
Bio: I am the NESEA Membership Coordinator. You can reach me at rheldt@nesea.org or at 413.774.6051, ext. 20.
Posts
- The first is our new website, to be launched in May.
The new website, and new database to match, will help improve the way in which members can communicate and connect with one another. - Second, after gathering member survey feedback and some serious consideration, we are refurbishing our membership levels, which will be launched with the website in May.
- We needed to simplify.
Before we had six individual levels of membership and five business levels. Now we offer a total of seven levels. We think this is much more straightforward. It’s also easier for us to track, which means we can spend less time on administration, and more time serving you! - We serve a diverse community of members who range in age, career phase, discipline and business size. We needed a membership structure to match.
Now, new and renewing members can identify their niche more easily and not just based on the quantitative benefits associated with each level. We are asking members to identify themselves in each member level, rather than to choose only based on the price, or the discounts. According to our recent member surveys, the discounts, while definitely a perk, are not really why you join NESEA. (The discounts aren’t going away, though, never fear!) - We want to reflect our continued clarity of vision on who our members are and what matters to you.
We are working hard to continue to improve and deliver on what you have said matters most to you – the peer to peer learning, the community, and the opportunities to connect professionally. De-emphasizing the discounts as reasons to join, coupled with a membership structure that more clearly reflects different career phases, business sizes, and foci, we will be better positioned to do so. - We are retiring it as a membership level.
The Sustainable Green Pages directory listing will be available to anyone that would like to purchase it (for $100), but those that purchase the listing only will not be considered NESEA members (and so will also not receive the Northeast Sun). - The Sustainable Green Pages listing will continue to be a benefit to business members…
…with the added bonus of a NESEA member logo to signify your commitment to the mission and values of this organization. Or, you can be an Individual level member and also purchase a listing, and be recognized as a member with a member logo in the directory.
Refurbished Membership Levels – May 2012
April 16th, 2012(A follow up/reiteration of our recent 4/12/12 email to the membership):
NESEA has some changes afoot –
Here is what you can expect:
Individual Levels:
Student / Retiree – $25
Individual / Emerging Professional – $55
ASES / NESEA Individual – $94
Lifetime Individual – $1500
Business Levels (suggested by number of employees):
Small Business / Entrepreneur (1-10) – $250
Local Leader (11-25) – $500
Industry Leader (26+) – $1000
You may notice the new levels are more or less equivalent to our current structure. So, why the change?
Because most of the current levels have a direct equivalent, your current level of membership should translate seamlessly into our new database. No action is required on your part.
For example, if you are a current Basic $55 Member, you will translate to Individual/Emerging Professional $55 level membership in the new structure. With the exception of the levels we are no longer offering (explained below), very little will noticeably change for you, but we think the semantics are important.
So, where is the Sustainable Green Pages level?
What about the Supporting and Sustaining individual levels?
To those that have joined at higher priced individual levels (Supporting, Sustaining) – we are retiring them as membership levels because although you gave us more (thank you!!), you did not get much more in return.
We truly appreciate your giving, which is why we would encourage you to contribute as a donation de-coupled from your member dues. That way, because we are a registered 501(c)3, you can get a tax deduction. To clarify that: membership dues are unfortunately NOT tax deductible, only donations are. By donating separately from your membership, we are more clearly able to count, and recognize you (if you wish) among our donors.
If you are a current holder of a supporting or sustaining membership, you will continue to be at that level until it is time for you to renew, and then you will have the opportunity to choose another level.
As always, we are here to support you – to connect you with other professionals, to help you learn from each other, and to continue to promote the adoption of sustainable energy practices in the built environment.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns – 413-774-6051 ext. 20, rheldt@nesea.org.
Thank you for being a part of our community!
2/16/12 – Pregame for BE12
January 30th, 2012Can’t wait for BuildingEnergy12? Neither could we.
Thankfully, one of our BE12 Gold Sponsors and NESEA Members, Renewable Sales, has volunteered to host a BE-caliber session at their showroom in Holliston, MA, February 16, 2012, starting at 5:30pm. RSVP here.
An evening of networking and expert information …
and it’s free! (And there will be food!)
The evening will feature a discussion “Understanding Risks and Rewards: A Conversation on Community Solar,” facilitated by The Cadmus Group, featuring a case study from the Town of Natick and from the City of Medford. MA Department of Energy Resources will speak to its solar programs (e.g., SolarizeMass with MassCEC, SunShot Program grant), as well as support that it can and has provided to Massachusetts municipalities.
