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- March 2024
Your latest local news on sustainability and climate change action
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IN THIS ISSUE
Announcements (time sensitive!)
The Specialized Building Code, Part 2
Briefs: FHS climate art exhibit | Community garden planning | Framingham Community Electricity | Climate ideas wall | More
Upcoming Events | In the News
A special note from Aimee
Dark Dwarf/Flickr
Join me in celebrating my 50th birthday by helping us reach 50 for each of these actions!
Post a video to Energize Framingham’s Facebook group, Instagram feed, or email it to me. Tell me your name and why you love your heat pumps, solar, community solar. Format: “I plug in with (heat pumps/solar/community solar). I love that they ___ . I hope you plug in with (heat pumps/solar/community solar) too.”
Camera shy? Post a testimonial on plugINmetrowest.org. To be of most help to your neighbors, mention your installer.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Tree-Plenish: Order saplings from FHS by March 6!
Photos courtesy FHS Environmental Club
Framingham High School students, led by the FHS Environmental Club, will plant 293 saplings around the city on April 6 to offset 75 percent of the high school’s paper usage. Following a successful tree-planting event four years ago, the Environmental Club is once again partnering with Tree-Plenish, a nonprofit that empowers high school students to create a more sustainable and equitable future, one tree at a time.
The club is collecting sapling orders until March 6. Thanks to generous donors in the Framingham community, including Green Abundance by Design, Centre Music House, Murphy’s Eats and Treats, and the office of Superintendent Robert Tremblay, the first 173 saplings ordered are free!
To have an Eastern Redbud, Red Maple, or Yellow Poplar sapling planted at your home or business, visit the FHS Tree-Plenish website and click “order a sapling.”
Are you interested in helping neighbors and friends convert to heat pumps? The HeatSmart Alliance is offering a five-session, no-cost training course, Heat Pump Coaching Basics starting the week of March 18. It's helpful though not required to have a heat pump in your own house. Register for the course by March 11.
Thurs. March 28: Energize Framingham’s social hour!
Relax and chat over coffee, appetizers, or dinner at The Franklin St. Cafe (134 Franklin St., Framingham) from 6-8 p.m. RSVP appreciated!
FEATURE
The Specialized Opt-in Building Code, Part 2
Our February issue outlined the basics of the Opt-in Specialized (“Net Zero”) Building code: its provisions, why the City Council should pass it, and why we shouldn’t wait. But here’s a lot of confusion and rumor about what the code means and misinformation about added costs. These myths are preventing Framingham from keeping up with current trends. Here are the facts.
Myth: The code will drive builders away from Framingham.
Fact: Eastern Mass. is already making the energy transition.
Many communities around us already have the Specialized Code. Currently, 32 cities and towns have adopted it — affecting more than a quarter of the state’s population — and more are taking it up this spring.
Eastern Mass. Specialized Code adopters. (See full map)
The industry is already shifting toward net zero. According to a 2023 report from Built Environment Plus, there was a 140 percent increase in companies working on Net Zero buildings over the two prior years. In 2023, according to the U.S. Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, there were 21 percent more air source heat pumps sold in the U.S. than gas furnaces — up from 12 percent more in 2022.
There’s much in the Specialized Code for builders to like. Forgoing gas hookups in new buildings, for example, can save developers thousands of dollars per building. According to the Rocky Mountain Institute, building an all-electric home in Boston saves an average $2,700 in up-front costs.
Incentives for builders are available, making net zero or net-zero-ready construction more affordable:
»The Inflation Reduction Act’s New Energy Efficient Home Credit provides up to $5,000 to developers to build energy efficient single-family homes and units in multi-family buildings.
»Builders of multifamily housing can receive Federal tax credits of $500 to $5,000 per unit, and up to $500,000 for an eligible 100-unit building under the IRA.
»Commercial buildings can take Federal tax deductions of up to $1.00 per square foot (for a building with 50 percent energy savings).
»The IRA also provides contractor incentives and training grants.
»The Mass Save Passive House Incentive Program offers up to $3,000 per unit for certified multifamily projects and funding for feasibility studies and energy modeling services. '
Listen: Specialized Building Code: Builder’s Information Session, sponsored by the Town of Weston, November 2023. (Jump to 24:15 for a builder’s presentation.)
Myth: The provisions are too expensive and will make housing unaffordable.
Fact: Building costs are comparable to other new construction.
