Hey Shrewsbury! Welcome to the first blog in our new All In Shrewsbury Blog Series.
Today, we’re talking about energy efficiency. Energy efficiency is the process of reducing the amount of energy required to provide products and services, i.e. using less energy to perform the same task or produce the same result, like heating or cooling a home to the same comfortable temperature.
In cold weather, energy efficiency becomes particularly relevant as individuals and businesses seek to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures without unnecessarily increasing energy consumption. Heating systems, for instance, see increased usage in colder weather and improving their efficiency can lead to significant energy savings. Proper insulation, smart thermostats, and energy-efficient heating appliances like heat pumps are examples of solutions that boost energy efficiency in cold climates.
How does energy efficiency relate to climate change? It’s simple! The connection between energy efficiency in cold weather and climate change lies in the broader context of overall energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Traditional heating methods, often reliant on fossil fuels like methane gas and oil, release large amounts of planet-warming greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere. For example, energy use in buildings accounts for over one-third of Shrewsbury’s municipal GHG emissions. By adopting energy-efficient technologies and practices, individuals and businesses can use less energy overall, reducing the amount of GHGs they emit.
How is the Town pursuing energy efficiency? Great question! Shrewsbury started at the municipal level, making energy efficient upgrades to Town buildings and infrastructure, like installing heat pumps to replace oil fixtures in Town Hall. Another great example is the work the Town is doing with our public schools. As some of the largest municipal buildings, the Town of Shrewsbury’s public schools are also the largest energy users. In 2021, natural gas and electricity consumption in public schools accounted for 84% of municipal building related emissions.
Photo Credit: Lamoureux Pagano Associates
The Town has already been working to implement energy efficiency projects—including weatherstripping, LED lighting upgrades, and HVAC replacements—to decrease the impact of these facilities. The LED lighting upgrades in Shrewsbury High School alone are estimated to save 115,235 kWh per year, which is equivalent to the energy used by more than 10 homes in a single year.
Interested in making your home or business more energy efficient? It’s a win-win: you can save money on your energy bills while helping the Town meet our All In Shrewsbury climate goals. Take the first step with a FREE Home Energy Audit from SELCO. When you sign up for an audit, a specialist will come to your house and:
Analyze your current energy use
Walk through your home to point out specific steps you can take to reduce your energy bills
Provide you with publications containing dozens of energy-saving tips & ideas
Thank you for reading our first blog! Stay tuned every month for new posts all about Shrewsbury’s climate action initiatives and progress.