Here is the essential information:
| What: NESEA invites you to “Understanding Risks and Rewards: A Conversation on Community Solar” presented by The Cadmus Group, and hosted by Renewable Sales Where: Renewable Sales, 35 Jeffrey Avenue, Holliston, MA 01746 When: Thursday, February 16th, 2012; 5:30 – 8:30pm RSVP: http://goo.gl/iKWtB – maximum 60 attendees – so do not delay! (and please let us know if you need to cancel) |
We hope to see you there!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me: rheldt@nesea.org or 413-774-6051 ext. 20
Follow-Up to the Net Zero Event at Mitsubishi
December 15th, 2011Join us January 10th, 2012 at the Mitsubishi Training Center
in Southborough, MA.
RSVP here!
Due to overwhelming demand for a more technical session to follow-up our recent NZB meeting at the Mitsubishi facility, Susan Pickett and Rick Nortz from Mitsubishi Electric are offering a presentation to discuss the types of inverter driven heat pump products that can benefit your high performance buildings.
The presentation will include residential, light commercial, and larger commercial solutions for carbon neutral heating and cooling in all climates and they will discuss product attributes, design considerations, energy savings, LEED, and controls.
There will be dinner following the presentation. And guess what… It’s still free!
Here is the essential info:
What: Mitsubishi Technical Follow-Up (to the Net Zero Energy event in the fall)
When: January 10th, 2012 – 3PM – 5PM, dinner to follow
Where: Mitsubishi Training Center, 150 Cordaville Rd. (RT. 85), Southborough, MA 01772
How? RSVP HERE or contact 413.774.6051 ext. 20, or rheldt@nesea.org
Maclay Architects redesign Putney General Store
December 8th, 2011This is a more personal post, but I promise it’s relevant to NESEA!
In 2008, the 200 year old Putney General Store caught fire and was severely damaged. The Putney Historical Society and town rallied to purchase the property and start to rebuild. In 2009, an arsonist set fire and obliterated the store completely. The Putney Historical Society and town again set about to rebuild. Maclay Architects, Bill Maclay’s (you may remember him from our recent Net Zero Event at Mitsubishi) architectural firm is one of the companies working on the general store’s resurrection.
Its grand reopening is this weekend, Saturday Dec. 10th. (Information about the reopening is available here).I just wanted to take a moment to congratulate Maclay Architects on reviving such an important structure and institution in Putney, while undoubtedly incorporating updates and design elements that will make it more resilient in an uncertain energy future.
NESEA members, your work has a significant impact on so many levels. I think that this is an aspect of the ‘whole system’ that we talk about. The built environment occupies more than just physical space. Beyond (or underlying) the building system, the environmental/ecological systems, there are the socio-cultural systems. This project touches on all of them – as I imagine the work all of you do does in one way or another.
Thank you for doing what you do.
Longtime NESEA Member Launching New Business
December 6th, 2011Robert (Bob) Chew, founder of Alteris Renewables, is launching his own renewable energy consulting company! Here is his press release below:
Alteris Renewables founder Bob Chew starts new company
BRISTOL, RI, November 1, 2011 – Bob Chew, renewable energy entrepreneur has launched a consulting firm that provides creative strategies and solutions to clients exploring options in the ever emerging renewable energy field. R.W. Chew, LLC, DBA as R.W. Chew Consultants, based in Bristol, RI, focuses on offering expert guidance using best practice gained from 30 years in the renewable energy field, to individuals,businesses, municipalities, schools and government agencies seeking viable and cost effective energy choices. “It is becoming increasingly difficult for the average consumer to navigate the growing number of renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency options available today,” states Chew. The design, implementation, and integration of sustainable energy solutions necessitates the need for a long range plan or ‘road map’ that incorporates variables specific to a particular project. There is no one size fits all in the renewable and energy efficiency field. By generating designs, specifications and project oversight, the company functions much the same as an architect in the building industry.
R.W. Chew Consulting is already working with Bryant U. on a grant to help public high schools in Rhode Island determine what energy retrofits and renewable energy technologies can help them get as close to net zero as possible. View the press release shared on the Bryant U. blog.
I also had the opportunity to interview Bob about his new company and his lifelong experience working with renewables.
We wish Bob the very best with his new company, and our sincerest thanks for his thoughts.
Net-Zero Energy & High Performance Building Presentations, Nov. 10, 2011
October 21st, 2011Curious about zero net energy and high performance buildings?
Ever wonder how zero net energy is possible?
Interested in net zero/high performance building design and mechanical systems?
Join us November 10th at the Mitsubishi Training Center in Southborough, MA to find out! RSVP HERE.
Our hosts and sponsors Mitsubishi Electric have helped us pull together a fantastic evening.
