Fairfield Awarded 'Highest Honors' For Green Policies

Fairfield took Highest Honors for overall excellence at the Power of Change Awards on Tuesday night. The newly-created awards honor governments and school districts that take steps to improve their carbon footprints and save taxpayer money by cutting energy costs.

The program was sponsored by nonprofit groups the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, the Hampshire Foundation and the Common Sense Fund. The contest was inspired by the Lead By Example program, started by Gov. Dannel Malloy and Energy and Environmental Protection Commission Daniel Etsy to reduce energy intake at state facilities.

“We created the Power of Change Award first as an opportunity to encourage more state and municipal leaders to make important investments in their future, and also as an occasion to give energy efficiency leaders their due recognition,” Stewart Hudson of the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation said at the awards ceremony. “We believe that it is vital to celebrate success in our towns and cities.”

Fairfield was picked for the top prize because of its “detailed and comprehensive plan” to improve energy efficiency, make use of green energy sources and reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. 

“Over several years, the entire program also saved the town millions of taxpayer dollars,” the Power of Change Awards’ granters said in a press release.

Public Works Assistant Director Ed Boman accepted the award on Fairfield’s behalf at Tuesday night’s ceremony. Boman has led Fairfield’s efforts to make use of green technologies and improve its energy efficiency.

Among the programs he has helped to develop through state grants include switching some town-owned cars to cleaner-burning Compressed Natural Gas systems, installing solar panels and other renewable energy production systems at town facilities and switching some streetlights to LED bulbs, which use less electricity.

For the honor Fairfield received a trophy, a certificate and a banner that will hang over Sherman Green next month.

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