Region 1: EPA New England

Community Energy Challenge: Promoting Energy Efficiency and Renewables in New England Cities and Towns

The Community Energy Challenge is an opportunity for municipalities across New England to identify simple and cost-effective measures that increase energy efficiency and renewable energy use while reducing air pollution and saving money.

Community Energy Challenge News - Video from New England Communities

Warwick, Rhode Island Hanson, Mass.

The Community Energy Challenge: Step by Step

EPA is challenging all New England communities to save money and reduce air pollution by assessing their energy use, taking action to improve energy efficiency, and seeking out renewable energy choices. EPA will provide technical assistance to every community that chooses to Take the Challenge! (2 pp., 39 KB, MSWORD)

Step 1. Take the Pledge. Agree to assess energy use in your community's schools, municipal buildings or wastewater facilities. Set a target for reductions (at least 10% lower than your baseline) in energy use intensity (energy use per square foot).  The timeframe for reductions is up to participants. Submit the commitment letter (2 pp., 39 KB, MSWORD).

Step 2. Assess energy use. Allow the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool to help your municipality take control of energy consumption in your municipality. Track energy use per square foot, costs, greenhouse gas emissions. Log onto the ENERGY STAR Web site to assess your buildings with the help of the free ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool. Contact us (kambli.shubhada@epa.gov) with questions. Be sure to take free, online webinars to learn how to use Portfolio Manager and more.

Step 3. Understand opportunities for efficiency. Challenge participants can use ENERGY STAR resources like the Building Upgrade Manual and work with organizations across the region to identify opportunities for energy efficiency and renewables. These groups include:

ENERGY STAR
NSTAR
KeySpan
National Grid
Jordan Institute
ICLEI
CT Clean Energy Fund
CT Energy Efficiency Fund
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships
Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
The U.S. Conference of Mayors
Alliance for Climate Action
Clean Air Cool Planet
Cool Monadnock

These organizations can help you increase energy efficiency and promote renewable energy use within municipal operations and throughout your community as well.

Step 4. Recognize successes.
Let EPA – and the nation – know about your successes. Buildings that perform well are eligible for national ENERGY STAR recognition. With your permission, we'll be collecting information on cost savings as well as energy and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Just let us know how you're doing, and remember: all data entered into Portfolio Manager are private until you share it with us.

Fixed costs like energy are a real budget-buster for fiscally strapped cities like Somerville. For us, reducing our energy usage it is not only responsible health policy, but also sound fiscal management. We recently committed to reducing Somerville's energy consumption by 20% in coming years. The EPA Community Energy Challenge provides us the tools and support we need to track our progress on this important initiative - and we're glad to participate.
- Joseph A. Curtatone, Mayor