Boston to Scan City with Infrared Tech to Determine Energy Efficiency

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To drive energy-efficiency efforts in Boston, Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced plans to use infrared technology to scan all buildings in Boston to determine their energy efficiency, reports Boston Herald.

The Boston Redevelopment Authority is accepting requests for proposals for scanning buildings for heat loss in the winter and heat emissions in the summer through July 19, reports Boston Herald. Menino said the first scan could take place in August.

A $70,000 grant from the Barr Foundation will fund the project, which follows the foundation's earlier commitment of $50 million in grants to combat climate change, reports The Boston Globe.

Galen Nelson, the Boston Redevelopment Authority's green tech business manager, told The Boston Globe  the infrared scans will cover every square foot of Boston, and will be the first of their kind in a major American city. It is expected to significantly increase enrollments in energy-efficiency programs.

A report from the Boston Climate Action Leadership Committee projects Boston businesses and homeowners could save more than $2 billion over ten years through various energy efficiency efforts.

Earlier this year, the state of Massachusetts launched a new financing plan that allows the Commonwealth to fund energy efficient and renewable energy projects at dozens of state buildings that is expected to save millions of dollars in energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The city of Boston recently upgraded streetlights with new light-emitting diode (LED) lighting on the Boston Common to reduce energy use and carbon emissions.

Menino said the clean technology industry in Boston is growing at an annual rate of about 20 percent, which is faster than traditionally strong economic sectors such as health care and financial services, reports The Boston Globe.

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