Registration, networking and hors d’oeuvres begin at 5PM
The talks will begin at 6PM, followed by Q&A

Moderating the evening’s discussion (and also sharing more information about NESEA’s Zero Net Energy Building Award) will be Mike Duclos, a principal and founder of The DEAP Energy Group, LLC, a consultancy providing a wide variety of Deep Energy Retrofit, Zero Net Energy and Passive House related consulting services.
Mike is a HERS Rater with Mass. New Homes with ENERGY STAR program, a Building Science Certified Infrared Thermographer, a Certified Passive House Consultant who certified the second Passive House in Massachusetts, holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from UMass Lowell, and two patents. See more from Mike at the DEAP Energy Group website.
Our speakers are R. Carter Scott, President of Transformations, Inc., a sustainable development and building company in Townsend, MA and William Maclay, founding principal of Maclay Architects in Waitsfield, VT. Both have extensive experience with net zero and high performance building design and the technology that makes net zero possible.
R. Carter Scott will talk about several of his recent zero energy homes built
throughout Massachusetts, focusing on how to get to zero on a reasonable budget, including how to get the most out of current incentives for solar electric systems.
Transformations, Inc. specializes in developing and building Zero-Energy communities, building out Zero-Energy communities for other developers, building custom Zero-Energy homes and installing solar electric systems for residential, commercial and building clients. Have a look at his work over on the Transformations, Inc. website!
William (Bill) Maclay will talk about the process for achieving net zero energy in institutional and commercial buildings, sharing his experiences on two of his firm’s recent projects and his approach from design to monitoring will illuminate how to achieve net zero energy and operate at net zero energy.
Maclay Architects is an awards winning architectural practice that specializes in environmental planning, healthy building design, energy conservation and net-zero architecture. Their own offices are solar powered and net-zero, even in central Vermont! Maclay Architects most recent projects can be found on their website.
CEUs are pending through the AIA. AIA accredited sessions are also often eligible for self-reporting for other licenses or certifications.
Here is the essential info:
What: Net-Zero Energy & High Performance Building Presentations, hosted and sponsored by Mitsubishi Electric
When: November 10th, 2011 - starting 5PM (talks starting at 6PM)
Where: Mitsubishi Training Center, 150 Cordaville Rd., Southborough, MA 01772
How? RSVP HERE or contact 413.774.6051 ext. 20, or rheldt@nesea.org
And yes… it’s free. Get excited.
Reminder: UMass Amherst Lecture Series
October 13th, 2011NESEA member public presentations
October 6th, 2011If you visited some residences at Green Buildings Open House this past weekend and were looking for some more information or next steps, you may want to check out NESEA member Rachel White’s (of Greener Every Day) talk at the Chelmsford Public Library.
Her talk is part of a two part series “Bringing Your Home into the 21st Century“. The first part of this series (delivered Sept. 21) was presented by Paul Eldrenkamp (of Byggmeister, Inc.), long-time NESEA member and this year’s BuildingEnergy Conference co-chair. (Sorry we missed your talk, Paul! We’ll just have to check out your talk “Ice Dams, Climate Change & You” at the Weston Public Library Oct. 19th, or your session at Build Boston Nov. 16th !)
Bringing Your Home into the 21st Century
presented by Rachel White, Greener Every Day, LLC
Wednesday, October 26th, 7PM
Chelmsford Public Library
25 Boston Rd., Chelmsford, MA
For other upcoming events, check out our events calendar – and as always, if you have an event you would like to promote, just let us know (nesea@nesea.org)!
UMass Amherst lecture series – local interest?
September 29th, 2011Hello everyone,
Just wanted to pop in to take a quick survey of interest in UMass Amherst’s Green Building Committee Lecture Series open to the public. Please see the event flyer here. You will likely recognize some of the names – some NESEA members & friends will be speaking, for example, our intrepid Board Member, Bruce Coldham, of Coldham & Hartman Architects.
We were thinking it might be fun to gather Springfield Area Sustainable Energy Association chapter members, any Western MA members (and of course, anyone else who would like to join us) at one of these lectures and follow up at a local restaurant/pub/coffee place to chat about the event, make or reestablish connections and have some fun!
Would you be interested in joining us? Please fill out our poll to let us know! The October 18th speaking engagement, a Tuesday, will be an opportunity to connect with our SASEA chapter chair, Mike Kocsmiersky (of Spirit Solar). If you’re interested in another meet-up, we can arrange another around Bruce Coldham’s November 15th presentation.
Please also stay tuned for more information on our joint chapter-affiliate event in Southborough, MA, November 10th, sponsored by Mitsubishi Electric. And of course, don’t forget Green Buildings Open House is this Saturday, October 1st!
Hope to see you soon!
Great News from the Membership!
