| Local Policy Description: | Implementing Commercial Energy Efficiency Measures
Somerville seeks to foster communication between small commercial and industrial establishments and representatives from NSTAR and its installation contracting firm (Harris Energy) to increase participation in NSTAR's Small Commercial & Industrial Retrofit Program (also known as the "Small Business Services" program). At least 10% of Somerville small businesses will undertake some type of retrofit by 2010. The plan includes a projection for 2010 commercial emissions (216,864 tons) and assumes a steady annual rate of decrease (0.157% decrease per year) from 1997 to 2010, an estimate that 2003 commercial CO2 emissions equal roughly 219,300 tons. Each business will have different emissions reduction opportunities. One way in which this can be accomplished is through energy efficiency programs already set in place by local utilities. NSTAR offers programs that promote energy efficiency, provide free energy audits, and offer low-cost installation of energy efficiency upgrades to commercial lighting fixtures, electronic building controls, heating and cooling, and other mechanical equipment. These programs include a Retrofit Program targeted to small businesses (those with annual average monthly demand of less than 100 KW electricity) in which NSTAR will pay for up to 80% of total project costs, and a Retrofit Program for larger businesses in which NSTAR will pay for up to 50% of total project costs. NSTAR also offers programs for larger businesses focusing on particular energy consuming equipment (e.g., motors, air conditioning, compressed air systems, et al). For motors, qualifying commercial and industrial customers can purchase a NEMA premium qualifying motor for approximately the same cost as a standard EPAct efficiency motor through NSTAR's MotorUp program.
Promote Green Practices in New Construction and Renovation
Project managers will be encouraged to adopt "green building" practices for new construction and during renovation of existing Somerville commercial and industrial buildings through an incentive based zoning and permitting process, implemented by 2004. At least 10% of new buildings or renovations should follow recommended practices by 2007 and 20% by 2010. The steps toward this goal include the following: requiring project managers for all new or renovated commercial and industrial buildings in Somerville to fill out a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating score sheet; providing builders and designers with information on green building practices and green building consultants in the area who can assist in filling out the LEED score sheet; recommending that all new or renovated commercial and industrial large development projects (over 50,000 square feet) in Somerville meet a LEED silver rating and have a minimum of three points in the energy section; giving permitting priority and reducing permit processing time for buildings that meet or exceed a LEED silver rating and have a minimum of three points in the energy section; giving special consideration for variances in zoning requirements (i.e. building density, green space, parking), within the limits of the planning board's powers, to buildings that meet or exceed a LEED silver rating and have a minimum of three points in the energy section. Greenhouse gas emissions will depend on standards chosen during the building process and the extent to which adopted measures are improvements over baseline levels. Somerville feels confident in saying, however, that reductions will be significant.
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