Local Action Plan Recommendations: Brookline, Massachusetts

Agriculture and Forestry Sector

Street Tree Planting

Responsible Department/Organization: Conservation
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 4,060 tons

The Town of Brookline currently has 11,794 street trees. Each year, the Department of Parks and Open Space plants approximately 150 new trees along streets and in parks. This number is slightly less than the actual number of trees planted to account for tree death. In 2010, the town should have approximately 12,994 street trees. In addition, the town has received funding for restoration work at the Muddy River, Hall's Pond and Amory Woods Sanctuaries and the Emerald Necklace Conservancy. All of these projects will ensure the continued health of the town's urban forest. Based on estimates of carbon sequestration rates from the American Forest's Global Releaf program, town owned trees in Brookline could eliminate 4,060 tons of CO₂ by 2010.

Sustainable Business Program

Responsible Department: Economic Development, Energy Efficiency/Environmental Coordinator
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 7,419 tons

With this measure, the town could issue a certification or award to businesses that initiate emissions reduction activities with regard to energy conservation or waste prevention. The award would serve as public recognition of the efforts of local businesses to lessen the impact of their activities on the environment. This program will not only help local businesses save money through reduced energy consumption, but the awards will serve as advertising that will help attract new customers. If 40% of businesses in the town committed to a 10% reduction in energy consumption through the program, it could result in the elimination of 7,419 tons of CO₂ and financial savings of $1,206,832.

Cross-Sectoral or Other Sector

Climate Change Outreach and Education
Responsible Department/Organization: CCAB, Parks and Open Space, Energy Efficiency/Environmental Coordinator
CO₂ Savings in 2010: Unknown

The town should develop an education program on climate change to be incorporated into the public school curriculum and to be used for general outreach about the CCP program. Programs in schools could incorporate hands-on leaning projects such as monitoring lighting usage in schools or having students monitor automobile usage at home. A climate change curriculum guide is currently being developed for fifth graders in Brookline schools that provide an introduction to climate change as well as learning exercises and assignments to help students apply and retain the information. In addition to the curriculum guide, educational resources could be compiled for teachers to share with students, such as internet sites, books and journals and helpful contact organizations.

Building outreach and awareness of climate change can also extend beyond the classroom. In this respect, resources that discuss specific climate change issues with a focus on positive solutions could be compiled for all Brookline residents. This may include public displays, tabling at local events, continuous public forums, press coverage and citizen participation in the CCP process. Such outreach activities are instrumental for generating interest in the town’s involvement with climate change efforts. The formation of Citizens Climate Action Brookline (CCAB) in 2000 reflects the interest of residents in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the town.

While greenhouse gas emission reductions that might result from this measure are not easily quantified at this time, continued efforts to expand a climate change education and outreach program will have a significant impact on emissions in the town. The administration of such a program could become the responsibility of the Energy Efficiency/Environmental Coordinator should the town create this position.


Purchase of Environmentally Preferable Products

Responsible Department: Purchasing
CO₂ Savings in 2010: Unknown

The town is committed to increasing efforts to purchase more environmentally preferred products such as recycled paper, toner cartridges and energy efficient office appliances. Approximately 5 to 7% of overall office products purchased in 2000 were bought according to Environmental Preferred Products (EPP) guidelines. In 2000, the town’s office paper supply was 30% post-consumer recycled content. Recycled paper results in 74% less air pollution and 64% less energy use to manufacture than paper from wood.

There is insufficient data available to calculate the impact of the town’s environmentally preferable purchasing measures in terms of reduced emissions. However several amendments to town purchasing policies as listed below would significantly lessen the environmental impact of its operations. These recommendations could be developed into a formal EPP Policy.

• Products made from recycled materials should be preferred over those made from virgin materials when considerations of quality and cost are similar.
• The town should expand EPP purchases to include janitorial and cleaning products, environmentally friendly vehicle products (oil, traffic cones, and recycled antifreeze) and building products (recycled plastic lumber).
• Municipal departments should practice bulk purchasing of energy efficient and recycled content products.

