Greenbytes: November 13, 2003 Edition

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Feature: Energy Efficiency at MA Banks and a Reminder about Brownfields Grant Proposals

The Massachusetts Bankers Association (MBA), in cooperation with EPA’s New England Office, is spearheading a project to help its members implement energy-efficiency measures in bank buildings that will save energy and money, as well as cut air pollution. The project will include training and assistance from EPA to help Massachusetts financial institutions assess and improve the energy performance of their buildings, resulting in lower electric and heating bills.

Workshops for MBA members will be held Dec. 8 at Middlesex Savings Bank in Natick, Dec. 9 at the Massachusetts Bankers Association offices in Boston and Dec. 16 at the Rockland Trust Company in Hanover.

The energy efficiency initiative follows a successful pilot project by Cambridge Savings Bank (CSB) that resulted in the bank receiving an Energy Star label this year for its corporate headquarters and main branch office in Cambridge. Launched three years ago, the project at Cambridge Savings resulted in a 22 percent drop in the bank’s overall energy usage between 2001 and 2002, despite adding two new branches during that time period. By reducing its annual energy usage by 460,000 kilowatt hours, CSB is now saving about $60,000 a year on its energy bills.

A key component of the MBA project will be the use of the EPA’s Energy Star Program which can provide tools, training and technical resources to help financial institutions assess, improve and track energy performance. As an initial step, participating banks would use the Energy Star Portfolio Manager benchmarking tool, a free web-based program for measuring the energy performance of buildings and the best opportunities for cost-effective improvements. An important partner in making these improvements are the utility companies which have significant resources and funds available for financial institutions to make energy-efficiency upgrades.

To learn more about the half-day workshops and the Energy Star Program, contact the EPA’s William White at 617-918-1333 or visit the agency’s web site at www.energystar.gov.

Brownfields Grants: Also, a quick reminder that the deadline for Brownfields grant applications is fast approaching. The deadline for assessment, cleanup and revolving-loan grants is Dec. 4. The deadline for job training grants is Dec. 1.

The grants are part of the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act to help states and communities around the country clean up and revitalize Brownfield sites. For more information about the grant solicitation, visit www.epa.gov/ne/brownfields/whatsnew.htm

Web Resources

• Energy and New England’s Environment
• Energy Star
• Brownfields

Press Releases

Maine DEP Wins $50,000 EPA Grant For Community Air Toxics Initiative

EPA Seeks Public Comments on Housatonic River Human Health Risk Assessment

EPA Authorizes ME to Issue Water Permits in Tribal Territories; EPA Retains Authority for Certain Tribal Facilities Entirely on Tribal Lands

Citizens Coordinating Council Meeting on November 5th for the General Electric / Housatonic River Site

Local Transportation Coalition Announces 1st Annual List Of New England’s Best Workplaces For Commuters

EPA Completes Review of Cleanup Progress at Tibbetts Road Superfund Site

Consent Decree Final for an $800,000 Settlement for the Railroad Depot Site, New Bedford, MA

Lawrence Group Receives EPA Funding to Curb Exposure to Lead and Other Toxics [En Español]

EPA Honors Schools for Implementing Exemplary Indoor Air Quality Program

• Waterford, CT
• Westborough, MA

EPA Awards $100,000 Brownfields Assessment to Redding, CT

Events and conferences are not archived. Please refer to the Regional Calendar for upcoming events and conferences.

Annual Air Quality Report - 2002 report posted

Brownfields - what’s new

Callahan Mine Superfund Site - various site records and correspondence from 1945 to 1977

Charles River - recent press added

Combustion - updated map of facilities, contacts, links

GE Pittsfield Superfund Site

• peer review meeting on the human health risk assessment for the housatonic river
• rest of the river eco risk assessment reports

Grants - new opportunities: tmlds, wetlands, water quality

Maine State Unit - updated contacts and links

Massachusetts State Unit - updated contacts

MWRA Outfall Permit - updated text

McKin Company Superfund Site - sept. 2003 5 year report

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Superfund Site - rod files aug. 2001 and sept. 2003

Plymouth Harbor/Cannon Engineering Corp. Superfund Site - sept. 2003 5 year report

Question of the Month - eco-travel tips

Radon - updated links

Rhode Island State Unit - updated contacts and links

South Weymouth Naval Air Station Superfund Site - rod oct. 2003

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