First for Green Communities program: Solar-heated water warms Malden High School swimming pool

Press Release provided by Fritzie Nace, Asst. Energy Conservation Consultant, Spark LLC

The City of Malden was designated a Green Community by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources [DOER] in 2017. Since then, Malden has received $1,046,811 in Green Communities Grants, allowing the city to significantly conserve energy, save money and reduce its carbon emissions. The MA Green Communities program helps communities across the Commonwealth conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas-producing fossil fuel use while saving energy costs for the municipalities.

This year with a new Green Communities grant award of $193,022, Malden embarked on a first of its kind project in the Green Communities program – placing solar thermal collectors on a public high school roof to provide solar-heated water for its 150,000-gallon, competition size swimming pool. The pool is used year-round, not only by the MHS swim team, but many other area school district swim teams, as well as summer programs for the public.

New England Solar Hot Water of Canton, one of the first solar hot water companies in Massachusetts, installed 48 solar thermal collection panels on the high school roof above the pool. The solar thermal system ties into the boiler-heated water supply, reducing dependence on gas-heated water to maintain regulation temperature for the pool. Prior to installing the solar thermal panels, the swimming pool was heated solely from the gas-fired boilers that also heat the building. Keeping the pool at regulation 82 degrees Fahrenheit required running a boiler and heating parts of the school even in the warm months, creating an additional cooling load as well. The new solar thermal system will contribute approximately 36% of the heated water going into the pool.

“Municipalities are essential enablers of the energy transition in Massachusetts,” said Chris Porter, Director of Customer Energy Management at National Grid. “National Grid, through our Mass Save sponsorship, is delighted to have partnered with Malden to identify and implement a decarbonization solution for Malden High School. National Grid is committed to being a partner for progress in advancing Massachusetts’ climate objectives as we work to achieve a clean, equitable, and affordable energy future for the customers and communities we serve.”

This year’s grant also funded several other projects helping Malden to reduce its energy use and dependence on fossil fuels, while also creating more comfortable spaces. “This project is another example of Malden’s commitment to decarbonization and energy efficiency goals. The city is proud to partner with National Grid on these important initiatives.” said Mayor Gary Christensen.

The Centre Street Garage office had an aging, inefficient, forced-air electric furnace replaced by an LG cold climate heat pump which will not only provide fossil fuel-free heat, but also offer energy efficient cooling.

Our Senior Center will be more comfortable and more efficient this winter now that all of the boiler pipes are wrapped with insulation. Malden High School also had boiler pipes wrapped with new insulation after a squirrel found its way into the boiler room and damaged much of the insulation that had been installed when the boilers were replaced in 2008. Both pipe insulation projects were paid entirely through Green Communities grant funds and generous incentives from National Grid.

The Beebe School on Pleasant Street houses Kindergarten through 8^th grade. Demand for hot water is high. The hot water supply was tied into the boilers for the heating system, requiring continued running of a boiler even during the warm months. With the Green Communities grant paying 80% of the cost, the domestic hot water is now supplied by a series of four 80-gallon heat pump water heaters replacing the 40-gal indirect water heater.

By insulating pipes, utilizing heat pump and solar thermal technologies these projects are reducing the city’s natural gas usage by 8,750 therms annually, and preventing 44 metric tons of CO2 from being emitted each year. Together these projects are estimated to save Malden $8,271 annually in energy costs.

“As a Green Community, Malden leads on clean energy projects to lower the city’s energy use, reduce local air pollution, and free up the city’s budget,” said DOER Commissioner Elizabeth Mahony. “The innovative projects under Malden’s most recent Green Communities grant – including solar and heat pump water heating and a heat pump installation – show the city’s commitment to cut its use of harmful fossil fuels, create a healthier community and reduce costs for its residents and businesses.”