June 2023

Connect with us!

Nancy Fliesler
June 06, 2023

Your latest local news on sustainability and climate change action

IN THIS ISSUE

SuAsCo project explores nature-based solutions to climate change
Geothermal project gets $715K grant
Curbside composting pilot
Next round of Community Preservation projects
Cool sustainability projects at Cooler Communities Fair
Upcoming events
In the news

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Coming soon! Humans of Energize Framingham
Let’s learn more about each other! Watch for the launch of our member profile series in the coming weeks. If you'd like to be profiled, email [email protected]. We’ll be asking such questions as why you joined Energize Framingham, how you take action against climate change and other interesting facts.

Energize Framingham meetups
We had a great, casual meet and greet May 18 at Exhibit A Brewing Company. The beer was great, as was the company! Join our next gathering this summer on July 18 at Public Lands (see Upcoming Events below). And if you want to get more involved with Energize Framingham, join our monthly meeting June 20.

Volunteer with Energize Framingham!
Whether it’s reporting back on a city meeting, taking photos, sharing your experience with solar, heat pumps, or EVs, or helping to staff an event, there are lots of ways to contribute. No specific time commitment required! Info & signup

Volunteer ‘street scientists’ needed!
There’s still time to join the Heat Watch Campaign led by Framingham State University’s McAuliffe Center. On or around July 13 (depending on weather), volunteer drivers and navigators will collect temperature, humidity, and location data three times (6-7 a.m., 3-4 p.m., and 7-8 p.m.) in Framingham, Natick, Ashland, and Holliston. If you’re driving, a sensor will be temporarily mounted to your car or bicycle. To ensure that 30 people are available, 100 people are needed to sign up! More info | FAQs | Sign up

New city meeting portal
Keep up with the City Council, the council’s Environment and Sustainability Subcommittee, the Framingham Sustainability Committee, the Community Preservation Committee, the Conservation Commission, and more. Framingham’s new public meeting calendar includes agendas and minutes from past meetings.

CITY NEWS

SuAsCo project explores nature-based solutions to climate change

With Hudson and Natick, Framingham is working to identify ways to protect and manage forests, fields, wetlands, and soils to build resilience to climate change, through the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord River Natural Climate Solutions (SuAsCo NCS) project.

On May 17, a group from Framingham boarded an MWRTA bus to visit nine sites in the city that could potentially benefit from nature-based solutions to build resilience to climate change. The group included Sarkis Sarkisian, Framingham’s Director of Planning and Community Development; Shawn Luz, Framingham’s Sustainability Coordinator; Sean Bilodeau of the Framingham Sustainability Committee (FSC) and Aimee Powelka of the FSC and Energize Framingham.

The project is prioritizing areas vulnerable to climate impacts, low-income areas, and areas experiencing disproportionate environmental impacts. Potential solutions discussed included:

Purchase of 103 Gould Road to preserve a wetland at Framingham’s southernmost tip and to connect to hundreds of acres of open space in neighboring Sherborn.
Addressing stormwater and pollution of Lake Waushakum.
Adding trees or green spaces in “heat island” areas, including the area around Kendall, Freeman, Frederick, and Howard Streets, and the Taralli Terrace and Walnut Street neighborhoods.
Adding forest to filter noise and pollution at the Temple Street Park.
Creating appealing habitats for native species (such as leaving dead trees to house native bees and controlling invasive species in Simpson Park.
Improving soil retention in Danforth Park and other locations by increasing mowing height and planting slopes with native grasses that don’t need to be mowed.

The SuAsCo NCS project is funded through the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant program. Learn more

Geothermal project gets $715K grant

Above: Framingham fire station #5 will be part of the geothermal network.

Framingham’s networked geothermal project has gotten a $715,000 boost from the U.S. Department of Energy – one of just 11 grant recipients across the country.

The project, which formally breaks ground this month, is the country’s first networked geothermal project to be installed by a utility (namely Eversource). Sited north of Gleason Pond between Concord Street and Flagg Drive, it will provide heating and cooling to 32 residential buildings plus the Framingham Housing Authority offices, MassBay Community College, and the firehouse, Corner Cabinet shop, and Gulf gas station on Concord Street. If all goes to plan, the system could be running by this fall/winter.

