Boston GreenScene

Boston Green Redevelopment: 82 Unit Project on the Way

By Emma Crawford

Have you ever thought it would be nice to live in a "green" apartment in Boston? Well now you can. Recently, a local organization focused on sustainable community development inititated the renovation of 82 different units of family and affordable housing in Jamaica Plain and Roxbury.

The project was put into motion by Urban Edge, a community development corporation who specializes in sustainable and diverse communities. Urban Edge is known for its strong work in the past, helping to get LEED certification and remodel a number of affordable apartments in Boston. Just six months ago, they completed a green remodel of over 100 rental apartments in the Dorchester and Jamaica Plain areas.

Their most recent project is another step along the path of the Urban Edge “integrated green” development initiative that provides low cost, environmentally sound housing which has gained lots of traction since their first project launched in 2006, which incorporated renewable energy into Egleston Crossing, a mixed-use building.

The focus of their most recent project will be an upgrade in structure and building systems, combined with alterations to meet LEED rating systems. Urban Edge will use benchmarking analysis and energy audits in an effort to help the community to meet their long term sustainability goals.

In early stages of the energy audits, Urban Edge (UE) found that the buildings were currently using anywhere from 10 to 60 percent more gas than similar-sized buildings. They also discovered that the buildings were using twice as much water.

Some goals include a 25 percent decrease in gas consumption by replacing boilers with efficiency water heating systems. Eight of the buildings will also receive new roofing systems, and the apartments will don Energy Star appliances and fixtures.

Residents will also enjoy the benefit of new bathrooms, laundry resources, insulation and remodeled kitchen areas -- while remaining affordable.

 

Native Plant Fundraiser @ Mass Audubon’s Moose Hill Nature Center

LOCAL PLANTS are vital for the health of our eco-systems. Why? Partially because many insects do not eat from nor reproduce on plants that are not native. That means that the primary source of food for our birds is restricted by a decline in the insects they eat. The good news? On June 4-5, 2011 you can help raise money to support conservation and do your part to help encourage a healthy backyard eco-system.

Mass Audubon has plants that attract hummingbirds and butterflies, and plants that are almost impossible to kill!  Native plants are the environmentally sound gardening choice since they are naturally found in our area; they tolerate our New England weather conditions (occasional drought, cold winters, and seasonal rains) better than other plants that may need more care.

Join us on Saturday, June 4, and Sunday, June 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (while supplies last) for our eighth annual Native Plant Fundraiser.  A large variety of native wildflowers, ferns, shrubs, trees and groundcover will be available for purchase. There will be 30 to 50 individual plants for sale for most species. Most plants are only $7 each, planting and growing Information will be available for all plants. Plants for sale include: Cardinal Flower, Joe Pyeweed, Wild Bergamont, Meadowsweet, Poverty Grass, Indian Grass, Spotted Horsemint, Black-Eyed Susan, Mayapple, Columbine, Jack in the Pulpit, Wild Geranium, Solomon’s Seal, Red Trillium, Yellow Trillium, White Trillium, Bird’s Foot Violet, Purple Coneflower, Christmas Fern, Maidenhair fern, Hay-scented Fern, Lowbush BlueberryBayberry, Mountain Laurel, Witchhazel, and more. All proceeds help to sustain Moose Hill’s educational programs. Bring a tray or box to transport your plants to your car.

Moose Hill is located at 293 Moose Hill St, Sharon. Please call 781-784-5691 for any details.

Save energy and money in your Boston home

by Anne Maertens


If your post-holiday checking account is looking a little empty, consider all of the ways you can save money by making your home more energy efficient. Giving your home an energy efficiency makeover will help you save on your utility bills every month, and many improvements are eligible for thousands of dollars in rebates.

Knowing which project to take on can be tricky given that each home has unique energy efficiency needs. Some of the most cost-effective home energy efficiency upgrades include adding insulation, sealing up air leaks, sealing and insulating ductwork and upgrading outdated heating and cooling equipment. However, to be sure which upgrades make sense in your home, it’s a good idea to start with an energy audit.

EnergySavvy.com offers a free online energy audit that will tell you what upgrades might make sense in your home. It’s free, it only takes a few minutes, and it will give you an estimate of how much money you can save on your utility bills.

The MassSave program offers free in-home energy audits for Massachusetts’s residents who receive electricity or gas from utilities that participate in the program. The program also covers 75 percent of the cost of weatherization measures (i.e. insulation, air sealing) for up $2,000 in rebates. Additionally, there are rebates for many other energy efficiency upgrades and a zero-interest loan to cover the upfront costs of the improvements. To find out what other incentives are available in the Boston area, check out EnergySavvy’s incentive directory.