The Green Communities Division (GCD) of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources provides grants, technical assistance, and local support from regional coordinators to help municipalities reduce energy use and costs by implementing clean energy projects in municipal buildings, facilities, and schools.
Weston has been a designated Green Community since 2011 and has been awarded grant funding for energy-related projects in 2011 and 2014.
The former Environmental Baseline Committee helped secure the following:
- In 2011 - received $138,675 to fund a boiler replacement in the Middle School with a gas-fired high efficiency condensing boiler.
- In 2014 – received $243,707 to fund an energy management system, retro-commissioning, and boiler at four schools and Fire Headquarters
The Sustainability Committee helped secure the following:
- In 2020 - received $199,999 for a lighting upgrade and replacement conversion to LED for Town buildings, which are estimated to reduce Weston's energy usage by 812 MMBtu (appx. 1% of the town's total energy usage) and realize a yearly operational cost savings of $50,566 per year.
- In 2021 - received $15,000 for a technical study to determine the feasibility of electrification of Town Hall.
The Sustainability Committee and Town staff are actively pursuing sustainable initiatives through upcoming rounds of Green Communities grants.