Committee Vacancies
Want to become involved in Town of Wellesley government? Consider volunteering for a Town board or committee. The Design Review Board (DRB) and the Climate Action Committee (CAC) have current vacancies. Design Review Board Assist the Planning Board with reviewing signage, major and minor construction projects, projects triggering Large House Review, and more. There are three openings on the Design Review Board - one regular member position, and two alternate member positions. Candidates for the regular member position must be recommended by one or more Town associations representing Wellesley retail business owners. Candidates for the alternate member positions must fulfill at least one (1) of the below criteria:
Interested individuals should email the Planning Department at planning@wellesleyma.gov or call 781-431-1019 ext. 2232. Applications will be accepted until the vacancies are filled. Climate Action Committee Help support the Climate Action Committee's mission to reduce town-wide greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. The CAC has an opening for a new member to be appointed for a three-year term beginning July 1, 2024. Preferred candidates will have some of the following qualifications:
Read the complete position description. Interested individuals should email Sustainability Director Marybeth Martello at mmartello@wellesleyma.gov Applications will be accepted through March 29, 2024. Important information thanks to DOE office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Weekly Energy Saving Tip If you’re a homeowner with an ongoing list of improvements you plan to make “someday,” get out your lists, because “someday” has arrived! Tax credits for home energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy systems can make these improvements more affordable than ever, while adding value, comfort, and efficiency to your home. If you made any of the eligible improvements to your home in 2023, make sure you claim them on your 2023 taxes. If doing your 2023 taxes has prompted your tax planning for next year, now is the time to review the list of eligible improvements and start planning your strategy. See the list of available home energy tax credits. As a bonus, many of these will also lower your monthly utilities bills. Maximize Your Tax Credits But you don’t have to do it all at once. Unless you have specific equipment (e.g., heating or cooling) that needs to be replaced immediately, you may want to create a multiyear strategy that:
As always, talk to your tax professional and review the IRS website to ensure you have the latest official guidance on tax credits, and review the tax credit requirements for each product carefully before making any purchase. See all energy tax credits for homes Thank you for sharing this article Sophia Sahni, former Sustainable Wellesley intern and now Sustainability Intern at Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants.
Surrounded by 55 acres of lush green landscape, Dana Hall School is situated in the town of Wellesley, a suburb of Boston, MA. This independent boarding and day school for girls grades 5-12 is currently on an ambitious mission. Since July 2022, Dana Hall has been renovating their entire Upper School Building in a way that reflects their value for sustainability. Here is how this small school is tackling this big project. Transforming the Old into the New Head of School, Katherine Bradley, emphasized Dana Hall’s unconventional slant to the renovation project. “Environmental sustainability is essential to the school environment. We’re excited to have the opportunity to transform the Upper School into an energy efficient, sustainable building.” Instead of demolishing the old Upper School and rebuilding a completely new structure, Dana Hall chose to retain the original shell of the previous building. This decision was crucial to their environmentally conscious approach. Cement production accounts for more than 8 percent of global CO2 emissions. This is four times the CO2 emissions produced by the aviation industry. By maintaining the initial shell, Dana Hall was able to reuse essential carbon intensive materials and reduce the amount of new concrete used by 50%. The decision to remain in the same location also prevents new habitats from being destroyed and unnecessary disruption to essential ecosystems in Wellesley such as wetlands and floodplains. The current location will also maintain its access to walking and bike trails, lush parks, and public transportation, all within a 10 minute walk. A “Use Less” Mindset Dana Hall approached this project with the mindset “use less”. Parking areas were consciously not expanded to encourage carpooling, and much of the furniture from the old building was retained. To the extent that was possible, any materials removed were recycled or reused elsewhere in the project. Using Responsibly Sourced Materials According to the United Nations, the buildings and construction sector accounts for approximately 37% of energy and process-related CO2 emissions. Dana Hall saw this renovation as an opportunity to go against the grain of typical construction projects and really focus on being environmentally-conscious. When choosing materials, they prioritized those that were responsibly sourced and had a high recycled content and longevity. Below are some of the essential materials used in the construction and their recycled content:
