Energy & Water Conservation

and Green Building

Initiatives

Conservation Innovations

May 20, 2011

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Political instabilityDeep Water Horizons Oil

Spill

If not now, when?

Fukushima Nuclear

Reactors

MASS AUDUBON STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL 3:

RESPOND TO CLIMATE CHANGE

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Objective 1: Lead by Example: Reduce Mass Audubon’s energy

consumption and carbon footprint and use these activities as

demonstration models for our members and the general public

In the Climate Change Position Statement adopted by the Mass

Audubon Board in July 2010, the stated target is to reduce Mass

Audubon’s aggregate generation of green house gases by 50% by

FY 2014 from a base year of FY 2003. The target encompasses

Mass Audubon’s carbon footprint from heat, lights and vehicles

and includes any new facilities or vehicles added during this

period.

We estimate that we have achieved approximately a 44% reduction in

carbon emissions by the end of FY 2010, with the biggest

contribution to this reduction coming from purchasing and

producing our own green electricity.

MASS AUDUBON STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL 3:

RESPOND TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Green Building & Energy Initiatives

I. Energy Conservation

II. Water Conservation

III. Renewable (Green) Power Purchasing

IV. Renewable Energy Generation

V. Vehicles

VI. Green Buildings

VII. Education

VIII. Other Sustainability Efforts

IX. Next Steps

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I. ENERGY CONSERVATION INITIATIVE

• Incandescent Bulb Replacement

• Refrigerator & Freezer Replacement

• Air Conditioner & Dehumidifier Replacement

• Computer Equipment Replacement

• Energy Audits

• Programmable Thermostats

• Furnace Replacement

• Outdoor Lighting

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II. WATER CONSERVATION INITIATIVE

Progress:

• Replaced 130 toilets with 1.6 gallons per flush (or lower gallons per

flush) toilets

• Replaced 46 toilets with dual flush toilets

• Installed 6 waterless urinals

• Clivus Multrum composting toilets at Boston Nature Center

(gardeners’ pavilion), Broadmoor, Wellfleet Bay and Wildwood

• Replaced several washing machines and dishwashers

at field sites and replaced Wildwood industrial grade dishwasher

• Joppa Flats using rain water to flush toilets

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III. GREEN POWER PURCHASING

Goal: All Mass Audubon sites purchasing 100% green electricity as of

January 1, 2009. Green electricity purchased through National Grid,

NStar, and Mass Energy (renewable energy credits).

Goal Completed.

Progress: All sites are purchasing green power (power from non-

fossil fuel sources).

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IV. RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION

• Photovoltaics (PV)

• Solar Thermal

• Wind Power

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IV. RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION

Photovoltaics (PV)

Progress: Completed 30 PV projects (a total 256 kW installed) at Mass

Audubon sanctuaries which will produce approximately 30% of Mass

Audubon’s annual electric usage and serve as a teaching tool

All staffed sanctuaries will have an array to demonstrate to visitors:

• Allens Pond – 1.8 kW roof-mounted system

• Arcadia – 10.2 kW ground-mounted system

• Boston Nature Center – 2.7 kW “Sun Slate” roof-mounted system, 9.9 KW

ground-mounted system, and 12.2 kW roof-mounted system

• Broad Meadow Brook Nature Center – 9.2 kW roof-mounted system

• Broadmoor – 22.2 kW in four roof-mounted systems

• Drumlin Farm – 18.3 kW in two roof-mounted systems

• Felix Neck – 14.7 kW ground-mounted system

• Habitat – 9.2 kW ground-mounted system

• Ipswich River – 9.9 kW ground-mounted system

Wellfleet Bay

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IV. RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION

Photovoltaics

• Joppa Flats – 9.9 kW roof-mounted system

• Long Pasture – 1.9 kW roof-mounted system

• Moose Hill – 18.0 kW in three roof-mounted systems

• North River – 9.4 kW ground-mounted system

• Oak Knoll – 4.0 kW ground-mounted system

• Pleasant Valley – 4.8 kW ground-mounted system

• Stony Brook – 5.3 kW roof-mounted system

• Visual Arts Center – 9.7 kW in two roof- and ground-mounted systems

• Wachusett Meadow – 11.0 in two roof- and ground-mounted systems

• Wellfleet Bay – 62.1 kW in three roof- and ground-mounted systems

Stony Brook

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Drumlin Farm Broadmoor

Visual Arts CenterIpswich River

IV. RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION: Photovoltaics

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V. VEHICLES

• Mass Audubon has 71 vehicles:

• 10 sedans

• 23 vans

• 2 SUV’s

• 34 pick up trucks

• 2 heavy trucks

• Purchased seven Prius hybrids as replacements for

existing sedans and station wagons

• 10 GEM small electric vehicles (similar to golf carts)

were donated for maintenance purposes

• Examining how to reduce miles driven and awaiting

vehicles with better miles per gallon in the classes of

vehicles we need

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VI. GREEN BUILDINGS

Mass Audubon is committed to the concept and practice of green building,

and will apply the concepts of green building to all new buildings, building

additions, building renovations, and site improvements.

What is a Green Building?

Green buildings are generally characterized by the following:

• sustainable site development

• water savings

• energy efficiency

• responsible materials selection

• indoor environmental quality

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VII. CLEAN ENERGY AND ENERGY

CONSERVATION EDUCATION AT MASS

AUDUBON1) Thanks to a grant from the Massachusetts Renewable

Energy Trust, we completed the following clean energy

and education goals

• Produced and distributed an interpretive photovoltaic brochure

entitled Clean Green

• Enhanced Mass Audubon’s clean energy website

http://www.massaudubon.org/renewableenergy/index.php

• Installed interpretive signage at sites with photovoltaic arrays

• Installed computer monitors at several sites with photovoltaic

arrays that allows visitors to see real time production

• Installed an interactive solar sculpture at Drumlin Farm

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2) Many Mass Audubon sanctuaries are providing

education programs related to sustainability, clean

energy, and climate change

3) Interpretive green trails have been established at

the Boston Nature Center, Broadmoor, Drumlin

Farm, and Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuaries

4) Green labels being installed at many sanctuaries to

interpret energy and water conservation efforts and

features.

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4) Working to install data acquisition systems for all

remaining photovoltaic arrays not covered by initial

grant in order to show real time electric production to

sanctuary (at select sites) and web visitors

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1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

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s o

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Fiscal Year

Aggregate Mass Audubon Carbon Emissions FY 2003 - FY 2010

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VIII. OTHER SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS

• Paperless paychecks for all regular staff

• Recycling programs at most sites

• Composting

• Community Supported Agriculture and

community gardens

• Reducing use of bottled water

• Installing bottle filling stations at some

sanctuaries

• Reducing paper use throughout organization

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IX. WHAT COMES NEXT?

Strategic Goal 3 RESPOND TO CLIMATE

CHANGE:

Objective 2: Educate our members about

their ecological footprint and assist them in

obtaining the knowledge and tools to “live

lighter on the land”.

Objective 3: Advocate for state and national

public policy initiatives regarding climate

change and assess proposals for renewable

energy development in Massachusetts that

establish significant policy precedents.