State recognizes Swampscott for green community contributions

SWAMPSCOTT – The town of Swampscott will be among 86 other Massachusetts communities being recognized at the State House today for its contributions as a green community as a part of the state-wide program by the Department of Energy Resources, according to Town Planner and Energy Efficient Manager Peter Kane.Swampscott has been a Green Community since December 2010, according to Kane, who will be representing the town at the event with Town Administrator Thomas Younger and Selectmen Vice Chair Rich Malagrifa.?The program has great allocations to do energy-efficient projects,” said Kane. “The state meets its commitment to being greener by providing funds at the local level to make improvements.”Kane said in order to be a Green Community, a town must agree to reduce its carbon footprint and energy uses by meeting certain criteria, which includes using higher energy standards as part of new building projects and incorporating fuel efficiency with most municipal vehicles.Swampscott was required to create its own energy reduction plan for town buildings and vehicles. “By 2015, we will reduce our fossil fuel dependence by 20 percent,” said Kane.Swampscott received $143,000 in grants for going green, which Kane said was used to create more efficient lighting in schools and to replace the steam traps in the Stanley and Clarke elementary schools.Swampscott has made efforts outside of its state requirements to go green. Kane said that after adding solar panels to the roofs of the high school and middle school, 19 percent of the school district?s energy use is being met by solar panels. “It does account for a large amount,” said Kane.Kane said the town is trying to lead by example through its go-green efforts. His hope is that community residents or property owners might see municipalities going green and saving tax money as a result, and do the same to reduce their energy bills. He said he is in the process of building an educational program for residents that will show them how to be more energy efficient to help make that happen.Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].