Behavior-Based Energy Reduction Program

The Town of Hamilton, in partnership with the Towns of Wenham and Swampscott, the City of Salem and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, received a grant through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) in January 2015 to hire a consultant to initiate and facilitate a Behavior-based Energy Reduction Program (Program) in local schools.  The group is in the process of retaining a consultant, and the Program is intended to kick-off in June 2015.

The chosen consultant will work with the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District (HWRSD) to (1) Engage stakeholders,  (2) Develop, implement, and evaluate a pilot project in the HWRSD, and (3) Produce a plan for context-specific, short- and long-term implementation of a behavior-based energy reduction program in the District.  The two avenues by which energy use may be reduced through behavior-based programs are:

        1.  Raising awareness among faculty, staff and students, and

        2.  Managing school building operations

Please see the report “Powering Down” here, put out by the Center for Green Schools, for case-study information on behavior-based programs in schools.

The Town intends to work with the chosen consultant to identify ways to better manage school building operations, including specific upgrades to HVAC and lighting controls.  This information will serve as a springboard for future energy efficiency grant opportunities.