Dedham is wise for wanting to go green with the new senior center and the state is doing the right thing by giving the town some money to do so.
Last week, the state’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs announced Dedham was one of seven towns winning a Smart Growth/Smart Energy grant. Dedham could use the $20,000 it got to study efficient heating, air conditioning, and insulation, as well as solar energy, said Robert Naser, chairman of the Building, Planning, and Construction Committee.
One of the architects on the project said her firm is already looking into using geothermal energy to power the center.
Since the senior center could be around a long time and no one knows if energy costs will ever come down, a green facility will amount to significant savings for Dedham taxpayers; most likely it would have even if the state hadn’t granted $20,000 to get the ball rolling.
Besides that, Dedham’s commitment to the environment sets a good example for its residents to look into ways of conserving energy in their own homes and businesses.
Dedham long lagged behind other area towns by not having a true senior center. If it goes ahead and builds a green center, it will be jumping to the front.