Being surrounded by nature, and having access to natural light, has been proven to provide numerous cognitive benefits. This biophilic design will truly bring the outside in, therefore, encouraging the well-being of both students and teachers, and enhancing the classroom experience. Moving Towards a Net Zero Future The HVAC system and the entire building runs on electricity, allowing for a net zero carbon emission. Once the building is complete, Dana Hall will source their clean energy from the Town of Wellesley. The building will be heated using heat pumps with a thermostat in each room to allow temperature regulation by occupants while simultaneously reducing unnecessary energy wastage. During evenings and weekends, the building heating systems will be set to a lower temperature to conserve energy while unoccupied. A Bright Idea: Using LEDS To reduce energy loss, Dana Hall has adopted a sustainable energy management system. All of the new building’s lights are LED, and the outside lighting consists of dark sky exterior light fixtures to reduce light pollution. Every light in the new building is on its own circuit and occupancy sensors have been installed with the exception of lighting necessary for safety and security. When entering a room, the lights need to manually be turned on, and when the room is vacant, the lights will automatically switch off. By physically turning on the lights, it is anticipated that people will become more conscious of their light usage. Conserving Water One Drop at a Time Water runoff/stormwater can damage the environment by carrying fertilizer, bacteria, and pollution into local streams and rivers. According to the EPA, “Polluted runoff is one of the greatest threats to clean water in the U.S.” To protect habitats, Dana Hall has taken numerous strides to reduce the detrimental impacts of stormwater. No additional nonporous materials have been added to the exterior of the building. The drop off area right outside the Upper School is made out of stone pavers so water can drain through them as opposed to run off. Gravel has been added to the outdoor landscaping to facilitate water absorption and reduce mud and erosion. In addition, the renovation has implemented a Subsurface Stormwater Basin, a space for the storage of stormwater where accumulated pollutants can be removed and further treatment can be applied. Dana Hall has also adopted strategies to reduce water usage within the building. WaterSense low flow sensors have been applied to all bathroom utilities, including sinks and toilets. Incorporating Sustainable Practices Beyond the Classroom This construction project is the first of many sustainable efforts to come. The implementation of short and long term bike racks as well as on-campus showers is anticipated to encourage sustainable modes of transportation. Emphasis on numerous sustainability initiatives, such as the addition of many canopy trees throughout the landscape and student led clubs, will help to ensure long term consciousness for climate change. “Dana Hall is a wonderful example of how educational communities can incorporate sustainability into all aspects of their identity,” notes Ms. Bradley. “We hope that these daily reminders of environmental practices will encourage students to be environmental stewards of the future.” Now is a great time to consider replacing your existing heating and cooling system before it fails with an air source heat pump because attractive local, state, and federal incentives are available now! Heat pumps are especially economical if you replace oil, propane, or electric baseboard heating.
Take advantage of up to $10,000 in incentives and 0% financing when you replace your aging furnace or AC with an energy-efficient air source heat pump. Register here for a webinar on Thursday, March 21 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom to learn about the cost savings, cleaner air, and climate benefits of air source heat pumps. Join us at this free event to learn about:
Sign up here here for this webinar co-sponsored by the Town of Wellesley’s Climate Action Committee, Municipal Light Plant, Health Department, and by Sustainable Wellesley. It is the an ideal time to take advantage of local, state, and federal incentives to modernize your home’s heating and cooling with an energy efficient air source heat pump while lessening your exposure to fossil fuel’s volatile pricing and harmful indoor air pollutants. Please make time tomorrow - Tuesday, March 5 - to vote. The polls will be open from 7AM - 8PM.
Here are 3 opportunities to learn about the candidates:
FYI -- Due to the 2020 Federal Census, precinct boundaries in Precincts B, C, D, E, F, G and H have been revised but you can see the map here.
Thank you for this valuable info Green Newton!
