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Across New England, 180 Communities Take Leadership Role on Energy Issues

Release Date: 09/21/2010
Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. – September 21, 2010) – As more New England communities seek cost savings in a tight economy, many are looking to expand energy efficiency in schools and other municipal buildings, saving money and helping the environment. Today EPA New England’s Community Energy Challenge program has announced its 180th member. The program challenges communities to reduce their energy use from municipal buildings by 10% or greater. These 180 communities represent approximately 35% of New England’s population.

Communities across New England are working with EPA, regional utilities, non-profits, and businesses through a variety of programs to find and promote cost effective energy efficiency measures. Through the Community Energy Challenge, cities and towns can take advantage of free EPA ENERGY STAR tools and resources to assess, or benchmark building energy use in schools, municipal buildings, wastewater and drinking water facilities. Participants also have access to a network of organizations, professionals and funding opportunities that can help them improve energy efficiency and take advantage of renewable energy resources in their community. A 10% savings in energy use can translate into thousands of dollars that municipalities can use for public safety, education and other municipal expenses.

“Making municipal buildings energy efficient can save communities 30 percent or more on their energy bills each year," said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “These measures make sense economically and environmentally to reduce greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.”

Participants in the EPA New England’s Community Energy Challenge include 180 communities from all six New England states. They are:

Connecticut: Ashford, Bethany, Bridgeport, Burlington, Canton, Chaplin, Colchester, Cornwall, Coventry, Cromwell, Danbury, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, East Haven, East Lyme, Enfield, Fairfield, Farmington, Greenwich, Haddam, Hamden, Hampton, Harwinton, Kent, Killingworth, Lebanon, Manchester, Middlefield, Milford, New Haven, New London, Norfolk, North Haven, Norwalk, Orange, Portland, Redding, Ridgefield, Seymour, Simsbury, South Windsor, Southington, Sprague, Stafford, Stamford, Torrington ,West Hartford, West Haven , Weston, Wethersfield, Willimantic, Wilton, Windsor, Woodbury, Woodstock

Maine: Berwick, Denmark, Falmouth, Kennebec Sanitary Sewer District, Kingfield, Kittery, Madison, Mechanics Falls, Stockton Springs

Massachusetts: Acton, Acushnet, Arlington, Billerica, Boston, Boxford, Brockton, Cambridge, Canton, Charles River Pollution Control District, Chelmsford, Cohasset, Dartmouth, Dedham, Easton, Easton Public Schools, Fall River, Greenfield, Groton, Halifax, Hanson, Haverhill, Holyoke, Hull, Ipswich, Lancaster, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Malden, Mansfield, Marlborough, Martha’s Vineyard Schools, Maynard, Medfield, Medford, Melrose, Methuen, Milton, Needham, New Bedford, Newburyport, Newton, Norfolk, Northampton, Pittsfield, Plymouth, Quincy, Randolph, Raynham, Salem, Sandwich, Sharon, Somerville, Southeastern Regional School District, Springfield, Tisbury, Wales, Waltham, Warwick, Westwood, Woburn

New Hampshire: Acworth, Alstead, Alton, Antrim, Barrington, Bedford, Bedford School District, Brookline, Chester, Colebrook, Concord, Dover, Enfield, Fitzwilliam, Gilmanton, Hampton, Hancock, Hanover, Hillsborough, Hopkinton, Hudson, Lee, Lincoln, Manchester, Marlborough, Nashua, New Boston, Peterborough, Plainfield, Raymond, Richmond, Rochester, Rollinsford, Rye,
Sanbornton, Shelburne, Somersworth, Tuftonboro

Rhode Island: East Greenwich, North Providence, South Kingston, Warwick

Vermont: Brattleboro, Burlington, Chelsea, Essex Junction, Hartford, Hinesburg, Putney, Richmond, South Burlington, South Hero

For more information on ENERGY STAR go to: www.ENERGYSTAR.gov 

For more information on the EPA Region 1 New England Community Energy Challenge go to: www.epa.gov/ne/eco/energy/energy-challenge.html

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