The city of Newburyport, Massachusetts has undertaken numerous sustainability initiatives since 2000 aimed at reducing energy usage and transitioning to renewable energy sources. Some key projects and accomplishments include: installing large solar arrays at schools in 2004; establishing an Energy Advisory Committee in 2007; designating Newburyport a Green Community in 2010; upgrading lighting and insulation at municipal buildings; implementing single stream recycling in 2009; and creating a net metering contract in 2014 yielding $40,000 in annual savings. The city has also expanded recycling programs, implemented place-based education, and undertaken community outreach on climate change impacts. Overall, Newburyport has reduced municipal energy consumption by 20% from its 2009 baseline through strategic energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

1. Massachusetts Sustainable Communities & Campuses
April 17th 2014
Donna D. Holaday, Mayor
City of Newburyport

2. The City of Newburyport
Small, coastal city in Essex County, 35 miles northeast of Boston. Population of
17,416 Historic seaport with a vibrant tourism industry, expansive parks, a business
& industrial park and part of Plum Island.

3. Vision of a Sustainable Community

4. Starting Point & Timeline
• 2000- GREEN was a reference to
• 2004- Our Middle School and DPS building installed solar array
• 2005- Seacoast Energy & Environmental Design Coalition emerged
• 2007- City established the Energy Advisory Committee to study,
evaluate, and makes recommendations regarding energy
conservation, energy efficiency, and/or conversion to greener
energy sources
• 2008- Wind Energy Ordinance
• 2009- Single stream recycling & Place-based Education
• 2010- Newburyport designated a Green Community
• 2011- Clean Tech Center opened incubation site for green start ups

5. Our First Major Energy Project
Newburyport Middle and Upper Elementary schools with a
500 kW Solar Array- the largest municipal project at the time of installation

6. Community Advocacy &
Volunteers
SEED
Energy Advisory Committee

7. March Richey Woodworking: 80,000 sq ft site, 600 kw system with biomass heating

8. 2009 Single Stream Recycling
• Separated out disposal costs from lump sum contract
• Savings of $85,000/yr of 1.1M disposal contract
• Began receiving $24,000 fixed rebate on all recycling
material
• Increased recycling to 36%
Before After

9. Place-Based Education
• Path for learners to become active citizens
and stewards of the environment
• Approach emphasizes hands-on, real world
learning experiences that challenge
students to learn and solve problems
• Increases academic achievement & helps
students develop stronger ties to their
community
• Enhances student’s appreciation for the
natural world, and creates a heightened
commitment for serving as contributing
citizens

10. Newburyport Designated A Green Community by the Division of Energy
Resources- DOER
City Hall-lighting upgrades- air
sealing and insulation, separation
of thermal zones, upgrades to
steam system, and insulation of
boiler room condensate piping Green Community Grant-$155,000
Police Station HVAC upgrades &
sealing at soffits

11. Energy Activities
• Revised and expanded Energy Advisory Committee
• Promoted residential energy efficiency programs- Carbon and
Community Energy Challenge, and Mass Save programs, and general
education on energy efficiency.
• Solar school traffic lighting and outdoor LED lighting.
• Solar projects including Solarize Newburyport with Mass Clean Energy Center and
trash compactors in many public areas.

12. True North Solar & Net Metering Contract
• True North
• Water Sewer
• MVPC
Net Metering contract with Salisbury, Newburyport & Triton School
District- 10% fixed discount for Newburyport with $40,000/year savings

13. City Wide Usage
• Newburyport has 14 municipal buildings
• 47,875 MMBtu’s in 2012.
• 17% reduction since baseline year in 2009
Baseline
MMBtu
Year 1
MMBtu
Year 2
MMBtu
Year 3
MMBtu
Year 4
MMBtu
Year 5
MMBtu
For Most
Recent
Year:
Change
vs.
Baseline
(%)
Fiscal Year 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Buildings 39,522 33,769 35,536 29,403 30,758 78%
Water/Sewer & Pumping3,366 3,315 3,231 3,211 3,124 93%
Open Space (optional) #DIV/0!
Vehicles 11,770 12,514 13,963 11,904 9,353 79%
Street and Traffic Lights16,501 15,098 16,144 15,663 13,630 83%
TOTAL
ENERGY
CONSUM
PTION 71,159 64,696 68,874 60,181 56,865 0 20%
Schools- Total System Wide Electricity Usage in all school
buildings from FY04 to FY11 was down 36% resulting in a
savings of approximately $270,000 annually

14. Upgrading our WWTF for Sustainability
Emphasizing Sustainability in the Project:
• Improve Process Efficiency
• Upgrade Inefficient Equipment & Systems
• Enhanced Process Control – I&C System
• Limit Power Consumption – Add Space, Not Costs
• Add Renewable Energy Components
• LEED Certification for the New OCL Building

15. Expanded Options at the Recycling
Center
Bike recycle program for
Kenya and local kids
Electronics recycling
program with local ARC
and Walmart run by
adults with disabilities
Rain Barrels
distributed to
residents

16. Zero Waste Program
• 111 households participating in the pilot
– Composting in some form
– Terracycling in some form
– Curb Alert/Freecycling
– Asking questions via FB group or email
• 80 families partially participating
– Weighing compost at least
• ~41 families fully participating
– Weighing and reporting
Discovered: 50-80 % of waste is organics
Outcomes & next steps:
Mattress recycling program will start soon, Styrofoam and Terracyle
program started, organics pilot in the future and many people were educated

17. 43 venders & year-round market

18. Clean-Ups
500 lbs.
collected on
Plum Island!

19. Fishing for Energy
Marine Debris Program- we fill 2-- 30 yd containers each
summer with marine debris brought in by fishermen.
Program run by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation,
Covanta, NOAA, and Schnitzler Steel.

20. Merrimack Valley Coastal Adaptation Work Group-
STORM SURGE
• Active Community Outreach and Science teams with scientists, writers, community
leaders and concerned citizens
• Goal of motivating our communities to prepare for the impacts of sea level rise and
climate enhanced storm activity
Began as a
grassroots effort
after Hurricane
Sandy & coastal
storm season-
150 members &
Steering Committee
photo courtesy of Ron Barrett

21. Citizens for Sustainable Bagging
Student led initiative
Ordinance in review by
City Council

22. Newburyport & Our Future Sustainability
Roadmap
Mass. Clean Energy Center & Meister Group selected Newburyport for pilot:
• Create a community vision
• Identify energy inventory and interests
• Prioritizes key aspects to guide research to develop a robust clean energy
inventory
• Finalize sustainability roadmap

23. Closing thoughts
• Identify a champion
• Be strategic and deliberate
• Hire a good manger
• Benchmark your work
• Track and document cost avoidance
• Review your rates for greatest savings
• Set up mechanism to reinvest savings
• Educate, partner and celebrate