Power Generation Sector

LED Traffic Signals

Responsible Department: Highway/DPW
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 364 tons

The DPW recently installed LED (light emitting diode) lights for the green and red signals at most of the traffic signals in Brookline. The project was funded with a grant from Boston Edison. LED lights use 80 to 90% less energy than conventional incandescent bulbs. In addition, LED lights require 1/6 the maintenance of conventional bulbs, only needing replacement every eight to ten years. The street light conversion will result in the elimination of 364 tons of CO₂ in 2010 and annual financial savings of $58,941. The town could also perform conversions in pedestrian signals and yellow traffic lights.


Town Building Lighting Retrofits

Responsible Department: Buildings
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 1,300 tons

In many town buildings, lighting fixtures account for a large proportion of energy consumption. Many buildings, including most of the schools, have received upgraded lighting in the form of compact fluorescents that have reduced electricity costs for the town. In addition, occupancy sensors in buildings such as Town Hall and the High School prevent the unnecessary lighting of vacant space. Lighting retrofits are planned for all municipal buildings, and the Building Department is committed to installing the most energy efficient technology throughout the town. With lighting efficiency measures that have already been undertaken, and those that are planned over the next eight years, this measure could result in the elimination of 1,300 tons of CO₂ in 2010, and annual financial savings of $189,635.


Energy Efficient Window Installation in Town Buildings

Responsible Department: Buildings
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 1,724 tons

The energy lost through residential and commercial windows costs U.S. consumers about $25 billion a year. In a typical building, 40% of the annual energy budget is consumed by heating and cooling. New glass technology can drastically cut energy loss from windows, significantly affecting how much money is spent on energy use in town buildings. The EPA estimates that the installation of energy efficient windows can result in energy savings of 15%. This measure calculates the impact of installing energy efficient windows in the following buildings by 2010 (buildings marked an asterisk refer to projects that have already been completed): Main Library, Coolidge Library, Putterham Library, Town Hall, Main Police, Health, Lynch Recreation, Soule Recreation, Baker, Baldwin, Devotion, Driscoll, Heath, Phys.Ed/UA Arts, High School, Lawrence, New Lincoln, Old Lincoln, Runkle and Pierce). There are obviously other municipal buildings in which window replacements could be undertaken, however only the above are used in calculations as these buildings had the most consistent and available data on energy usage. If new windows were installed on these town buildings, 1,724 tons of CO₂ could be saved in 2010, and annual financial savings of $251,604 could result.


Town Building Heating/Cooling Efficiency Measures

Responsible Department: Buildings
CO₂ Savings in 2010: Unknown

The town has undertaken many measures to make the heating and cooling systems in its buildings more efficient. These measures include the installation of new HVAC systems and the replacement of old heating systems with dual gas-oil boilers. In addition, revised energy management systems that are able to sense energy needs in specific rooms across town buildings based on occupancy schedules and indoor versus outdoor temperatures have been installed.

The town should continue with energy efficiency improvements on heating and cooling systems in municipal buildings. One further measure that should be investigated would be a requirement that an ‘energy impact report’ be completed after any building or renovation project, or after the installation of new equipment. A standardized system of energy impact reporting would allow the town to track energy and financial savings from specific changes, which would be enormously helpful for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions. The Building Department would then be able to prioritize projects based on the impact that they would have on energy consumption and financial expenditure on utility bills.


Energy Efficient Streetlights

Responsible Department: Highway, DPW
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 97 tons

In October of 2001, the town purchased 3,800 street lights from Boston Edison both in order to improve the level of service to the community and to achieve the benefits that will accompany town ownership. Of the 4,130 lights now owned by the town, 348 are mercury vapor. This measure would encourage the town to convert the remaining 348 to more efficient high pressure sodium technology. High-pressure sodium streetlights use on average 54.91% less electricity than do mercury vapor lights. Implementation of this measure could result in annual savings of $15,673 and in the elimination of 97 tons of CO₂.

