Located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, Pine Manor College enrolls approximately 500 students and employs over 200 individuals.  The campus facilities consist of 15 buildings with a total area of about 295,000 square feet.  In the fall of 2007, Pine Manor’s president, Gloria Nemerowicz, signed the Presidents' Climate Commitment, pledging the college’s dedication to reduce energy consumption and improve campus sustainability.  Pine Manor brought in Citizens Energy to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to achieve climate neutrality. 

As part of the effort, Citizens Energy developed a detailed strategy for the college’s reduction of energy supply and demand including, but not limited to lighting upgrades, air-sealing, energy star purchases, water efficiency improvements, and the installation of a central Energy Management System (EMS).  Through the implementation of these energy conservation initiatives Citizens was able to help Pine Manor significantly reduce its carbon footprint and save $350,000 in annual energy costs – nearly 22% of the school’s energy bill!  The first phase of the project (from design to implementation) was completed in 18 months. 

In the second phase of the project, Citizens Energy is working with current Pine Manor students to complete an inventory of the college’s entire greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from electricity, heating, commuting and air travel.  This inventory will be updated every year to monitor the progress of Pine Manor’s GHG mitigation.  In addition, Citizens is studying the potential to complement Pine Manor’s energy efficiency efforts with on-campus renewable energy generation.

To view recent press coverage of this project, please click here.

Citizens Energy and the Town of Bellingham have formed a Green Alliance partnership to promote energy efficiency and conservation in Bellingham and to make Bellingham a model of sustainability. Citizens Energy Services is working in concert with the Town to support residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal energy-users in their efforts to reduce energy consumption, achieve carbon reductions, and lower their monthly energy bills.

The Bellingham Green Alliance is a partnership between Bellingham and Citizens Energy that addresses energy efficiency, resource conservation, community education, and renewable energy options to create energy savings and economic benefits for the town, its residents, and local business owners. The Green Alliance works with partners, utilities, and state government to:

•   Implement energy efficiency measures using a host of available incentives and rebates, supported by innovative financing solutions.
•   Qualify the town for Green Community status, thus leveraging available state and federal grant funds.
•   Investigate cost-effective opportunities for renewable energy generation.
•   Deploy novel technologies that can drive deeper savings such as smart meters, smart thermostats, Energy Star appliances, and super-efficient lighting and heating equipment.
•   Promote community building and education in local schools, businesses, and organizations to foster behavioral changes that can result in real energy savings and environmental benefits.

Together, the people of Bellingham and Citizens Energy are working to build a greener, more energy-efficient community.

The Massachusetts Green Communities Act of 2008 provides annual funding of $10 million statewide to municipalities and other local government bodies committed to achieving energy efficiency.  The program leverages federal stimulus funds and provides municipalities with grants, loans, and technical support to implement clean energy projects and build renewable energy facilities.  Through promoting conservation and efficiency policies, demand curtailment initiatives, and new sources of renewable energy, the Green Communities Program aims to reduce statewide energy use by 20% in five years.

For More Information on Massachusetts Green Communities, please click here.