[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6228686,"mediaKeyId","3466246-b49f60b15511527df0f3f68166ce6e50","parentId",3466246,"title","Lowell reports building weatherization and school solar projects under way","audioSeconds",233,"startMs",4405000,"endMs",4638000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3466246-b49f60b15511527df0f3f68166ce6e50&start=4405&end=4638","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3466246-b49f60b15511527df0f3f68166ce6e50/thumbnail_4405000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6228686/Lowell-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Lowell-reports-building-weatherization-and-school-solar-projects-under-way","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6228686-b2c6888d21cb01a8b1b1fedd0deb7f4e/orig.mp4?Expires=1776244104&Signature=K7XBEh5r4Z1QoVFH9ovCdZ3344D7UnrAnTRHiEPE~epxa4HKqY6KP-Qa~AYYv62Q1oXyaFwcU6FzBEs73nMIx7KhxWSNY5HTpoqjZZruEJIpjeBNZgR9dS8CRtQemsNqHC~jkcWSMnvgePTCyFVH-CxTYijn374mi0LTU1qS~LEkCuRZ30aUlG4m4anT5rtbPJJ5oB3gS42~ROp9AoSR0JsibfsFS01Eer-8XfAzS7kYh4yuU5Tv7sVurq6JARRHf2nFHcu4qJDleiRyA~h~KG-ZWFyFvxG~QL45SlcOpLAsZoASYuDyqDJHJ0amCcGfpuLContUohbssm0Z5217zg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lowell City, MA","date","2025-05-23T17:13:04.457Z","article","At the meeting the sustainability department reported an underway package of energy-efficiency projects across municipal facilities and schools, and updated the council on rooftop solar installations.

Work under contract includes building envelope weatherization (insulation, window and door sealing, roof-wall joints), HVAC motor and variable-frequency-drive replacements at several schools, and upgrades at public works and parks facilities. Staff noted state incentives substantially reduce net out-of-pocket costs for motor and drive retrofits; examples discussed showed projects dropping from roughly six-figure estimates to small municipal expenditures after incentives.

Staff also reported that rooftop solar construction is completed at Wang, Robinson and McAuliffe schools and is underway at the high school; the installations are being deployed under third-party ownership models (power-purchase agreements or leases) so external firms own and maintain systems while the city receives contracted energy savings. The sustainability division said it is seeking drone photographs and outreach materials to post on social media when systems are energized.

The department emphasized weatherization as a priority \"low-hanging fruit,\" noting that envelope and control upgrades reduce energy bills and prepare buildings for eventual electrification. Council members asked staff to share photos and performance data once systems are activated so the council and public can track energy savings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lowell Sustainability Council - May 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City sustainability staff reported multiple weatherization and HVAC motor projects at municipal buildings and schools, and completion or near-completion of rooftop solar installations at several schools under third-party ownership agreements.","taxTitle","Lowell City, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",4223,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6228694,"Lowell council pauses formal Styrofoam ban endorsement, plans public outreach and Folk Fest tabling",850,3293000,4143000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3466246-b49f60b15511527df0f3f68166ce6e50&start=3293&end=4143","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3466246-b49f60b15511527df0f3f68166ce6e50/thumbnail_3293000.jpg","/articles/6228694/Lowell-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Lowell-council-pauses-formal-Styrofoam-ban-endorsement-plans-public-outreach-and-Folk-Fest-tabling","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6228694-25d4028e5d7051f3075d43b4ab92c47c/orig.mp4?Expires=1776244104&Signature=oxGrRo0mXVvwQtNNkaOqxwGPu92P9Qn8YhzVzwvPoWL7nu0iAvDKy6VFoRAsyvlXppkVZk4CGFHxduCa20WK4imsJ-BMSRvecRUsEsNtnXzDxfkbbxJyTDMDgoTQ9aW~CeRJysPhHhONOV~PMiJRHBS4ecdQUYJaLSq59AF7JSyVOHJNFzdmagPQkKzD4vCQNGZN6PF-8EMrxCOcYmnUcHWe1aZ~nYN7g0~I9tdQVife5EbfwNpP6x6d8nb64VGloKzezSO-1koaUFXRDBqm8kPsaYt2sgQrw0EAz1dvklgs5vu2RbcTUi9ihoamhRzGAhuyfWHAG96Be~7NJ8GmEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lowell Sustainability Council discussed a proposed city policy to prohibit single-use Styrofoam food containers in municipal operations and, eventually, restaurants. Members reviewed a draft recommendation that would apply to municipal entities and to restaurants with more than $500,000 in annual gross revenue, designed to exempt small businesses and reduce unintended impacts.

