Green Acton support for Resource Force Decarbonization Resolution
Debra Simes
This is the text of the letter that was sent to the A-B Regional School District School Committee on February 12:
Dear ABRSD School Committee members:
The Board of Directors of Green Acton, Inc. has reviewed both the ABRSD Resolution on Climate Action and Carbon Neutrality brought to the committee by the members of the ABRHS Resource Force, and the presentation the group made to the committee.
Green Acton is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to “protect and enhance Acton’s natural environment and resources for present and future generations, and to help resolve the urgent environmental issues that transcend Acton’s boundaries.” We work on multiple issues related to energy, land use, the materials stream, and water. Addressing the Climate Emergency — which impacts every other environmental issue on which we work — looms large in our awareness and our efforts.
In 2020, Acton Town Meeting overwhelmingly supported a declaration of a Climate Emergency; the Town has since hired a Sustainability Director, and developed a town-wide Climate Action Plan (which includes many initiatives that go to electrification and clean energy), as well as multiple other strands of activity aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Green Acton has engaged consistently with these activities.
We recognize that the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District has made significant strides in reducing its energy use and some emissions, and transitioning to cleaner energy in some respects, and we applaud that progress. We respectfully suggest that a comprehensive resolution is an important policy foundation in advancing other initiatives that address the Climate Emergency.
We are impressed that this insightful initiative has come from high school students. The clarity and depth of knowledge evidenced by the resolution are testament to the quality of ABRHS education in both environment and communications.
We turn to you, the policy body of the AB Regional School District, to ask that you take a step we consider critically important for the district, its students, and their learning — because young people learn a great deal by observing adult actions. We believe there is a moral and ethical imperative to do all that’s possible in the face of the Climate Emergency. Thus, we strongly urge you to honor these students’ heartfelt and well-reasoned request by adopting the Resource Force Resolution on Climate Action and Carbon Neutrality.
Thank you for your consideration.
______________________________________The text of the Resource Force resolution:
detrimental effects of climate change through increased temperatures, changes in the forms and timing of precipitation, runoff, drought, dangerous heat, and other environmental disruptions; and
WHEREAS, ABRSD embraces the tremendous opportunity to teach students about ecological sustainability, environmental health and nutrition; to meet math, science, and social studies standards by integrating environmental education; and to support students in becoming leaders as they make their own schools healthier and more ecologically friendly; and
WHEREAS, research has shown that prioritizing energy efficiency and carbon neutral
construction with clean, renewable energy improvements and low-carbon construction materials saves school districts money, improves learning environments and supports the health and wellness of school district student and staff; and
WHEREAS, the Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee (ABRSC) adopted a
Sustainability Policy in 2017 which states that the district prioritizes carbon neutrality; and
WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has adopted a goal of net zero carbon
emissions by 2050; and
WHEREAS, at an Acton Special Town Meeting in 2020, Acton residents voted nearly
unanimously to declare a Climate Emergency: “Members of Acton Town Meeting call on Town government and staff, and all Acton civic groups, businesses, and residents to commit to a climate mobilization effort, with appropriate support from the state and federal governments, to bring net town-wide carbon emissions to zero as quickly as possible, with a target date of 2030:”
and
WHEREAS, the Town of Acton adopted a Climate Action Plan and set a goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2030; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Boxborough adopted a Sustainability Policy in 2021; and
WHEREAS, ABRSD has already reduced electricity consumption by more than 30% below the 2009 benchmark; and
WHEREAS, ABRSD has already constructed the new all-electric geothermal net zero
Douglas-Gates Elementary School building; and
WHEREAS, the ABRSC believes that responsible stewardship of public funds requires that new schools and district buildings be designed to provide the district with cost-saving, environmentally sustainable systems, flexible configurations that will enable future improvements, and efficient use of its land and resources; and
WHEREAS, the ABRSC recognizes that it has a considerable opportunity to improve the
environment through purchasing environmentally preferable products which consider
environmental and social costs as well as short-term prices; and
WHEREAS, the ABRSC intends that this document create a long-term, inspiring vision that integrates and strengthens many efforts in our district, and further recognizes that fully implementing this resolution will take time and must be achieved in stages that are to be measured and publicly reported each year.
RESOLUTION
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the ABRSC commits to making positive, tangible changes to mitigate climate change, and to ensure that every effort is made to conserve energy and natural resources while exercising sound financial management.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the ABRSC recognizes the progress already made by district and committee staff to reduce the district’s energy consumption and lessen its carbon footprint, and steps towards environmentally responsible and resource-efficient construction practices.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that as the ABRSC seeks to expand upon those efforts and to
create healthier, more environmentally sustainable schools, the School Committee hereby commits to:
1. prioritizing student health, well-being and learning outcomes when making school facility decisions.
2. achieving these district-level goals:
a. 100% of electricity is from renewable energy sources starting immediately
b. Integrate on-site solar and battery storage to the fullest extent possible
c. Electrify all school buses by 2026
d. Electrify all other vehicles and grounds equipment by 2030
e. All new construction will:
i. achieve NE-CHPS certification
ii. be all-electric and have no on-site fossil fuel combustion, except
emergency generators
iii. achieve an Energy Use Intensity (EUI) of 25 kBtu/square foot/year
iv. have 5 total air changes per hour for high indoor air quality
v. utilize low Global Warming Potential refrigerants
construction sites
f. Electrify all existing buildings by 2045 and:
i. achieve an EUI of 25 kBtu/square foot/year or as close as possible
ii. have 5 total air changes per hour for high indoor air quality
iii. utilize low Global Warming Potential refrigerants
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the ABRSC will develop and adopt a series of guidance
documents and standards to help guide the decision-making process to adhere to the goals above. These documents will be developed, adopted and finalized by June 2025.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the ABRSC will provide an annual public report on the status of these goals in terms of:
1. EUI on new construction, existing buildings, and retrofit projects.
2. energy consumed (and percent reduction) as compared to the baseline year of 2009
across the district portfolio.
3. annual emissions (and percent reduction) as compared to the baseline year of 2009
across the district portfolio.
4. percent of energy supplied by renewables across the district portfolio.
5. inventory of mechanical systems (such as HVAC) electrified.
6. progress updates on electrification of the school bus fleet.
The foregoing resolution is hereby approved and adopted by the School Committee of the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District at its regular public meeting held on this date, XXXX.