Town Owned Demonstration House

Responsible Department: Buildings
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 10 tons

The City of Cambridge, MIT and Tufts University have all created project houses that demonstrate alternative energy technology and energy efficiency retrofit projects. The town could sponsor a renovation of a town owned property to serve as an outreach center for conservation and renewable energy education for residents and businesses. One potential property that could be converted into a demonstration house is the town owned residential property at 27 Acres Ave. If retrofits such as a solar hot water heating system, a solar electricity system and energy efficient appliances and lighting were installed at the property, it could result in the elimination of 10 tons of CO₂ and financial savings of $839.


Retrofit Fire Alarm Lights and Exit Signs in Town Buildings

Responsible Department: Buildings
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 75 tons

Lit exit signs and fire alarm lights are required in all public buildings. Today over 100 million exit signs are in use throughout the U.S. consuming more than 30 to 35 million kwh of energy and costing $1 billion to operate annually. The town does not keep specific records on the energy consumption of exit signs. However, there are records for the 239 incandescent red lights marking the location of fire alarms in the town. In 1998 the fire alarms accounted for 130,880 kwh of energy use. Converting the fire alarm lights to LED technology would eliminate 75 tons of CO₂ and result in annual savings of $12,221.


Municipal Use of Solar Electricity

Responsible Department: Buildings
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 17 tons

The installation of solar photovoltaic panels on municipal buildings could provide many environmental and economic benefits to the town. Photovoltaics produce electricity from the sun's rays using semiconductor technology. PV systems can be used to power lights, appliances and business equipment. A PV system is a way to guarantee reliable and uninterrupted power at a time when energy shortages are becoming more commonplace. While the technology for municipal solar use exists today, there are many barriers, due mostly to the high cost of installation, that stand in the way of this measure. However programs like the federal Million Solar Roofs initiative and organizations like Solar Boston are working to overcome barriers like lack of consumer and professional knowledge about solar technologies, limited number of qualified solar installers, high system cost, limited financing options and infrastructure barriers to grid-tied systems. The Building Department has indicated that the following buildings present possible opportunities to incorporate solar electricity production into renovation projects: Driscoll, Runkle, Devotion and Pierce schools and the Main Library and Police Department. If a 2kw PV system was installed on each of these six buildings, it could result in the elimination of 17 tons of CO₂ in 2010.


Purchase of Green Electricity

Responsible Organization: CCAB, Moderator's Committee
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 53,245 tons

With the deregulation of electricity in Massachusetts consumers are free to change their electricity provider. However, there are currently no competitive electric suppliers from which residential consumers can choose. This is due to a number of factors, including the fact that rates dropped after electric industry restructuring went into effect, making it undesirable for competitive suppliers to try to compete in the marketplace. MassEnergy predicts that by 2010 electricity providers will be able to sell green energy options that draw electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind power, small hydro or biomass, and that approximately 20% of the state's population will opt to purchase the cleaner energy. This measure evaluates the impact of 20% of the town's residential, commercial and municipal customers purchasing green energy in 2010. The cumulative impact of a 20% demand for green electricity from all three sectors could result in the reduction of 53,245 tons of CO₂.


Energy Efficient Building Code

Responsible Department: Buildings, Energy Efficiency/Environmental Coordinator
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 25,624 tons

Recent changes in the Massachusetts State Building Code require that all new construction be within 5% to 10% of the minimum energy efficiency thresholds set by the U.S. Department of Energy. The code for the Town of Brookline is the same as the state, and applies to new commercial and residential developments, in addition to substantial additions. The town could consider developing its own green building code with incentives that would enhance the State requirements. Based on estimated savings from other municipal green building codes, this measure could result in the elimination of 25,624 tons of CO₂ and financial savings of $2,137,974 for citizens who choose to make energy efficiency upgrades in their buildings.


Create Energy Advisory Committee

Responsible Department/Organization:
CO₂ Savings in 2010: Unknown

This measure would establish an Energy Advisory Committee composed of interested town residents and local experts on issues related to climate change. Members of this Advisory Committee could meet regularly to discuss priorities and progress related to the implementation of emissions reduction measures outlined in the Local Action Plan. Since the development of the Plan relied heavily on collaboration and input from members of the community, the same individuals should also be involved in overseeing and monitoring the implementation of measures they helped create. This group could also take the lead on continuing to compile and distribute information on greenhouse gas reduction technologies, programs and policies that will improve Brookline’s economy and environment.

