Yeah, But Does It Run On Biofuel?

The state’s environmental secretary is trading one Boston neighborhood for another – and it doesn’t look like he’s moving into a smaller, more energy-efficient home.

Massachusetts Secretary of Energy of Environmental Affairs Ian A. Bowles and his wife, Hannah, plunked down $1.47 million for a spacious, historic, Victorian home at 28 Eliot St. in Jamaica Plain. The couple purchased the home from John J. and Lee J. Englert with the help of a $1,050,000 mortgage from Sovereign Bank.

Perhaps it was the home’s proximity to Jamaica Pond and the trendy shops and restaurants along Centre Street that appealed to the Bowles family.

Or maybe it was the residence’s grand size and its elegant features. The 4,054-square-foot home with five bedrooms and four bathrooms boasts high ceilings, grand rooms and marble fireplaces.

But The Teller can’t help but wonder whether Bowles considered the family’s carbon footprint when moving into his new digs. After all, he is the state’s chief in charge of environmental affairs, and we find that "old and elegant" doesn’t always translate into "modern and efficient."

Our extensive network of spies in JP tells us the house may have some solar panels installed, so that’s a start. No word on whether Bowles has inquired about getting his hands on a cool-looking but woefully inefficient wind turbine to put on the roof, a la Boston’s City Hall.

It does seem obvious that Bowles may have some extra cash on hand to make some green improvements. He got a sizeable discount on the home, which was originally listed with Prudential Unlimited Realty for $1,575,000.

Bowles previously owned a 3,133-square-foot home, with four bedrooms, at 12 Adams St. in Charlestown. He sold the home, which he had owned since 2002, for $1,406,050 on July 9 – the same day he purchased the Jamaica Plain property.