Melrose Energy Commission is looking to work with Friends of Melrose Football on home energy assessments

[Weimin Tchen]

Hello,

Thanks for talking with me about the home energy assessment project of the Melrose Energy Commission. (I first met you when I picked-up town-league soccer gear about 10 years ago.)

We are encouraging Melrose residents to have a no-cost assessment of their homes, and also receive free compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). The Melrose Energy Commission is working on this project with Next Step Living (nextsteplivinginc.com). Next Step Living is a partner of Mass Save, an energy efficiency program sponsored by a consortium of major utilities in Massachusetts. 

Created in 2005, the Melrose Energy Commission is a group of Melrose citizens who are volunteering their time to help the city and its residents save energy. As a city organization, the city's webpage (http://www.cityofmelrose.org/departments.cfm) links to our webpage, which discusses the project:
    http://www.melroseenergy.org/melrose-energy-challenge.html

A small insert will come with Melrose water bills, but we want to also contact local nonprofit groups since each nonprofit will receive $5 from Next Step Living, for each assessment signed-up via the nonprofit. In addition, Next Step Living will make a $100 contribution for every 100 assessments completed. So we would like to work with  Friends of Melrose Football by:

- Getting into your game program guide. What is the cost (or will the $5 per assessment) suffice?

- Does Friends of Melrose Football have a parents's email list? Can a note about the project be sent out to parents, with a link to a signup-page? Then we can have a special web page for Friends of Melrose Football.

- Table at football games (we are trying for the Nov 4 game). I tried calling Pat Ruggiero last week, but have not been able to reach her yet.

The Melrose Energy Commission has held community energy talks over the years. The next one is on Sunday Nov 13 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at City Hall. Below is an article from the Melrose Weekly News of Oct 28, 2011.

As I mentioned, I'm also contacting Melrose Youth Soccer. Thanks,
-Weimin Tchen
781-662-7299

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Learn to save home energy at November 13 workshop

MELROSE -Want to learn how you can save money on your home energy bills and have some fun at the same time? Head on over to the Melrose Energy Challenge Workshop at City Hall on Sunday, Nov. 13. This free event runs from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

What is the Melrose Energy Challenge? It's a partnership between the Melrose Energy Commission and Next Step Living, a Mass Save-participating home performance contractor. Through this program, Melrose residents are being encouraged to sign up for no-cost home energy assessments and learn about Mass Save rebates.

(You can also participate in the Mass Save Home Energy Assessment Program by contacting Mass Save directly at 866-527
7283 or by visiting www.masssave.com)

At the Nov. 13 workshop, there will be children's activities, free refreshments and raffle prizes. In addition, energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) will be given to the first 50 people who attend. You'll also learn about the benefits of a free home energy assessment.

A Mass Save energy assessment by Next Step Living helps homeowners save energy through:
•    Energy-efficiency recommendations
•    Free compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)
•    75 percent rebates on future insulation upgrades (up to $2,000)
•    Zero percent financing for qualified improvements
•    Information about other available rebates

Mayor Rob Dolan took the Melrose Energy Challenge on Oct. 25, having his home assessed by Next Step Living.

"This is a terrific opportunity for all Melrose residents," he said. "You don't realize how much energy you're wasting and many simple things you can do to save energy in your home. The assessment is free and then you can decide what improvements to make. In the long run, you wind up saving a lot of money and help protect the environment."

Melrose Police Chief Michael Lyle and City Planner Denise Gaffey have also had home energy assessments and State Senator Katherine Clark is in the process of scheduling one. "The home energy assessor who came to my house was very professional and thorough," said Chief Lyle. "They installed free energy-efficient light bulbs in every fixture and now I'm considering adding some solar panels, too, to reduce my energy bill."

Through a special program, non-profit organizations can earn $5 for each energy assessment by one of their members. For further information about this program and the Melrose Energy Challenge in general, see the Melrose Energy Commission Web site (www.melroseenergy.org).