Medford’s commitment to green initiatives and clean energy goes back over a decade. The most visible representation of this commitment is evidenced by the wind turbine at the McGlynn & Andrews School complex. This turbine stands as a beacon for residents and visitors traveling in and out of Boston on a daily basis, reminding them of the importance and beauty of a commitment to renewable energy. This turbine is only one of many projects and policies that Medford has developed over the past ten years.
Highlights of our major energy initiatives over the past 10 years include:
1999 1st Green House Gas Inventory: Medford performed its first green
house gas inventory in conjunction with ICLEI.
1999 Tree City USA Designation: Medford maintains this designation by
maintaining a forestry program, having a Tree Warden, and observing Arbor Day each year.
1999 Created Medford Energy Task Force
1999 Solar Panels: Medford installed solar panels on the roof of City Hall and
at the Medford High School (panels were later moved to Hornell Stadium).
1999 Municipal Lighting Retrofits: Medford performed lighting retrofits at City Hall, the Public Safety Building and the Medford Public Library
2001 Biodiesel & Electric Cars: Medford replaced the diesel fuel used at the
Medford Cemetery with biodiesel and received electric cars for city use.
2001 Climate Action Plan: Medford created the first Municipal Climate
Action Plan in the Commonwealth.
2002 1st Energy Efficiency Fair: Medford hosted its first Energy Efficiency Fair
2002 LED Traffic Lights: Medford converted all of the traffic lights in the city
to LED
2003 Creation of Energy & Environment Office
2003 Benchmarked Municipal Energy Use: Medford benchmarked its
municipal energy usage with the US EPA, resulting in an Energy Star Plaque for the City Hall.
2004 Created Medford Clean Energy Committee
2004 US EPA Energy Star Plaque: Medford City Hall was the first
Massachusetts City Hall to receive the EPA Energy Star Plaque.
2004 US EPA Clean Air Excellence Award: received for regulatory/policy
innovations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
2004 School Bus No-Idling Policy: Medford developed a comprehensive
program to reduce school bus idling.
2005 US EPA Clean School Bus Project: Medford became the 1st US EPA
Clean School Bus Project recipient in the country to not only manage this Program for our City but for the other 12 Metro Boston communities served by our school bus contractor.
2005 Municipal Energy Efficiency Policy: Medford issued an Energy &
Resource Efficiency Policy that covers all aspects of energy use by City employees including lighting, office equipment purchasing and use, building heating and cooling, water usage, the motor vehicle fleet and commuting options and alternatives.
2005 Municipal Environmental Purchasing and Sustainability Award:
Received from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for outstanding performance in the areas of recycling and sustainable practices.
2006 Altwheels Transportation Festival Award: for the city with the Greatest Commitment to Alternative Transportation.
2007 Joined EPA New England Community Energy Challenge
2007 Energy Smackdown Pilot: Medford hosted the first iteration of the Energy Smackdown household energy reduction contest.
2007- 2009 Wind Turbine: Medford built and commissioned a 100 kilowatt
wind turbine at the Andrews and McGlynn School Complex.
2008 Energy Smackdown Competition: A team of Medford households competed against teams from Arlington and Cambridge in a year-long carbon reduction campaign. A Medford household came in first in the individual household category.
2008 Solar Lighting: Medford was selected to participate in the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s solar-powered lighting system program. A solar lighting system was installed for the Playstead Cemetery Monument
2009 School Energy Audits & EECBG Grant: Medford initiated energy audits of all the schools in our system through the National Grid Whole Building Assessment Program. As a result of these audits we obtained an EECBG grant from the Federal Government for $504,000 to implement energy efficiency measures in the five middle and elementary schools. These measures are being implemented during the summer of 2010.
2009 Municipal Energy Audits: Medford initiated the process through MA DOER to conduct energy audits of all municipal buildings.
2010 MA DOER Owner’s Agent Award for Solar PV: Medford received an award for technical assistance to help the city with its Solar PV project. The City is preparing to issue an RFP for a PPA for a 500kW-1000kW Solar PV rooftop installation.
2010 Green Communities Designation & Stretch Code: Medford passed the Building Stretch Code and received designation as a Massachusetts Green Community.
2010 Green Communities Energy Efficiency Grant: Medford received a grant of $270,000 to replace the hot water heaters in the Medford High School and to update its Climate Action Plan.
2010 Leading By Example Award: The City of Medford received the Leading By Example Award from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in recognition of the energy and environmental initiatives the city has implemented.
2010 Harvest Your Energy Festival: Medford organized a festival at the base of the wind turbine jointly with Mass DOER & Mass Energy Consumers Alliance to promote energy savings and the environment. Green Communities Grants were awarded to surrounding communities. Over 40 educational and vendor tables were represented.
2010 Single Stream Recycling: Medford worked with Waste Management to develop a program for residential single stream recycling. Energy Office worked with a committee of teachers to further integrate recycling into the Medford Schools. This recycling initiative saved Medford over $550,000 in the first year.
2010 Medford Energy Committee formed: Medford formed a volunteer citizens committee to recommend policy and program direction and to assist the city with implementing additional energy programs and education.
2010 Energy Star Plaques: Received Energy Star Plaques for 5 schools: Brooks, Columbus, Roberts, McGlynn & Andrews and Medford City Hall.
2011 Initiated Kill-A-Watt Program in Medford Public Library: Medford Energy Committee worked with Friends of the Medford Public Library to make Kill-A-Watt meters available for loan to residents.
2011 Municipal Lighting Retrofits: Medford worked with National Grid’s Small Business Program to retrofit lights in 7 Public Safety Buildings, 3 Schools, the Library, the Gene-Mac Gymnasium and the Senior Center for a total annual savings of 341,000 kWh and $40,000.
2011 Negotiated New Municipal Electric and Gas Supply Contracts: New pricing will save the city $1.7 Million over three years ($750,000 in savings for gas and $950,000 in savings for electricity).
2011 Plug-in Prius: The City used and demonstrated a Plug-in Prius on loan from Toyota for 7 months.
2011 Energy Star Plaques: Received Energy Star Plaques for 5 schools: Brooks, Columbus, Roberts, McGlynn & Andrews
2012 Solar Thermal Pre-Design Study Grant: Received a $10,000 grant to assess the feasibility of using solar thermal to heat the Medford High School Pool or other water at MHS.
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