MARION — The Energy Management Committee, along with Town Administrator James McGrail and Town Planner Gil Hilario, are pleased to announce that the Town of Marion was awarded a grant totaling $120,238 to support energy efficient projects throughout town.
The grant was awarded to the Town of Marion by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources Green Communities Program in August 2020. The Town must be a Green Community in order to be eligible for the grant, and must meet the five criteria that further energy savings goals.
“We, the Energy Management Committee, are thankful to the Baker-Polito Administration for awarding us this grant through the Green Communities program to provide fiscal support to meet the goals in our Energy Reduction Plan,” Chairman Christian Ingerslev said. “The Energy Management Committee, Facilities Manager Shaun Cormier and Town Planner Hilario have worked hard over the last year to identify energy efficient building projects in Town that will save taxpayers money and reduce fossil fuel use.”
The Town of Marion has now completed several more projects that will help the Town achieve its goal of reducing energy use by 20% over five years. These projects are:
- An electric heat pump system at the Community Center
- Attic and basement ceiling insulation at the Music Hall
- New storm window inserts at the Elizabeth Taber Library
- Two new gas furnaces at two pumping stations in Town
The Community Center replaced a 30-year-old, gas-fired furnace that operated at 70-80% efficiency with an all-electric heat pump system. The new heat pump system is much more efficient with a 17.8 SEER rating and is used to heat the activities room, kitchen and bathrooms. Attic insulation was also installed covering 4,420 square feet with 10-inch and 8-inch cellulose.
The Music Hall added 750 square feet of insulation in the attic and basement. A total of 23 new storm window inserts were also added to the Elizabeth Taber Library which will improve the efficiency of the single-pane windows.
Additionally, two oil conversion projects were completed. A new natural gas furnace and a new propane furnace replaced oil furnaces that were over 30 years old and were only 70-80% efficient at Silvershell and Main Water Pumping Station.
Approximately $3,399 in utility rebates have been put toward funding.
These projects are expected to save approximately $8,000 dollars, 18,497
kwh, 2,072 therms and 1,385 gallons of oil annually. The payback time for all of the projects combined is 15 years.
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