Swampscott Relaunches Big Blue Energy Initiative

Swampscott, MA - Swampscott relaunched the Big Blue Energy Initiative to help residents save energy in their homes and propel the Town towards an energy efficiency goal of 275 completed residential assessments.

If Swampscott reaches its energy efficiency goals, it stands to be awarded nearly $15,000 from the 2016 National Grid Community Initiative. All members of the Renewable Energy Committee have had home energy assessments completed at their homes.

Tom Dreeben, member of the Renewable Energy Committee, and Naomi Dreeben, Chair to the Board of Selectmen, are on their way towards an energy efficient home and offered the interview below.

1. What inspired you to get a home energy assessment?

I learned about the assessment when the Renewable Energy Committee first partnered with Next Step Living in 2013. Since that first assessment, insulation has long been on the list of things to do on the house. [My wife] Naomi and I independently decided it was time to move forward with remediation of the knob and tube wiring that was posing a health and safety obstacle to weatherizing. We got another home energy assessment and worked with Next Step Living to remediate the knob and tube wiring and connect to the Expanded HEAT Loan Program.

2. What is something that you learned during the home energy assessment?

I found it really interesting! I am a physicist; I work with lighting and heat transfer for a living. I am a thermal guy. I loved seeing the advisor use the infrared camera to measure the temperature of the walls. I asked the advisor a bunch of technical questions to explore the practical side of building science and why you might insulate one part of the house before the other.

3. Do you plan to take any follow up actions?

We already remediated knob and tube and are scheduled for insulation in April. This year Naomi and I are going to insulate just the first floor to take advantage of the Mass Save rebate of 75% off up to $2,000. The advisor informed us that we can access the rebate each year for up to three years, so we plan to use that rebate again next year and the year after to finish insulation.

4. What makes you proud to live in Swampscott?

Swampscott is a place where we look out for each other and people are quick to help each other out. Serving on the Renewable Energy Committee, I have gotten to experience firsthand people’s propensity to support the community as well as the schools.

Save energy, save money and help Swampscott reach a goal of 275 home energy assessments by 2016. You can sign up for your own home energy assessment by calling 855-891-9899 (mention “Swampscott”) or visit http://BigBlueEnergy.org for more information.