If you are among the many homeowners who have installed heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, or any other items with MassSave rebates in 2023, you have until February 29 to get those rebates filled out and put in the mail. Mass Save rebate applications for 2023 must be postmarked by February 29, 2024. If you have earned rebates, don’t wait any longer to get them filled out and in the mail. (Remember that federal tax credits are taken when you file your 2023 tax return.) See 2023 rebate Information here. As you prepare to vote (early this week), by mail, or in person next week, please consider how these Town Meeting Members running for re-election have voted in the past. Town Meeting Articles can have a significant impact on Wellesley's commitment to climate action, to sustainability, and to our ability to address these issues. Recently, eight Articles have passed with very strong majorities.
Here is a list of how the Town Meeting Members running for reelection in 2024 have voted on these Motions. Full text of the Motions can be found in the Town Meeting Archives here. Disclaimers Please note that there is only one official record - held by the Town - which can be found here. The votes should all be correct as we've checked them thoroughly with the public records, but if you believe they are not please do let us know at info@sustainablewellesley.com. Please do not bother the Town with any requested changes until we have responded to your email - they cannot make changes to this page, and we will very happily correct any mistakes. A Town Meeting Member may Abstain because of a conflict or potential conflict. Big thanks to Brian Hodgson - Newton resident & Green Newton board member - for sharing this story.
With all of the crazy weather and news of climate change, a lot of people are looking at how they can make an impact. Ensuring our homes have less of a carbon footprint is one of the biggest actions we can take – namely better insulation, using heat pumps, and installing solar panels on the roof. I am in the middle of a project to install geothermal heat pumps in my home, in part because I care deeply about doing something about climate change. (I’ll share some more information on that project in another article.) I live in a neighborhood of old Victorian homes in Newton, and these older homes certainly present challenges to retrofitting with new technologies. For example, installing air source heat pumps with ducting may require opening up walls, mending old lathe and plaster walls, and pulling out the original heating system with their steam or hot water radiators. However, when I took a walk down my street a couple of weeks ago, I was pleasantly surprised to see that a number of my neighbors had recently installed heat pumps. I was curious as to their motivation: was it driven by a desire to be more climate friendly or were there more practical drivers? To find out, I visited two of my neighbors a couple of weeks ago to ask why. Tanya and David For my neighbors Tanya and David, the key driver was comfort in the home and reducing their electric bills. They had lived without central air conditioning for a number of years, but last summer it was almost intolerably hot in their house. The in-window air conditioners they had been using were noisy and the electricity costs were high. When they learned about the incentives from Mass Save, which can be up to $15,000 to put in heat pumps, they realized it would be a fantastic investment– and it would also improve the comfort of their home. Since air source heat pumps work to both heat and cool a home, they would not need a separate air conditioning system. As part of the incentive process, they were required to get a home energy audit and subsequently had to beef up their home’s insulation levels. Though the base estimated cost of insulation was $8000, over $7000 of that was covered by incentives, and their out of pocket cost was reduced to about $1000. Susan and Michael The second set of neighbors I visited, Susan and Michael, outlined that they had bought the house a couple of years ago and were looking at a number of ways they could make it more energy efficient. While they wanted to make their house less dependent on fossil fuels, attractive financial incentives and comfort in their home were also key drivers in their decision to install a heat pump. As part of their overall evaluation, they looked at a number of options, including upgrading the windows, adding solar, and installing heat pumps. Upgrading the windows turned out to be quite expensive, especially if they wanted to keep the character of the Victorian home, making them hesitate. At the same time, the old air conditioning system they had inherited was on its last legs and would require a large investment for a new one. Thinking ahead to the future, it made more sense to replace it with a heat pump system that could give them both heating and cooling instead of installing another air conditioning system. This reasoning, plus the great financial incentives, made installing a heat pump a great first step in their overall energy renovation plan. Comfort and Saving Money are Key Motivators The $15,000 rebate offered by Mass Save, along with an interest free loan, were critical in getting both families over the hump. Tanya said, “With the interest free loan– we pay $200 a month–it’s almost free money.” In addition, they will also continue to benefit from lower heating and cooling costs through the life of the system. So, while we all have a desire to make an impact on climate change and reduce our carbon footprint, the more practical needs of comfort and saving money are often the reasons why people make the decision to change to heat pumps. Either way, it’s a win-win for everyone. If you are interested in learning more about getting a heat pump for your home click here. Not sure where to start? Contact a no cost Wellesley Energy Coach today. Wellesley’s Climate Action Committee (CAC, Committee) seeks a new member to be appointed by the Select Board for a term spanning July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027. Applicants should email a paragraph describing their interest and background to Sustainability Director Marybeth Martello at mmartello@wellesleyma.gov by Friday, March 15. The CAC will accept applications from Thursday, February 15 to Friday, March 15.