Residential Sector

Residential Use of Solar Hot Water Heating

Responsible Department: Buildings
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 745 tons

In Massachusetts, water heating accounts for approximately 14% of the average family's home energy consumption. Solar hot water heating systems can cut water heating electricity use by 40 to 60%. A solar hot water heating system collects thermal energy from the sun to heat the water used to take showers, wash dishes and clean laundry. After a heat transfer fluid runs through pipes in rooftop panels and is heated by the sun's rays, the fluid is pumped down to a heat exchanger where it warms household water. If 10% of residences in Brookline installed solar hot water heating systems by 2010, 745 tons of CO₂ could be eliminated and $61,203 could be saved due to reduced electricity consumption.


Use of Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs in Residences

Responsible Organization: CCAB
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 7,181 tons

This measure evaluates the impact of Brookline residents converting conventional incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescents for their home lighting needs. Incandescent light bulbs waste a lot of electricity through the heat that the bulbs produce. A fluorescent bulb produces much less heat and as a result can be four to six times as efficient as incandescent bulbs. A 15-watt compact fluorescent provides the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent. In addition, compact fluorescents last at least nine to ten times longer than an incandescent. Approximately 9% of a home’s energy budget is used for lighting. Collectively, Americans could save $750 million if everyone switched to compact fluorescents. If Brookline residents converted their light bulbs to compact fluorescents, it could result in the elimination of 7,181 tons of CO₂ in 2010 and result in $655,749 in financial savings.


Residential Energy Efficiency Program

Responsible Department: Buildings, Energy Efficiency/Environmental Coordinator
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 20,918 tons

The town could develop a residential energy efficiency program that supported programs already set in place by local utilities such as NStar. NStar has a variety of programs to promote energy efficiency that offer free energy audits and rebates for energy efficient retrofits and appliances. Brookline could develop an energy education and outreach program for citizens and schoolchildren that advocates energy conservation and involvement with NStar's residential programs. The program could involve the creation of informational material and workshops that outline available resources and contacts and strategies for energy conservation. If a residential energy efficiency program resulted in a 5% decrease in energy consumption in Brookline residences, 20,918 tons of CO₂ could be eliminated and annual financial savings of $2,999,727 could result.

Transportation Sector

Police Units on Bicycle

Responsible Department: Police, Community Relations
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 58 tons

The Brookline Police Department currently has four bicycles which are used for patrols. These patrols usually operate from April through December, with three bicycles out during the day and two at night. If six additional bikes were purchased by 2010, so that on average 8 patrol cars were displaced by bicycle patrols for nine months of the year, 116 tons of CO₂ would be eliminated and the town could save $14,459 in fuel costs.


Hybrid Gas/Electric Vehicles in the Town Fleet

Responsible Department: Transportation, Highway
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 8 tons

If the town purchased an additional 25 Prius for the town Fleet by 2010, it could result in an additional reduction of 102 tons of CO₂ and savings of $12,736 in fuel costs.


Traffic Calming Programs

Responsible Department: Engineering, Transportation
CO₂ Savings in 2010: Unknown

The Transportation Department has recently undertaken a number of traffic calming studies at Winchester Street, Walnut Street, Brookline High School and at the Driscoll School. The total cost of these four projects is estimated at $510,000 (Transportation/Engineering). Future traffic calming projects are envisioned for Reservoir Road; Emerson Garden; Babcock and Pleasant Streets; and Allendale and Grove Streets. It is not possible to accurately calculate an emissions reduction that can be directly attributed to traffic calming projects. While traffic calming projects do reduce vehicular speeds and encourage walking and biking a figure for trip reductions cannot be attributed to a specific project without intensive study and research. There are, however, non-tangible benefits that result from this measure such as increased safety and community livability in the neighborhoods where traffic calming has been implemented.


