City Completing Energy Efficiency Upgrades to Equipment at LoConte Ice Rink and the Department of Public Works Facility 

(MEDFORD) – The City has completed two projects at LoConte Ice Rink and the Department of Public Works making both facilities more energy efficient and reducing the City’s carbon emissions, Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn announced. The scope of the projects include LED lighting improvements, retro-commissioning and controls upgrades.

The City secured a $100,000 grant from the Green Communities Division of the Department of Energy Resources (DOER). Staff also worked with National Grid to reduce the cost of the project. Both projects are expected to save the City thousands in annual energy costs and significantly reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

“Medford is proud to be one of the Commonwealth’s designated Green Communities and with the help of this grant, we’re working to make our City facilities more climate resilient,” said Mayor Lungo-Koehn. “Retrofitting our municipal buildings to be more energy efficient is part of our larger efforts to reduce carbon emissions and ultimately achieve net zero by 2050.”

“Buildings are a leading emitter of greenhouse gases in Medford,” said Alicia Hunt, Director of the Office of Planning, Development, and Sustainability. “The City wants to lead by example with municipal buildings, and projects like these will be essential to reach emission reduction targets.”

Medford has been designated as a Green Community since 2011 and has received over $1.3 million in funding from the Division. As a designated Green Community, the City has committed to reducing municipal energy use by twenty percent from its baseline year. Learn more about the Green Community designation and grant program here.

To read more about the City’s climate goals, you can view the Climate Adaptation and Action Plan here. With questions, please contact the Office of Planning, Development, and Sustainability at [email protected] or (781) 393-2480.

About Green Communities

The Green Communities Division of the DOER serves all 351 Massachusetts cities and towns by providing technical assistance and financial support for municipal initiatives that work towards clean energy solutions and reduction of long-term energy costs. Medford is one of 291 designated Green Communities that meet all five criteria established by the Green Communities Act. Since 2010, the Green Communities Division has awarded nearly $160 million to Green Communities to implement energy efficiency measures, construct renewable energy projects, and other energy projects.