How it works

Through wells, pipes, and circulating fluid, the geothermal system will extract heat from about 500 feet underground in winter to heat buildings and return heat back underground in summer to provide cooling. Each building will have its own heat pump for independent climate control. According to Eversource, geothermal heating and cooling can reduce the average resident’s carbon emissions by up to 60 percent.

In late April, the City Council granted Eversource permission to install the necessary underground piping for the project. Eversource will cover installation costs, and participants will pay a low fixed charge each month, with a discount for low-income households, plus electricity costs.

Exploring expansion

Framingham, Eversource, and the nonprofit HEET will use the $715,000 grant to study the network’s performance and plan the addition of an adjacent neighborhood. (Location still to be determined.)

The Framingham Housing Authority, the Christa McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University, and local technical schools will be involved in the design. Some funds will also be used for training to develop a local clean energy workforce, especially drillers.

More info from Eversource here and in this webinar.

Curbside composting pilot

Energize Framingham and the Walsh Parent Teacher Organization have received a $700 grant from the New England Grassroots Environment Fund to explore the feasibility of sponsoring curbside composting service for Framingham households.

In a pilot project, eight households are receiving a free six-month curbside subscription, including a starter kit with a composting bin and compostable bags. Energize Framingham will share participants’ feedback with city officials and the contractor Black Earth Compost that is providing the service. We hope it will help encourage the City to support a community-wide curbside composting program.

More on curbside composting in Framingham
Curbside composting: Countering common concerns

Next round of Community Preservation projects

The Community Preservation Committee, formed under the 2000 state Community Preservation Act, will begin accepting proposals this summer for new open space and outdoor recreation projects in Framingham.

The projects are funded from a 1 percent surcharge of our real estate taxes (an average of $50 per household in 2022) with a state match. They’re a great opportunity to improve our parks, lakes, trails, and natural environment (see our May issue for the 10 approved projects from last year’s call).

A public meeting will be held June 22 to explain the process and deadlines and receive public input. Final applications will be due in the fall.

Sustainability is cool at the Cooler Communities Fair

Above: Fuller sixth graders Arthur do Carmo and Daniel Alves Vailante were among the participants in this year’s Cooler Communities Fair. They created dioramas of Earth today – with industry and less natural life – and a cleaned-up Earth. Held May 13 at Harmony Grove Elementary School, the fair drew an estimated 450 attendees. Check our Facebook page for more photos.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sat. June 10, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Framingham household hazardous waste dropoff day. DPW Operations Center, 10 Western Avenue, Framingham.

Sat., June 10, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Repair Café. Scott Hall, 24 Vernon Street, Framingham. Free repairs of clothing, lamps, small appliances, electronics, bikes, batteries, toys, jewelry, sewing machines, and more (bring necessary parts if possible). Sharpening for knives, scissors, garden tools,

Wed., June 14 and June 28, 7 p.m., Framingham Sustainability Committee meetings. Check the City Public Meeting Calendar for location, Zoom link, and agenda.

Wed., June 14, 7:15 pm, City Council Environment and Sustainability Subcommittee. Check the City Public Meeting Calendar for location, Zoom link, and agenda.

Sat., June 17, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Public Lands Summer Fest. Shopper’s World, 1 Worcester Road (Route 9 Westbound), Framingham. Food, drink, live music, gear, giveaways.

Tues., June 20, 7 p.m., Energize Framingham monthly meeting. Register here for Zoom link.

Wed., June 21, 10 a.m. Black Earth Compost facility tour. At Eastleigh Farm, 1062 Edmands Road, Framingham. Email Energize Framingham member Diana Porter for details: [email protected].

Thurs., June 22, 7 p.m., Community Preservation Committee Meeting (see story above for details and check the City Public Meeting Calendar for physical location and Zoom link).

Throughout June: Keep Framingham Beautiful’s June Jumpstart 2.0 and photo contest. Do a litter cleanup in a place of your choosing, capture the beauty with a photo, and post it to KFB’s Facebook page (or email to [email protected]) with your route and total number of bags filled.

Tues., July 18, Energize Framingham summer meet & greet! At Public Lands in Shopper’s World, 1 Worcester Road (Route 9 Westbound), Framingham.