Energy Efficiency Assessments at the Charlestown Navy Yard

Three National Parks of Boston Climate Conservation Corps members assessing a group of windows.

NPS Photo / R. Muller

The National Parks of Boston Climate Conservation Corps (NPB CCC) develops project work based on four cornerstones: adaptation, mitigation, communication, and understanding. This framework is derived from the National Park Service (NPS) Climate Change Response Strategy, which classifies climate response goals into those four cornerstones. In addition to this strategy, NPS has a Green Parks Plan that outlines five objectives in order for parks' operations to become "net-zero." To achieve net-zero, an establishment must absorb the same amount of greenhouse gases as they are releasing. NPB CCC has been working towards improving energy efficiency at the Charlestown Navy Yard.

This project falls under the mitigation cornerstone because it helps the park to reduce existing carbon emissions and move closer to net-zero operations. To do this, the group is following the "Be Energy Smart and Water Wise" objective from the Green Parks Plan. NPB CCC recognizes the importance of prioritizing energy efficiency to become a more sustainable park.

Why is Energy Efficiency Important?

The Charlestown Navy Yard is a valuable historic landmark and cultural resource in the city of Boston. To maintain historical integrity at this site, many architectural characteristics, such as windows, heating systems, and walls have remained untouched for many years, and are often energy sinks due to window cracks, leaks, and aged insulation. These culturally significant, yet aging features cause buildings to use more energy to maintain cool temperatures during the summer and warm temperatures during the winter.

Building a sustainable system involves minimizing waste and using resources to their fullest extent. As the park service transitions to cleaner, renewable energy sources, it is important to consider inefficient energy usage and work to reduce this loss. NPB CCC has set out to assess the heating efficiency of three buildings in the Navy Yard, noting where heat is frequently lost, and working to make recommendations on how to improve efficiency while maintaining the integrity of historic buildings.

Energy Efficiency Assessments

A National Parks of Boston Climate Conservation Corps member recording window temperature data.

NPS Photo / R. Muller

February 2024

In coordination with NPB Facilities and Sustainability team, the corps chose three buildings to assess this spring, all of which have a diverse set of uses. The first building being assessed is a group of historic townhouses, currently being used as office space by park staff. To start, the team is appraising the efficiency of windows and doors. Using an infrared thermal imaging camera and an infrared temperature gun, NPB CCC can note the lowest temperatures of all the windowpanes and window frames, and the temperature of the wall next to the windows. Doing this allows the group to identify areas with the largest temperature differences, in addition to using the infrared thermal imaging camera to see the parts of the window where the most heat is escaping.

The NPB CCC will also assess Building 107 and the Bunker Hill Museum. Building 107 presents an exciting opportunity because it will soon undergo renovations, allowing the park to compare heating loss before and after construction. The Bunker Hill Museum is a unique space that receives a lot of foot traffic from park visitors. The temperature data collected will be important in improving visitor comfort at the museum.

Once assessments are complete, NPB CCC will make recommendations on how the park can reduce heating loss in the Charlestown Navy Yard buildings while still maintaining historical integrity in the park. Solutions could include insulating curtains that do not interfere with buildings’ iconic facades, or planting trees to provide shade in the summer and wind barriers in the winter. Through concerted efforts by the NPB CCC and the Facilities and Sustainability team, climate change mitigation strategies can be implemented without compromising outstanding historical integrity.

Contributed by: Ellie Bychok, National Parks of Boston Climate Conservation Corps Crew Member