Northampton's climate agency reports $269,000 in energy savings and plans major school upgrades

NORTHAMPTON — The Department of Climate Action and Project Administration (CAPA) has saved the city more than $269,808 in municipal energy costs since its launch in 2023, as the department pursues the city's goal of complete carbon neutrality by 2030 for city operations. Director Dr. Ben Weil said the city faces pressing climate impacts and must act now to prepare its infrastructure.

CAPA, established under Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, oversees strategic climate goals and projects focused on energy and sustainability. Weil noted that Northampton is already experiencing climate change effects, from flash flooding to intense rainfall that exceeds the city's drainage capacity. "We're experiencing climate change right now," he said. "We've got this thing really happening, and we're not ready."

The city's schools consume the most energy among municipal buildings. This summer, CAPA plans heating and cooling upgrades at Leeds Elementary, Jackson Street School, and JFK Middle School. Last summer's conversion of Leeds Elementary's steam heat system to an Energy Recovery Ventilator halved the school's energy consumption, Weil said.

Two major projects are set to launch this summer: a solar installation at Ryan Road Elementary School designed to supply its entire energy use, and a geothermal heating system at Northampton High School expected to cost around $20 million. Weil said the geothermal project could be cost-neutral over 20 years if financed accordingly, especially if paired with solar installation.

CAPA is also working with the city's Central Services Department to inventory all municipally owned buildings and assess their energy efficiency. Weil acknowledged that many city buildings—including City Hall, Memorial Hall, and the Academy of Music—are old and difficult to retrofit for net zero emissions. He said a current study on building uses should help the city decide how to proceed. "It's very hard to go fix a building when you think you might not want to use that building," he said.

On transportation, the city has begun consolidating its fleet of roughly 40 light and medium-weight vehicles into a shared motor pool across departments to reduce idle vehicles and increase efficiency. Weil said the city prioritizes electric vehicles where possible. "Anything that can be an EV is an EV," he said. "It's cheaper for us to get, it's way cheaper and more convenient for us to operate."