Candidates should be committed to the CAC’s mission of reducing town-wide greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. Responsibilities include attending CAC meetings one to two times per month (currently scheduled from 9:00-10:00 a.m. on Fridays), taking an active role in CAC projects, and eventually coordinating one or more initiatives related to Wellesley’s Climate Action Plan (CAP). Projects often involve engagement with Town departments and boards, grassroots and non-profit groups, nearby communities, regional associations, and state and federal agencies. Candidates should possess: • A strong interest in climate action; • Excellent organizational and leadership skills; • Experience with initiating and leading projects; and • The ability to collaborate with Town departments, boards, and other stakeholders. Background Information for 2024 CAC Member Position Description The Climate Action Committee (CAC) consists of four Select Board-appointed members, plus one representative from each of the following: Select Board, School Committee, and Wellesley Municipal Light Plant (WMLP). In accordance with the bylaw establishing the CAC, the Select Board appoints the four members from residents active in the Town’s volunteer sustainable energy initiatives or others who bring relevant expertise, such as knowledge about climate action, sustainability, clean energy, marketing, or community engagement. In 2021- 2, the Committee led development of a Climate Action Plan (CAP) for achieving townwide greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) reduction goals established by Town Meeting. The CAC supports CAP implementation through work with Town departments, community organizations, residents, the commercial sector, and colleges to reduce emissions from municipal, residential, commercial, and institutional sectors and to support climate action related to governance, energy, buildings, mobility, natural resources, and waste. The CAC (formerly the Sustainable Energy Committee) was established in 2010 and has led or contributed to many successful initiatives, including Wellesley’s: • Climate Action Plan, engaging over 70 stakeholders across six working groups. • Municipal Sustainable Building Guidelines, garnering support from seven building proponent boards and leading to development of two new net zero ready elementary schools, an all-electric Town Hall, and plans for an all-electric Warren Building renovation. • Building Energy Roundtable engaging Wellesley’s large commercial property owners and encouraging building decarbonization. • Gas Transitions Working Group – working to identify and track methane leaks (particularly those with the highest level of methane emissions) and advocating for repair at the regional and state levels. • Green Community designation, earning over $475,000 in grant funds to support municipal energy conservation measures. • Three popular Electric Vehicle Showcase and Test Drive Events. • Multiple solar installations including at 70 households and three houses of faith. • Progress on energy efficiency via a Power to Save campaign, workshops at the Council on Aging, and decarbonization audits. • WasteWise – a collaboration of the Natural Resources Commission, Department of Public Works (DPW) and CAC to identify and capitalize on win-win opportunities associated with sustainable materials management. • Residential food waste drop-off program at the RDF and school food waste diversion and food rescue. • First municipal EV Charging Station • Town-wide Mobility Committee and Electric Vehicle Working Group. • Green Collaborative to educate and coordinate grass roots groups, individuals, and municipal departments on sustainability issues. • Annual Monitoring and reporting of townwide GHG Emissions and efforts to reduce emissions. Get your hands in the dirt and experience the joy of growing your own vegetables with gardening classes!
Needham Community Garden is hosting gardening classes for beginners, intermediate gardeners as well as a virtual class. Registration is now open! |
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