Green Communities Designation
The Town of Franklin was awarded Green Community status in 2018!
The Town of Franklin was designated as a Green Community in 2018! The Town has been working proactively for many years to make energy efficient technology a priority. Due to high levels of success with this initiative, the Town decided to take its efforts to the next level and apply to become a Green Community. This certification enables the Town to compete for annual grants from the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to implement green, energy efficient projects.
Some of Franklin's industry leading efforts on renewable energy:
- Over 90% of all electricity used by the town and schools are from the solar farm on Upper Union Street. Electricity used in all of our town facilities and schools are from solar.
- By the end of 2018, all lights in town and schools buildings and publicly owned street lights will be LED, saving money in our operating budget every year. The Town anticipates a 75% reduction in operating costs from LED lights.
- The Solarize Massachusetts program got over 80 homes to convert to solar panels in Franklin.
- All of the mechanicals (e.g. boilers, motion sensors, electrical controls, etc.) in our Town and Schools have been upgraded to maximize emergency efficiency.
- Received a GAP II Grant in the amount of $80,000 to upgrade sewer stations pumps to energy efficient ones in 2018.
- New Vehicle Policy mandates energy efficient vehicles must be purchase by the Town.
- Adopting the "Stretch Code" in building standards requires builders to build more energy efficient homes.
To become certified as a Green Community, the Town had to complete a 5-year energy reduction plan to achieve a 20% reduction in energy. The Town's energy reduction plan is here:
If anyone has any questions about the Town's energy efficiency efforts, please contact the Deputy Director of Facilities - Engineering Kevin Harn at 508-553-4809 or email at harnk@franklinps.net
Grant Applications and Reports:
2020
- 2020 Grant Application - 2 Electric Vehicles
- 2020 Grant Application - Dual Port Charging Stations
- 2020 Grant Award - $30,000
- 2020 Final Grant Report
- Project Highlights:
- 2 Fully Electric Municipal Vehicles
- 3 Dual Port Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Installed at the Town Hall
- 1 Dual Port Electric Vehicle Charging Station Installed at the Public Library
- Project Highlights:
2021
- 2021 Grant Application
- 2021 Grant Award - $150,902
- Project Highlights:
- 2 Fully Electric Municipal Vehicles
- Horace Mann School: Smart LED lighting
- Horace Mann School: Transformer
- Remmington Jefferson: Transformer
- Keller Sullivan: Transformer
- Project Highlights: