THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, NOVEmbER 10, 2023 Page 9 Everett City Hall takes bold steps towards sustainability City partners with Ameresco to increase energy reduction measures to meet local and state climate action goals The new solar panels on the roof of Everett City Hall along with the new white (cool) roof. M ayor Carlo DeMaria is pleased to announce that the City of Everett has partnered with energy consulting company Ameresco to increase energy reduction measures to meet local and state climate action goals. Through these efforts, the City recently installed a white roof and a new solar array on top of City Hall. The panels will produce approximately 110,195 kWh of energy and save $26,996 in energy costs in the fi rst year alone, and the white roof will signifi cantly reduce cooling costs. By installing the white (or cool) roof, the City hopes to do its part to counter the heat island effect downtown. The heat island effect occurs when urban areas experience higher temperatures than surrounding areas due to highly concentrated development, such as buildings, roads, lack of green spaces, and other infrastructure. This exacerbates high temperatures by absorbing and reemitting the sun’s heat into the atmosphere. The cool roof is designed to reflect more sunlight than a conventional roof, absorbing less solar energy and lowering the temperature of the building. Traditional black roofs can reach temperatures of 150°F or more on a sunny summer afternoon, while a reflective roof could stay more than 50°F cooler on the same day. In addition to those energy-saving measures, the City has installed an air quality monitor to collect data for a three-year air quality study: Community-led Improvement of Air Quality and Health in the Lower Mystic (CLEANAIR). The EPA-funded project will include a partnership with the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) and Tufts University to monitor air quality at community-identifi ed locations in Everett, Malden, Charlestown and East Boston. The residents of these communities suff er from some of the highest rates of illnesses, such as asthma, associated with air pollution related to transportation and industry in Massachusetts. The CLEANAIR project will measure background levels of air pollution for three years using long-term monitoring sites at three sites in the Lower Mystic Network (LMN). Stationary monitors are deployed to measure ultrafi ne particles that are an indicator of local traffic-related emissions as well as PM10 and PM2.5, which indicate background levels of regional pollution. One of these long-term monitors is now set up on the City Hall roof, collecting air quality data from Broadway. Simultaneously, a 12-member Community Advisory Board (CAB) will gather inThe solar panels will produce approximately 110,195 kWh of energy and save $26,996 in energy costs in the fi rst year alone, and the white (cool) roof will signifi cantly reduce cooling costs. put from communities on air quality concerns (by surveys and listening sessions) and guide the development of intensive monitoring projects to answer questions raised by the community. The outreach will specifi cally target residents disproportionately impacted by poor air quality with the hope of delivering actionable data to advocate for healthy solutions. “The project team wants to better understand traffi c-related air pollution (TRAP) in Everett and the impact on REDUCTION | SEE PAGE 11 An overhead view of Everett City Hall’s new roof. (Courtesy of Ameresco) E Club 52nd Annual Fall Banquet on Nov. 15th Tony Massarotti will be the featured speaker at the E Club’s Annual Banquet at Spinelli’s been writing and talking about sports in Boston for more than 30 years. He is currently an on-air personality at 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston, where he is a co-host of Felger & Mazz and host of The Baseball Hour with Tony Mazz. He is a two-time Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year and has authored sports. The E Club will be presenting four Civic The air quality monitor that has been installed on the roof of City Hall. High School Head Football Coach Justin Flores. Come and join an eveTony Massarotti Achievement Awards to Yasmine Laabadla, Stacy Schiavo, Dave Erlandson, Dick Mangerian (posthumously) accepted by his daughter, Christine Gumbrecht. This year’s outstanding senior football player will be presented by the Everett the future. ning of enjoyment with family and friends. Ticket Prices are $65 and can be reserved by calling Mr. Colso n a t 617-650-0469 . These reservations are required, but you may pay at the door. Pay online at WWW.ECLUBOFEVERETT.COM. You can also Sponsor Student tickets, which are $35 each. These sponsorships encourage student athletes to attend the dinner in support of their friends The solar panels collecting energy on the roof of Everett City Hall.
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