Day: February 24, 2012

Mar 4: Deep Energy Retrofit Open House (Sudbury, MA)

When: Sunday, March 4, 2012, 12 Noon — 3 PM

Where: 61 Oakwood Avenue, Sudbury, MA

National Grid will be sponsoring an Open House showcasing the Deep Energy Retrofit (DER) of a single family residence at 61 Oakwood Avenue in Sudbury, MA. Synergy Construction LLC, the project’s DER envelope subcontractor, and October Engineering LLC, the owner and mechanical systems installer, will be on hand to discuss the concepts and construction details. The home was built in 1961.

The owners, Deborah Wolozin and Robert Morrison, purchased the home in 2010 as a rental property in one of Sudbury’s family-friendly neighborhoods. A subsequent home energy audit and review of utility bills revealed its poor energy performance. The owners were uncomfortable passing these high utility costs onto future tenants. In the course of researching window replacements and air-sealing energy retrofits, they discovered the NGrid DER Pilot Program. The owners decided on an expanded financial planning horizon which incorporated the benefits of the pilot program to pursue a gut-rehab, deep energy retrofit in conjunction with a second floor expansion.

The super-insulated and air-tight enclosure, made possible through financial and technical support from National Grid and Building Science Corporation, will include interior spray foam insulation for air sealing and insulation in addition to an exterior insulation wall and roof build-out. A heat recovery ventilator will provide fresh air while recovering energy from exhausted air. A premium efficiency hot water heating system is being installed. A multi-split system heat pump will be installed for air conditioning and backup heating. A solar photovoltaic array is currently being designed. The project is aiming for completion by July 2012.

For more information on National Grid, the Deep Energy Retrofit Program, or for directions to the Open House, click the link to their website.

Food, Farm, and Sustainability Institute Summer Program (Hampshire College)

I am thrilled to announce the inaugural Food, Farm, and Sustainability Institute at Hampshire College, a six week summer academic program designed for undergraduate students interested in sustainable agriculture and food studies. Please forward this email to anyone you know who might be interested in applying!

Overview: From June 4 to July 13, 2012, students, faculty, staff, and alumni will come together as a living and learning community at Hampshire College. Students will gain hands-on work experience with the guidance of the Hampshire College Farm Center staff, learn through inquiry-based projects mentored by faculty with a range of expertise, and acquire ownership of knowledge through independent research projects. The institute will follow food from its origin in the soil, through plant cultivation and animal management, address issues in public health and politics, and end up in the kitchen, breaking bread and assessing the character of the food we produce and eat. There will be numerous opportunities for community building through roundtable dinner discussions with local farmers and food producers, a weekly film series, and field trips to local farms emphasizing environmental and community sustainability.

Tuition for the six week program is $3,400, including communal lunch costs (students are responsible for breakfast and dinners as well as all weekend meals). Lodging is an additional $800 for students who wish to reside on campus. 
Hampshire recommends 8 academic credits for completion of the 6-week program. Students are encouraged to check with their home institutions for credit equivalent.

Online Application Deadline: March 1, 2012

For more detailed information about the Food, Farm, and Sustainability Institute, please visit the website: summer.hampshire.edu.
If you have any questions, please contact ffs@hampshire.edu.