact. The building design is so sustainable, in fact, that the project is on track to receive generous state and utility rebates for sustainable design. For more information about the Lynch replacement project, visit the project website here. |
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WinPower 100: A Good Deal for the Climate and Your WalletMost people pay little attention to their electricity supply, but this seemingly complex and boring topic is really important! About 29 percent of carbon pollution from buildings in Winchester is caused by the burning of fossil fuels to produce electricity. The good news is that you can make your own electricity 100% carbon free by enrolling in WinPower 100, at a price currently lower than Eversource Basic supply. WinPower was created by Town Meeting in 2017. WinPower Standard provides 42% renewable power. But hundreds of Winchester residents have gone further and enrolled in WinPower 100. Both WinPower Standard and WinPower 100 are currently about 10 cents per kWh less expensive than Eversource Basic, which is the default electricity supply provided by Eversource to homes not participating in WinPower. Click here to enroll in WinPower 100, or click here to learn more about the WinPower program.
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Winchester Sustainability Quiz Answer
c) 63% Buildings, mostly residential homes, are responsible for 63% of carbon pollution in Winchester. This is based on Winchester's 2019 Greenhouse Gas Inventory, available on this page.
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Sustainability Resources for Winchester Residents and Businesses
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Ken Pruitt
Sustainability Director
781-265-9730
Kpruitt@winchester.us
Town Hall, 71 Mt. Vernon St., Winchester MA 01890
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