Weston Fire Station Working Group directs pricing for three HVAC options

WESTON — March 3, 2025 — Weston Fire Station Working Group orders pricing for three HVAC paths at the new South Side station. Consulting Engineering Services' Eric Gebrian and Brad Park told the group that Weston's specialized opt-in stretch energy code, adopted last July, bars fossil fuel heating and requires heat pumps to cover 99.6 percent of winter design conditions, forcing a 500- to 600-kilowatt diesel emergency generator sized for 72 hours of runtime. Co-Chair Steve Larocque pushed for resident-facing cost figures, saying net zero "would be nice, but I think we're going to need to explain to the residents of the town what it means to their pocketbook." Park estimated geothermal at roughly $40,000 per bore for 15 to 20 bores, with 30- to 40-year payback without federal incentives. Tecton's Jeff McElravy said reaching net zero would require about 15,000 square feet of photovoltaics — essentially the full roof.