KYOTO PROJECT

Subcommittee of GDC's Energy Committee

Green Decade's Kyoto Project is named after the Kyoto Protocol, an international effort for all countries to work to reduce CO2 emissions. The United States has never signed on to it.

Our Kyoto Project was established in 2002 to help homeowners identify what they can do in their own homes to become more climate-friendly. The Kyoto Coordinator explains how the utility rebate and audit system works, sits down with you after you have a utility audit, and develops a CO2 baseline and climate action plan for you to implement for your home. 

In addition to energy efficiency measures, the Kyoto Coordinator recommends green energy options and biodiesel sources for home heating.  After you have implemented some larger (or smaller!) measures, the Kyoto Coordinator (or a Kyoto volunteer) can help assess how many tons of CO2 were reduced by your efforts.  The project also offers occasional workshops for homeowners wanting to learn more about the technical aspects of making your home more efficient. 

Starting in 2005, the Kyoto Project will focus more on the building trades as we develop a Green Buildings Program. The Kyoto Coordinator will get rehab contractors to qualify for utility rebates so the contractors would have the motivation to push the program.  The Coordinator may also organize some mode of quality control over the contractors along with sanctions if they did not perform.

To have developed a Green Buildings Program in Newton which will include these features:

1. A website with quality information for homeowners, businesses, and building and remodeling, contractors, similar in format to the Austin, TX site at www.ci.austin.tx.us./greenbuilder.
   
2. A requirement that the Newton permitting process provide permit applicants (either the contractors, doing the work or the home/business owners having the work done) the information needed to opt in to a Kyoto committee evaluation of the work.
   
3. The ability to thoroughly and consistently evaluate energy improvements completed on Newton structures (residential and commercial). These are possible criteria for evaluation:
   
   • Homeowner evaluation of the professionalism of the building/remodeling/weatherization company with regard to reliability, cleanliness, and follow-up to complaints or other issues.
     
   • Pre- and post-project blower door and infrared assessments to measure air leakage and insulation improvements.
     
   • Energy Energy bill auditing over a period of time.
     
4. A public database of contractors who have participated in energy improvement projects in homes and businesses, and an objective assessment of the quality of their work and service as measured by the criteria listed above.

We have two brochures with information on how you can save money on energy in your home.

• How to Increase Comfort and Save Money on Energy
  
• How to get free money for saving energy!

For more information on how to become a Kyoto client or a Kyoto volunteer or affiliated contractor, please contact Michele Davis, Kyoto Coordinator, at 617-795-0546 or kyoto@greendecade.org.