Presentation at the 5th Massachusetts Sustainable Communities and 4th Sustainable Campuses Conference

1. HEET
Squeaky Leak Report
Audrey Schulman, President

2. HEETma.org
• Efficiency maven for
nonprofits & their
communities
• Started 2008
• EPA Award
• Greater Boston area
HEET

3. HEETma.org
New England Pipes
• Some pipes in Boston area from 1880s
• Old pipes leak and can crack
• Lost gas = 2.7% (recent Harvard Univ. study)

4. HEETma.org
Natural Gas Leaks
• Potentially explosive

5. HEETma.org
Natural Gas Leaks
• Potentially explosive
• Hurt human health

6. HEETma.org
Natural Gas Leaks
• Potentially explosive
• Hurt human health
• Kill trees

7. HEETma.org
Natural Gas Leaks
• Potentially explosive
• Hurt human health
• Kill trees
• Powerful greenhouse gas
(natural gas when burned)

8. HEETma.org
Natural Gas Leaks
• Potentially explosive
• Hurt human health
• Kill trees
• Powerful greenhouse gas
(when not burned)

9. HEETma.org
Natural Gas Leaks
• Potentially explosive
• Hurt human health
• Kill trees
• Powerful greenhouse gas

10. HEETma.org
Natural Gas Leaks
• Potentially explosive
• Hurt human health
• Kill trees
• Powerful greenhouse gas
• Paid for by the ratepayer

11. HEETma.org
So we mapped Cambridge and Somerville.

12. HEETma.org

14. HEETma.org

17. HEETma.org
Somerville
• 5.2 leaks per linear mile of street
• total: 482 leaks
• City trees: 75 to 125 dead or damaged
• Cost = $100/ gas-using household year

18. HEETma.org
Cambridge
• 2.1 leaks per linear mile of street
• 305 total leaks
• City trees: 150 to 200 dead or damaged
• Cost = $28/gas-using household
• 5-year street reconstruction plan seems
helpful

19. HEETma.org
-
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
CO2 from Cambridge passenger cars GhG from Lost Gas (100 year time
horizon)
GhG from Lost Gas (20 year time
horizon)
tCO2e/year
Climate Impacts of Burned and Lost Natural Gas in
Cambridge MA (2014 Estimate)

20. HEETma.org

21. HEETma.org
Hull

22. HEETma.org
Recommendations
• Get leak map for your town from HEET
• Prioritize street repair based on leaks
• Use next year’s leak map to check results
• Inform DPU & AG of missed leaks
• Check tree pits for leaks before planting
• Have 5-year street repaving plan and work
with utility
• Pass local resolution in support of Ehrlich’s
state bill to pass cost of wasted gas onto
utilities

23. HEET
HEETma.org
Audrey Schulman, President
Audrey.Schulman@heetma.org