Malden Green Communities Grant working to reduce carbon emissions and energy costs

The City of Malden was designated a Green Community by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) in 2017. Since then, Malden has received $1,204,295 in Green Communities Grants, allowing the city to significantly conserve energy, save money and reduce its carbon emissions. The DOER Division of Green Communities helps communities across the Commonwealth conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas-producing fossil fuel use while saving energy costs for the municipalities.

With a new Green Communities grant award of $181,311 in 2025, Malden addressed the old and failing heating system in the School Administration offices at 110 Pleasant St. In keeping with Malden’s 2024 Climate Action Plan goal of “achieving net zero carbon emissions in buildings and energy across the city,” electric heat pump hybrid rooftop units replaced two natural gas-fueled rooftop heating units serving the first and third floors. The heat pumps will be the primary heat source. When the outdoor temperature goes below approximately 10 degrees Fahrenheit, the unit will switch to the natural gas-fueled component.

Using grant funds and utility incentives, windows throughout the building were sealed against heat loss. Additionally, the heat pumps will provide cooling for the School Administration offices in the hotter weather.

As part of the project, the heat pump roof top units and first floor unit heaters were integrated into the existing Building Management System, an internet-based system which can be accessed remotely, giving the City’s facilities staff more control over the heating and cooling and saving staff time.

Not only will these equipment upgrades provide a more comfortable working environment for the School Administration and all who visit the office building, the new hybrid heat pumps and their integration into the Building Management System will deliver a projected annual cost savings of $2,025 and reduce carbon emissions by 40%.

This grant round also supported insulation of the Cemetery Garage attic, reducing heat loss in the staff meeting and training areas. With an oil-fired heating system for this space in the attic, adding insulation reduces heat loss and thus reduces use of fuel oil. This weatherization measure provides an estimated annual energy cost savings of $2,400 and a 20% reduction of carbon emissions.

Malden is proud to continue implementing its Climate Action Plan goals, as the plan states that the City will “lead by example by reducing carbon emissions from municipal buildings and vehicles in a variety of ways.”