Council members reviewed outreach to businesses and the public. The council received nine formal survey responses posted to the drive and reported approximately 70 additional informal sign-ons or contacts from public outreach; members said they will collect more input at community events. Respondents cited cost, convenience and supply-chain access as barriers; some respondents asked the city to \"lead by example\" by first removing Styrofoam from municipal operations.

At the meeting members introduced a motion to send a letter supporting a Styrofoam ban to the sustainability division for consideration by the city. The council paused formal submission, asking staff to compile survey responses, gather more feedback from small, Spanish-speaking and family-run food businesses, and prepare demonstration materials for an outreach table at the Lowell Folk Fest so residents and vendors can compare alternative containers and see cost and waste data.

Council members recommended that any municipal recommendation start with city operations and schools so the city could model the change before broader private-sector requirements. Members discussed logistics: confirming whether tax or direct financial incentives for small businesses are feasible (city staff advised tax breaks are not generally available for this purpose), confirming thresholds for private-restaurant coverage, and preserving anonymity for survey respondents.

The council did not approve a formal endorsement at the meeting. Instead it set outreach and a July preparation for the Folk Fest table, with a later August review of findings and a possible letter to the sustainability division based on expanded feedback and vendor conversations.","The sustainability council discussed a recommended municipal Styrofoam food-container ban with a $500,000 gross-revenue threshold for restaurants, reviewed limited survey results and decided to collect more feedback and run public outreach at Folk Fest before forwarding a formal recommendation to the sustainability division.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6228699,"Lowell sustainability council to gather stakeholder input before backing specialized stretch code",1301,1941000,3242000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3466246-b49f60b15511527df0f3f68166ce6e50&start=1941&end=3242","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3466246-b49f60b15511527df0f3f68166ce6e50/thumbnail_1941000.jpg","/articles/6228699/Lowell-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Lowell-sustainability-council-to-gather-stakeholder-input-before-backing-specialized-stretch-code","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6228699-10d2944e64dc62a51b326742bd00e948/orig.mp4?Expires=1776244104&Signature=ijWeqSuhfLhFR5NRNI0a7MGx0s9aBrYBwHZHJDYEWX7Kuq8~ZqvBvJ5as~l69qOK2AVQ~FFJzJv7aQDmEZ4ogH1RwgFwgNzt4dGcQB0yXE8v-RGfhwYhojMdOutuIEYvqmnMppKLgxLZ63seu~hnPj4MY4FiQsP~eeXnIvMQavdgTLQ-Wevqfh7ryusMjdnDnTNSpIBp08~h0DZYTAHlRUWxZZIAXNYbIPIpgj1Eq5-2baGTQ2uoHbL3vbAPSbX~iAZwzWUUaX~lczsAjUzLlJ1JGQTZgyDrgt671rDgEdhIhk86F7QJF7pe1dUM4-HgIqF8vH3Yp6h6mN1poPJDNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a May meeting of the Lowell Sustainability Council, members agreed to gather citywide stakeholder feedback before taking a formal position on adopting a specialized stretch code for new construction and major renovations.

Council members said the specialized stretch code would set a higher energy-performance standard for new buildings than the state baseline and that adoption could position Lowell for state climate programs but might raise construction costs. Members asked staff to collect input from housing advocates, local developers, nonprofit groups and the Department of Energy Resources before recommending a letter of support to the city.

The council described the specialized stretch code as an optional, higher tier building-energy standard that would apply to new construction and to certain renovations; existing buildings would be grandfathered. Members discussed trade-offs between long-term energy savings and near-term construction costs, and identified affordable-housing advocates and municipal contractors as key constituencies to consult.

Participants outlined next steps: compile materials and stakeholder questions, invite a DOER regional coordinator and representatives of groups such as 350 Mass and Coalition for a Better Acre to brief the council, and make the specialized stretch code the theme of the June meeting so the council can review outreach results and, if warranted, draft a recommendation to the sustainability division.

The council did not vote to send a letter at the meeting. Instead members requested targeted outreach, a matrix of comparisons with other municipalities that have adopted the code, and information about available incentives and estimated incremental construction costs so the group can assess affordability impacts for locally supported housing projects.

Council members also suggested tracking related programs such as the state \"climate leader community\" recognition, which may unlock grant opportunities for municipalities that adopt measures like the specialized stretch code.","Council members agreed to solicit feedback from housing, development and community groups and to dedicate the June meeting to a focused discussion before deciding whether to send a letter supporting adoption of the specialized stretch code.","actionData","errors"]

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Lowell reports building weatherization and school solar projects under way

Lowell council pauses formal Styrofoam ban endorsement, plans public outreach and Folk Fest tabling

Lowell sustainability council to gather stakeholder input before backing specialized stretch code