Multiple reports indicate that the Specialized Code increases upfront construction costs very minimally — about 1 to 4 percent — even before government incentives. Moreover, green construction costs are widely expected to go down as designers, contractors, and trades become more familiar with the code and its options.
A study conducted by the MIT Center for Real Estate and the Wentworth Institute of Technology estimates that the Specialized Code is likely to increase the cost of constructing single-family homes and townhouses by roughly 1.8 to 3.8 percent, and large multifamily buildings by 2.4 percent. This is before taking government tax credits or Mass Save financial incentives into account.
According to the 2023 report from Built Environment Plus:
Eighty-one percent of new net-zero-ready homes with reported cost data had a less than 1 percent increase in construction costs.
Affordable housing made up 44 percent of all residential net zero and net-zero-ready square footage.
According to a February 2024 report from Groundwork Data, all-electric new residential construction today costs within 1 percent more or less than fossil-fuel-powered new buildings.
The Specialized Code can be consistent with affordable housing! According to Passive House Massachusetts:
Of more than 70 projects enrolled in the Mass Save Passive House Incentive Program, 40 percent are documented as Low-Income Affordable Housing.
One third of projects funded by the state’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit were planned to achieve the Passive House standard, even before new building codes were in effect.
Myth: This is a crazy, over-the-top change.
Fact: Building codes change every three years, and Framingham has been adopting them since 2009.
We’re already much of the way there. As one of Massachusetts’ 300 Green Communities, Framingham adopted the Stretch Code in 2009. We have adopted four sets of revisions since then, including the January 2023 updates to the Stretch Code, which took effect June 2023. The Specialized Code actually has fewer changes than the Stretch Code updates.
The Specialized Code applies ONLY to new construction — not additions or renovations.
The Specialized Code gives builders options. For most homes, builders can choose between all-electric construction, pre-wiring buildings for future electric hookups, or building “zero energy” buildings meeting Passive House standards.
The Specialized Code does not increase energy efficiency requirements. Home Energy Rating Score (HERS) rating requirements are the same as those in the updated Stretch Code for homes under 4,000 square feet, and for larger homes if they are all-electric.
Only the largest homes have extra requirements: Homes over 4,000 square feet must be all-electric or have solar energy (unless shaded), while multifamily housing over 12,000 sq. ft. must also be built to passive house standards. Learn more.
What you can do
Learn the basics in our February newsletter, and stay tuned for our April newsletter, where we’ll explain how the Specialized Code will save money for residents of newly built homes.
Educate yourself further here and here, and stay tuned for webinars.
In the future, we may invite you to write letters and/or attend city meetings to voice your support. Watch for announcements!
BRIEFS
FHS exhibition explores climate change impacts
The Framingham High School Environmental Club, the FHS Art Department, and Project B Gallery at the Mill (2 Central St., Mill 1, Saxonville) are collaborating on a don’t-miss exhibition highlighting four climate crises. The exhibition, A Few Degrees More, runs March 8-21 (Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.) with an opening reception March 8, 5-7 p.m. The project was led by environmental teachers Rebecca Maynard and Emily Rathmell and art teacher Katie Lee Mansfield.
Public meetings for Framingham community gardens designs
Share your input into designs for potential community gardens at two Framingham parks!
Transition Framingham and the Framingham Community Gardens Working Group have Community Preservation Act funding to develop designs for possible new community garden sites at Bates Road Park and Roosevelt Park. They will work in partnership with the city’s Department of Planning and Community Development, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Agricultural Advisory Committee.
On Saturday, March 23rd, the public will have two opportunities to participate in the design process:
1:00 - 2:00 PM - Roosevelt Park - 80 Fay Rd
3:30 - 4:30 PM - Bates Road Park - 40 Bates Rd Ext
More details will be released soon — stay tuned! You can also sign up to stay connected, receive occasional updates, and learn about opportunities to provide your input.
City submits bulk electricity plan for state review
Framingham submitted its final electricity aggregation plan to the Department of Public Utilities on February 2. Through aggregation, Framingham will be able to purchase electricity in bulk for residents and businesses. This will give us more stable rates, consumer protections (like the ability to opt out), and the option of getting more of our electricity from clean sources. Once the DPU approves the plan and a contract is signed with an energy company, there will be much more information to come.
The DPU is taking public comment in a hearing on March 14, 2 pm. on Zoom. Learn more about Framingham Community Electricity.
Discuss climate action and share your ideas on Framingham’s Ideas Wall! The wall lists multiple proposed actions for the city’s Climate Action Plan – with space for you to comment and give feedback.
