by Brian Smith and Ellen Leicher ·
Friday, September 13, 2024
The Harvard Energy Advisory Committee and Harvard Climate Initiative Committee have developed comprehensive decarbonization and climate action plans, and our residents and town government are taking significant steps to meet our goals.
We have the opportunity to access more funds for electrifying our municipal buildings and adding solar by adopting the opt-in specialized energy code, but it requires a town vote on Article 13 at Town Meeting on Sept. 28.
We have been a state-designated green community since 2010. Since then, Harvard has received state funds of approximately $880,000, enabling over $1 million in municipal energy reduction projects. Grant funds for green communities are decreasing, but the state is offering a new climate leaders program. This will give us access to additional funds for municipal decarbonization, solar projects, and more. To access these funds, we must pass the opt-in specialized energy code.
As a green community, we had to adopt the Massachusetts stretch energy code as a program requirement, which the state periodically updates with energy efficiency standards. To become a climate leader and access additional funding requires a town vote for the opt-in specialized energy code.
Here are the key elements of the code:
- It is almost the same as the existing stretch code updated July 1, 2024.
- The code applies to new construction only: There are no additional requirements for additions, alterations, or renovations of existing buildings. Typically, Harvard has between five and 10 new homes or buildings built each year.
- There are no additional requirements for new construction of all-electric buildings.
- New construction of buildings with any fossil fuel components such as oil or gas heating systems, gas stoves, dryers, and water heaters (but excluding gas generators) must meet these requirements:
- Pre-wiring must be included for future electrification and installation of a minimum size solar photovoltaic system.
- Builders of new large single-family homes greater than 4,000 square feet must install enough solar or other renewables to offset all of the home’s energy use.
- Builders of new large multifamily buildings greater than 12,000 square feet and over four stories tall (an unlikely scenario for Harvard) must use the highly energy-efficient passive house standard.
It is important to emphasize that adopting this code will not increase taxes for any town resident. It simply sets standards for new construction, encouraging energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption, which benefits the occupants of the building.
We can’t stress enough that the opt-in specialized energy code is only for new construction. If we vote yes at our Sept. 28 Town Meeting, implementation of the specialized code will take effect beginning Jan.1, 2025.
By adopting this code, we can pursue grants through the climate leaders program that are significantly larger than the current grants available through the green communities program. One example will be our ability to secure significant funding to help decarbonize the Bromfield School and replace aging equipment. This will save taxpayer dollars.
Numerous studies have been done on the cost of all-electric. It may cost the same as fossil fuels, or slightly more or slightly less, but it depends on where the home or municipal building is being built. If you don’t have to bring in two lines—gas and electric—it can cost less. The new affordable housing to be built on Old Mill Road is doing just that. Also, the operational costs of all electric are much lower than fossil fuels, especially if you have solar, and all electric brings health benefits.
What other towns adopted this code?
Forty-five towns have passed the specialized code, including our neighbors Acton, Stow, Maynard, Chelmsford, and Worcester. Let’s join them to prevent costly retrofits in the future and ensure our new buildings align with the state’s net zero goal by 2050.
The opt-in specialized energy code is supported by various Harvard town committees, including the Select Board, Planning Board, Energy Advisory Committee, and Climate Initiative Committee. Let’s vote “Yes” on the opt-in specialized energy code.
To learn more, you can watch the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) presentation to the Select Board, https://harvardcabletv.com/search-all-videos/?vimeography_
gallery=28&vimeography_vid eo=996174988 or come to the Public Meeting presentation by DOER on Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. on Zoom at www.harvard-ma.gov/home/news/opt-specialized-ener gy-code-presentation-and-discussion. The link is also available at the town website, www.harvard-ma.gov. (From “News & Announcements,” click on “Opt-in Specialized Energy Code Presentation and Discussion.”)
Brian Smith is chair of the Harvard Energy Advisory Committee, and Ellen Sachs Leicher is chair of the Harvard Climate Initiative Committee.