Conversion of Fleet Vehicles to CNG

Responsible Department: Transportation, Highway
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 127 tons

At present, the Toyota Prius is an excellent vehicle with which to start an alternative fuel vehicle purchasing program. In the future however, the town may decide to consider converting some fleet vehicles, such as light vans or trucks, to CNG (compressed natural gas). CNG is the cleanest burning alternative fuel vehicle, and on a gallon-equivalent basis, costs an average of 15 to 40 % less than gasoline or diesel. While natural gas vehicles do emit methane, a greenhouse gas, any slight increase in methane emissions would be more than offset by the substantial reduction in CO₂ emissions. CNG vehicles are used extensively by MassPort and the MBTA. If the town were to convert its light vans and trucks by 2010, 127 tons of CO₂ would be eliminated, and $9,089 saved.


Conversion of Fleet Vehicles to Biodiesel

Responsible Department: Transportation, Highway
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 456 tons

Another emissions reduction measure that the town could implement would be to convert heavy trucks used by the DPW to biodiesel fuel. Biodiesel is a clean, renewable diesel fuel substitute produced from agricultural resources such as soybeans or rapeseed. It can be burned in any standard, unmodified diesel engine. Current biodiesel fleets have reported operational consistency over extended periods of use, engine performance, and payload power and range are completely unaltered. Biodiesel does not function well in cold weather, but, as no tank conversion is required, vehicles can simply be fueled with conventional diesel during winter months. If the town’s 48 heavy trucks and equipment vehicles currently running on diesel were fueled with biodiesel for eight months of the year by 2010, 456 tons of CO₂ could be eliminated. The town could also investigate low-sulfur diesel, which, although not widely available in the United States at present, reduces the particulate emissions that are associated with conventional diesel.


Parking Cash-Out for Town Employees

Responsible Department: Personnel, Transportation
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 19 tons

Parking Cash-Out is a measure that would give municipal employees who have reserved parking in the town to give up their parking space in exchange for its cash value. This measure could be implemented in conjunction with the subsidized MBTA pass program, to further encourage town employees to seek out alternative forms of transportation. The calculations used to quantify the impact of this measure on greenhouse gas emissions focus only on the 104 parking pass holders who park in the Town Hall lot. If this measure were applied to all town employees who currently drive to work, its impact would be far greater. Calculations suggest that this measure would eliminate 18 tons of CO₂ per year and avoid $7,629 in fuel costs.


Corporate T-Pass for Town Employees

Responsible Department: Personnel
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 35 tons

The MBTA operates a Corporate T Pass Program in which businesses and municipalities can purchase subway and bus passes in groups for employees. The MBTA sends the passes to the business at the end of each month for the convenience of employees. Many employers choose to subsidize the pass program as an incentive for employees to take public transportation to work and to increase workplace morale. Even if the town decides against subsidizing the program, employees can still enroll (minimum participation is 5 people), as the benefits of public transportation and group purchase are numerous. The calculations used to quantify the impact of this measure on greenhouse gas emissions focus only on the 104 parking pass holders who park in the Town Hall lot. If this measure were applied to all town employees who currently drive to work, its impact would be far greater. Calculations suggest that this measure would eliminate 35 tons of CO₂ per year and avoid $7,629.34 in fuel costs.


Telecommuting for Town Employees

Responsible Department: Personnel, Information Technology
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 486 tons

Telecommuting, the act of working from home rather than traveling back and forth to a workplace, is thought to produce benefits for the companies and individuals involved, as well as present intangible benefits for the rest of society. The town could provide the technology and flexibility for certain employees to take advantage of telecommunication advances and reduce their number of trips by working from home. Each department would need to evaluate where this is possible and how such a program could be established fairly. Calculations demonstrate that creating a program whereby 350 town employees worked from home twice a month could result in an annual savings of $24,541 and the reduction of 486 tons of CO₂.