Older adults: Collect input on climate impacts!
The Community Liaison project is looking for older adults in Framingham, Natick, and Ashland to collect input on how municipalities can better support older adults, with a focus on residents of color, in addressing the local impacts of climate change, especially extreme heat. If you’re an older adult, please consider signing up or sharing with friends! You’ll have a direct hand in shaping city government strategies to address climate change.
Timeframe: March-June, 20 hours spread over four months.
Responsibilities: Attend Community Liaison meetings, review materials, collect community input.
Pay: $400 honorarium, distributed in two installments.
Interested? Email Claire Hoffman at [email protected] with your name, city/neighborhood, and languages spoken, or call 617-933-0772.
Geothermal update
Eversource has completed the final borehole of the project at the Farley Lot and begun construction has begun on the pump house, which will house mechanical equipment and controls. Work at the Firehouse is wrapping up and the parking lot will be repaved in the spring. Work continues at the Framingham Housing Authority property; drilling is now complete at the top of Rose Kennedy Lane, and work is starting inside FHA apartments to connect them to the loop. More from Eversource.
Trees coming to Grant Street
Last year Framingham received a $40,000 Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Grant from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation for planting trees along Grant Street. Planting could begin as soon as May.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Selected events are shown below but there’s a lot more going on! Check our Events Page for more.
Wed., Mar. 6, 6 p.m. Composting Task Force meeting
Wed., Mar. 6, 7-8 p.m. Stop Private Jet Expansion (at Hanscom or anywhere) (webinar)
Fri., Mar. 8, 5-7 p.m. A Few Degrees More: The Impact of Climate Change on Framingham and Beyond. Art opening; see Briefs section for description.
Wed., Mar. 13, 8-9:30 p.m. Framingham Sustainability Committee meeting
Wed., Mar. 13, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Low-Impact, Sustainable Yard Care (Medfield Environment Action webinar)
Thurs., Mar. 14, 2 p.m. Public hearing: Framingham Community Electricity
Thurs, Mar. 14, 7:30-8:30 p.m. plugIN! Heat Pumps Are for Everyone (online)
Sat. Mar. 16, 9 a.m.-noon. Electronics Recycling Event, Jack's Abby parking lot, Bishop Street, Framingham. Recycling costs range from $5-$45, to benefit the Collins Memorial Arts Scholarship Fund.
Sat. Mar. 16, 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. plugIN! Acton Clean Energy Home of the Month: Solar Power & Battery Storage. Tour a resident home.
Mon., Mar. 18, 7:00 p.m. Community Preservation Committee Public Hearing. The CPC will discuss the 2024 projects proposed under the Community Preservation Act and recommend projects and funding amounts to the City Council. Details on proposed projects
Tues., Mar. 19, 7-8 p.m. plugIN! Home solar: The time is now! (Online)
Sat., Mar. 23, Community Garden neighborhood meetings.
1-2 p.m. Roosevelt Park; 3:30-4:30 p.m. Bates Road Park. Details above.
Thurs., Mar. 28, 6-8 p.m. Energize Framingham quarterly social
Franklin Street Cafe, 134 Franklin St.
SAVE THE DATES (and look for our table!)
Sat., Apr. 20, 11 a.m -3 p.m. Earth Day Festival, Framingham Common
Sat., Apr. 27, 12-3 p.m. Science on State Street. McAuliffe Center and O’Connor Parking Lot, Framingham State University
Sat., Apr. 27, 10 a.m.-1 p.m: Cooler Communities Fair, Fuller Middle School
IN THE NEWS
Framingham
Plastic bags, despite products' claims, shouldn't be recycled curbside. What goes in bins (MetroWest Daily News)
Massachusetts/Region
13 Mass. Communities Kickstart New Geothermal Networks with $450,000 in Funding from MassCEC (HEET press release)
Two Mass. schools are ditching oil for geothermal heat pumps (Boston Globe)
How much snow the Northeast has lost to climate change (Boston Globe)
Mass. gas heating bills set to double, triple in coming years (Report and press release from Zero Carbon MA and Groundwork Data)
National
10 charts that sum up 2023’s clean energy progress (Canary Media)
How the housing industry is working to stop energy efficient homes (Washington Post)
After Shutting Down, These Golf Courses Went Wild (New York Times)
ABOUT US
Energize Framingham provides climate education, outreach, and advocacy to promote a healthy, equitable, and resilient community.
Editors: Nancy Fliesler and Aimee Powelka
Have a tip for us? Email [email protected].
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