WALTHAM, MA — You may soon start seeing green and white signs pop up around the city. That's because just made the list of 25 new communities to be designated to be part of the "Green Community" program by the Department of Energy Resources. The recognition comes with a grant of $281,080 as Waltham pledges to cut municipal energy use by 20 percent over 5 years.

Waltham joins more than half of the diverse cities and towns of the Commonwealth and nearly two-thirds of the population with this designation. The State program began in 2010 with just 35 municipalities who achieved designation status. In order to be considered for Green Community Designation grant a municipality has to meet five criteria and submit a project application proposing how these funds will be spent. The program is meant to be a way the state can support the city in meeting local energy goals and commitment to a cleaner energy future for Massachusetts.

According to the state website the Green Community Designation and Grant Program provides a road map along with financial and technical support to municipalities that: 1) pledge to cut municipal energy use by an ambitious and achievable goal of 20 percent over 5 years and

2) meet four other criteria established in the Green Communities Act. The program has inspired cities and towns to undertake additional energy-related initiatives, improve coordination between municipal staff and departments, and increase messaging with the public at large about energy-related issues and actions, according to the program website.

