• Specialty

  Air Quality
  

• SECTOR

  Commercial
  

• TYPE

  Permitting / Compliance
  

• CLIENTELE

  Private Sector
  

• TIMESPAN

  2010-2011

• LOCATION

  West Springfield, MA

GHG Study of a Retail Development in West Springfield

SERVICE:

GHG Analysis, Energy Audits

DESCRIPTION:

Tech performed a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigation analysis for a Raymour and Flanagan development in West Springfield, Massachusetts consisting of a furniture store, restaurant, and proposed supermarket. The purpose of this analysis was to demonstrate compliance with the State of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affair's (EOEEA) "Greenhouse Gas Emissions Policy and Protocol". The Policy requires a project to quantify carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and identify measures to avoid, minimize or mitigate such emissions. In addition, the Policy requires the Proponent to quantify the effect of proposed mitigation in terms of emissions reduction and energy savings. The GHG analysis, in addition to the proposed supermarket, also included a Raymour & Flanagan store built in 2006, and an Olive Garden restaurant built in 2009 at a request by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Department of Energy Resources (DOER) for an energy audit of these sites.

Tech Environmental, Inc. (Tech) was hired by Raymour & Flanagan to conduct the GHG analysis and energy audits. The analysis and audits first established the "Base Case": the carbon emissions that the project would make before any mitigation efforts. This included not only emissions from all the proposed buildings, but also indirect emissions from energy generated offsite (electricity) and the emissions resulting from the projected increase in motor vehicle traffic as a result of the project. Tech then determined the extent to which those carbon emissions would be reduced if the project and buildings committed to implementing all feasible mitigation measures. Tech's analysis gave the project the means by which to fully comply with State environmental policy. The proponent has committed to total direct and indirect stationary source CO2 emission reductions of 35.3% compared to the Base Case.

 

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Key Points

• A proposed retail development needed a GHG emissions and mitigation analysis done to comply with State environmental policy.
• The Secretary of Environmental Affairs has determined that the Draft EIR containing the GHG analysis adequately and properly complies with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act.