If all Brookline employers were encouraged to allow employees to telecommute the impact on greenhouse gas emissions could be quite substantial. Calculations used to quantify the impact of this measure assume that 40% of the total workforce in Brookline (30,668 people) work in positions that are suitable for telecommuting. If 9,952 employees telecommuted twice a month, it could result in financial savings of $5,739,715 and in the reduction of 105,776 tons of CO₂.


Support for Car Sharing Programs

Responsible Department: Transportation
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 26 tons

The town is currently assisting with the Zipcar car sharing program by providing three free parking spaces for Zipcars in Brookline. There are 81 members in Brookline with five Zipcars located in the town. The benefits of the program are numerous. According to recent statistics compiled by Zipcar, the member/car ratio in Brookline is approximately 16 to 1, which has taken an estimated 38 cars off the road. The cost of being a Zipcar member is far less than the cost of renting or owning a vehicle. Additionally, members do not have to worry about the responsibilities associated with owning a car -Zipcar takes car of those logistics. The Zipcar program in Brookline is responsible for the elimination of 26 tons of CO₂.


Walk to School Program

Responsible Department: Transportation, School Department, Energy Efficiency/Environmental Coordinator CO₂ Savings in 2010: 58 tons

Many parents in Brookline drive their children to school even though many schools are well within walking distance. The increased vehicular traffic going into and out of the schoolyards each morning and afternoon pose safety hazards for students as well as drivers. A Walk to School program would lessen concerns about traffic safety near schools. A Walk to School program would involve parents walking their children to school, or putting them on a 'walking bus', which would consist of parent volunteers and a group of children that attend the same school. Such a program has many other benefits aside from decreasing emissions and increasing safety. It can create a sense of community between families and schools in a particular area and promote healthy forms of transportation such as walking or bicycling. If Walk to School programs achieved a 25% participation rate in Brookline's 8 elementary schools, 58 tons of CO₂ could be eliminated and residents could save $ 7,281 in avoided fuel costs.


Bicycling Infrastructure Improvements and Outreach Program

Responsible Department: Transportation, Highway
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 484 tons

The four greatest impediments for commuters choosing to bicycle to work and for errands are safety, weather, distance and inadequate facilities for storage or changing at destinations. While the town cannot control weather or people's commuting distance, better infrastructure in the form of bike lanes and storage facilities can encourage more bicycling. This measure would involve the construction of a one-mile bike lane, the installation of 100 bike racks in town and a supporting education/outreach program to stress the value of biking. The outreach program could be developed with input from the Brookline Bike Coalition. If this measure encouraged 300 people to switch to bicycling as their primary method of transportation for eight months of the year, it could result in a reduction of 484 tons of CO₂ and financial savings of $60,474.49 in avoided fuel costs.


Program to Increase MBTA Ridership

Responsible Department: Transportation, Engineering, Energy Efficiency/Environmental Coordinator
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 3,238 tons

With this measure, the town could implement an outreach program or social marketing campaign with the goal of decreasing personal automobile trips and increasing MBTA ridership among Brookline residents. While many people in Brookline have excellent access to public transportation, the personal automobile remains the most frequently used form of travel. An outreach program or social marketing campaign could be developed that enabled Brookline residents to overcome these perceived barriers to public transportation, and to see the numerous individual and community benefits that would arise from an increased MBTA ridership in the town. If such a campaign was successful, and enabled 10% of the town’s population to switch to public transportation for 60% of their trips, 3,238 tons of CO₂ could be eliminated and $793,115 could be saved through avoided fuel costs.


Taxicab Study

Responsible Department: Transportation, Highway
CO₂ Savings in 2010: Unknown

The town is currently considering undertaking a study to determine how to make Brookline taxicabs more sustainable through improved regulations. The Transportation Department is planning to open up the taxi market to two outside companies in the next year. The proposed cab study will look at the effects of ‘opening up’ the taxi market in the town, with the aim of ascertaining the sustainable number of taxicabs in Brookline. The results of the study will then determine the number of taxis that each company will be allowed to operate. The Department hopes that increased competition will allow enforcement of stricter regulations on the taxi companies, particularly in terms of more stringent inspections, the age of cars and compliance with idling and roaming rules. The taxi study would also determine average VMT for taxis in Brookline, which would enable the calculation of greenhouse gas emissions from this sector. Daniel Flores of the Department of Economics at Boston University, who studies the taxi industry, has offered to undertake the study for approximately $3,000. The Highway Department is investigating approval for the funding.


