This Climate Showcase grant will fund maintenance work and projects identified in energy audits at Springfield’s 52 schools, 38 municipal buildings, and 15 parks buildings.
The grant will also leverage funds from an existing Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant to finance the replacement of five standard boilers with high-efficiency boilers, energy management systems and the city’s first solar thermal panels.
The city’s also plans to create an energy conservation company that will work towards reducing the city’s carbon footprint. By increasing energy efficiency in the city’s buildings and adding renewable energy, the city will save energy, money, and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This project will create jobs while transforming public facilities into models of energy efficiency and conservation.
The city estimates that these projects will reduce its GHG emissions by 5% to 8%, or approximately 3600 metric tons, over the next two years. The project will also improve indoor air quality in schools.
The Springfield project was one of two projects in New England and 25 nationwide to receive grants as part of a $10m competitive grant program. The goal of the Climate Showcase Communities grant program is to create replicable models of sustainable community action that generate cost-effective greenhouse gas reductions.