September 2nd, 2011Long-time NESEA Members Kuhn Riddle Architects (KRA) based in Amherst, MA have recently earned LEED Platinum (New Construction) certification, in conjunction with Arrowwood Construction (also of Amherst, MA) for their work on New England Environmental’s headquarters (NEE.)
According to their press release, a sampling of the building’s energy
specs include a 39,000 kW photovoltaic array (installed by other long-time NESEA members PV Squared), 12” thick walls (2×6 and 2×4 with a 3” thermal break) filled with 12” cellulose insulation (recycled material), and 24” of cellulose insulation for the ceilings. And for one more additional member shout-out – Solectria Renewables products were used!
While LEED certifications seem to be popping up all over, Andy Grogan of KRA comments,
“[the project] shows how local professionals and an engaged community can create a project that achieves levels of energy efficiency that too often feel out-of-reach for commercial projects without substantial budgets…For this project, the architects (Kuhn Riddle), most consultants, and the contractor/subcontractors were all local. Many were educated here at UMASS Amherst. And as the client will tell you, this project did not cost an arm-and-a-leg to construct, but it achieves remarkable levels of energy efficiency.”
Moreover, as John Kuhn (one of the lead architects on the project) noted, the integration of PV into the building was not an afterthought, but rather part of the process all along. Jon Child of PV Squared also mentioned the collaborative design process – for example, that the architects went for a long, rectangular roof to accommodate the solar panels.
This type of collaboration is a perfect example of the kinds of conversations that should be happening between builders and designers and renewable energy installers to ensure that all the systems work together seamlessly. Jon Child commented on how essential it is to have the systems in communication with one another, otherwise things fall apart – for example the HVAC needs to be in conversation with the renewables which needs to be in conversation with the overall design. This is, I’m sure, very basic to NESEA member thinking, but it’s always nice to hear about it in practice! I know when I hear about LEED failures, I find myself wondering, “Where was the communication?”
On that note, we complain a great deal within the NESEA community about having LEED buildings without LEED people. But, as it turns out, the people at New England Environmental are LEED people! They have about a year’s worth of data (you can see their PV performance here – as linked to their website), as the construction was complete last year, and they embody how LEED residents make LEED successful. According to John Kuhn (of KRA), Julie Marcus (of NEE) truly spearheaded the LEED process. As New England Environmental is an environmental consulting firm, they wanted to use their headquarters as a lab for what they do and were instrumental in achieving many of the landscaping site points. Another exciting detail is that this was the first LEED project for John Kuhn and Ann Marshall of KRA and for their contractors. Thanks to their excellent collaboration and support from NEE, this project was successful.
You can view some of the photos and more information at the Kuhn Riddle website here and here, and more detail of the PV installation and array here (also linked above).
Even better, you can visit the building yourself on October 1st, as New England Environmental HQ is part of our Green Buildings Open House event!
Our warmest congratulations (and a high five) to Kuhn Riddle Architects, to everyone who worked on the project (way to go PV Squared!), and to New England Environmental.
Hey Members! Do you also have news to share? Let me know! Highlighting your good work is why we are here. Contact me at 413.774.6051 ext. 20, or rheldt@nesea.org.
…And we’re still accepting host sites for GBOH, so if you have a high-performance or otherwise energy efficient building, contact Michelle Rose at 413.774.6051 ext. 17 or mrose@nesea.org.

Erin Sweet leads The Cadmus Group’s efforts to support local communities with their renewable energy projects. Since 2010, Ms. Sweet has provided owner’s agent technical assistance services to eight Massachusetts cities and towns on behalf of the state Department of Energy Resources. She has assembled lessons learned from Cadmus’ owner’s agent work into a blog for communities interested in renewable energy. Ms. Sweet has evaluated the costs and benefits of water utility renewable energy projects for the U.S. EPA, and created a roadmap to drive renewables development in South Carolina’s Central Midlands region. Ms. Sweet holds an M.A. in urban and environmental policy and planning from Tufts University, and degrees in microbiology and English from the University of Florida.
Kevin Price is CEO of Renewable Sales of Holliston Massachusetts. Mr. Price bring 30 years of construction sector experience to his position, predominantly in the role of wholesale distributor of mechanical equipment. In 2008, he opened a small warehouse to service the fledgling solar market in the MetroWest region of Massachusetts. Since then, he has grown the company to keep pace with the fast expanding market. Renewable Sales now has 3 divisions; the original distribution company that recently expanded operations to a 20,000SF facility in Holliston, as well as two manufacturing divisions. In Dallas, Texas the company manufactures its American Choice PV modules. The third division, Constellation Solar Mounts, manufactures solar racking for commercial and utility scale projects.