Support for Urban Ring Project

Responsible Organization: Board of Selectmen, CCAB
CO₂ Savings in 2010: Unknown

The Urban Ring project of the MBTA plans to add a ‘rim’ to the current hub and spoke transit system in greater Boston that connects with all the existing and planned transit lines (Commuter Rail, Green, Blue, Orange, Red, Silver and numerous MBTA bus lines). While Brookline will only host a small portion of the transit line, it will increase the efficiency for other transit line riders in the town. The construction of the Urban Ring will provide an incentive for Brookline residents to use public transportation more often and help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from single-occupancy vehicle use. In January of 1999, the Joint Committee on Transportation of the Board of Selectman sent a letter to the town’s state representatives endorsing the Urban Ring transit route, and signed the Urban Ring compact with Boston, Cambridge, Everett, Chelsea and Somerville. The town should continue to support the measure in the future. Since there will inevitably be some time before the actual construction of the Urban Ring begins, the project may provide opportunity for the town and CCAB to lobby for the use of alternative fuel vehicles to be used on the new lines once construction is complete.

Waste Sector

Home Composting Program

Responsible Department: Conservation
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 189 tons

Since 1997, the Conservation Department has been selling compost bins to residents at a reduced rate with the assistance of a DEP grant. Selling an additional 150 bins per year for eight years would result in an additional 1,200 bins in circulation by the year 2010, for a total of 1,800 compost bins in Brookline residences. These compost bins would result in the diversion of 608 tons of waste. Assuming the town continues to receive the DEP grant, the cost of the additional 1,200 bins would be $6,000 (1,200 x 5). This cost would be sufficiently offset, however, from the $50,780.16 that would be saved in waste hauling fees. The sale of additional bins would also result in a further elimination of 566 tons of CO₂ in 2010.


Curbside Recycling Program

Responsible Department: Conservation
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 21,589 tons

The town's municipal weekly curbside recycling program serves both residential and municipal areas. The municipal recycling program is very successful, and resulted in 10,649.97 tons of waste being diverted from the municipal waste stream in 2000. If current recycling rates continue, this measure will result in an emissions reduction of 21,589 tons of CO₂ in 2010. Emissions reductions from the recycling program not only include savings from disposal methods that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions but also account for the energy savings of resource recovery.

Accomplishments of the recycling program include a recycling hotline, a 24-hour recycling drop-off location at Coolidge Corner, education and outreach about recycling and a Household Hazardous Products (HHP) Collection Day, which is held annually in the first weekend of May. Additional projects being considered to help increase diversion rates even further include: translation of recycling and informational materials into other languages; increasing educational outreach at schools; establishing of a reuse and repair center, or 'Freebie Barn'; and creating more drop-off sites.

Increasing the recycling rate 10% by 2010 would result in the annual diversion of an additional 523 tons of yard waste, 387 tons of mixed paper, 89 tons of commingled containers and 67 tons of scrap metal, for a total of 1,066 additional tons of recycled material. Implementation cost: $747,374.02. Cost savings: $231,152.41. Potential emissions reduction: 23,482 tons CO₂.


Bylaw Requiring Mandatory Private Recycling Service

Responsible Department/Organization: Conservation (Kristin Pelak)
CO₂ Savings in 2010: 17,442 tons

Municipal curbside recycling only reaches residential and commercial buildings on town trash accounts. Apartment buildings and homeowners can choose to use private haulers for their solid waste, and these haulers may or may not provide recycling. The town could pass a bylaw or permitting process that would require private haulers with scheduled pick-ups of residential or commercial solid waste to offer recycling services. This legislation could be based on MA DEP requirements that mandate all landlords of multiunit apartments to offer recycling services to their residents. Calculations suggest that this measure could result in the diversion of 8,665 tons of waste and the reduction of 17,442 tons of CO₂.