| Local Policy Description: | Initiate a Green Sanctuary Program
The program seeks to make houses of worship more energy efficient, both by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the buildings in which congregations meet and by encouraging congregants to take energy efficiency measures in their own homes. The short-term goal for 2003 was to have one congregation to sign up for the Interfaith Power and Light (IP&L) program. The medium-term goal is to have 20% of congregations in Somerville (approximately six) to sign up for the program by 2007. The long-term goal is to have 10% of congregants in each participating congregation commit to energy efficiency measures at home by 2007. The Green Sanctuary Movement is taking hold in various communities around the country. IP&L will implement this program in conjunction with members of the Commission and/or Somerville Climate Action. The Conservation Services Group (CSG) will conduct energy audits of houses of worship participating in the program. Congregations will follow through with recommended renovations. Participating houses of worship will receive public recognition and other congregations will be encouraged to join the program
Establish a Program of Energy Efficiency and Conservation Retrofits in Municipal Buildings
Energy and conservation retrofits should be implemented in order to reduce consumption of fossil fuels (such as heating oil and natural gas), electricity, and water. Retrofits include upgrades of HVAC systems, lighting systems, boilers, and chillers; other examples are the installation of low flow faucet fixtures, replacement of incandescent exit sign lights with LED's, occupancy sensors, and electricity- saving devices for vending machines. Measures that pay for themselves in a relatively short time-such as one to five years-should be implemented as soon as possible. Other priority retrofits, offering a longer horizon for returns on investment, should be considered once a building inventory and cost/benefit analysis have been completed for each building. Somerville believes retrofits could be identified that would reduce emissions from individual buildings by 10% to 20% before 2010. To assess the state of all municipal buildings and their varying levels of efficiency, a thorough building inventory needs to be completed.
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