Malden Plugs Away at Energy Conservation

  The City of Malden was designated a Green Community by the MA Department of Energy Resources in 2017. Since then, Malden has received $553,114 in Green Communities Grants, allowing the city to significantly conserve energy, save money and reduce its carbon emissions.

   Public Facilities Director Eric Rubin working with the Mayor’s Office focused this year’s Green Communities grant projects on electrifying both the city vehicle fleet and the heating and cooling of our Recreation Department offices at McDonald Stadium. In addition, the District 3 Fire House is saving energy while being more comfortable with air-sealing and higher efficiency heaters.

   In 2020, Malden installed Electric Vehicle charging stations at 6 locations around the City. This year, four all-electric Chevy Bolts were purchased to replace gasoline-powered vehicles used by City employees, thus moving Malden closer to a more electrified fleet.  As City employees plug in to power up, we reduce our use of fossil fuels, side-stepping increased fuel costs while decreasing our carbon emissions.

   At McDonald Stadium, the Recreation Department staff have reported a much more comfortable office environment since insulation was installed above the offices and restroom areas and air source heat pumps were installed in the office areas, allowing zoned heating and cooling.  Previously, the entire building was on a single heating zone using a gas-fired boiler, often inadequately heating the offices while heating unused areas.  Our Recreation Department staff are now able to have energy-efficient heating and cooling in their offices with electricity-powered air source heat pumps while the rest of the building is maintained at a lower temperature with the gas-fired boiler.

   Installing heat pumps in a properly insulated area not only provides energy efficient heating and cooling but reduces use of fossil fuels by switching to electricity.  As our energy grid adds more clean, renewably-produced electricity, we help to reduce greenhouse gas production that contributes to climate change.

   Our first responders at the District 3 Fire Station have also become more comfortable with the replacement of an older heater with a high-efficiency gas-fired heater.  Weatherstripping was placed around all of the garage bay doors to enhance the efficiency of the new heater by reducing heat loss.