 Did you know that furnaces typically last about 15-20 years and boilers start aging out around 25-30 years?
When you sign up for a no cost Home Energy Assessment, you can learn how your home consumes and loses energy and how efficient your current heating and cooling systems are in your home. During a Home Energy Assessment, ask your energy specialist about the latest rebates for upgrading to a more energy-efficient HVAC system. The sponsors of the Mass Save® program provide 0% financing for $25,000, up to 7 years, for energy efficiency upgrades. Sign up for a no-cost Home Energy Assessment to ensure your system lasts all winter. As an added bonus, scheduling here provides Sustainable Wellesley with a donation for every completed - NO COST -Home Energy Assessment. Be one of the eligible Massachusetts residents can save energy and money this coming winter.  Sustainable Wellesley has teamed up with HomeWorks Energy to help spread the word about no-cost virtual Home Energy Assessments. Eligible Massachusetts residents who sign up for a Home Energy Assessment get a custom home energy report and access to the Mass Save® HEAT Loan, 100% off air sealing, and 75-100% off approved insulation. Your home may qualify for same-day instant savings measures like:
 If you missed the Sustainable Wellesley/Wellesley Books discussion with author Paul Greenberg about his inspiring, accessible book, the Climate Diet last week, you can watch it here.
What a treat for our group to hear directly from the author! "Naked food" and "shipped vs. flown" were just a few of the inspirational stories he shared on ways we can address our own household carbon footprints. As Paul says, "everyone can and should do something," and this book offers a wide array of things you can do. He calls this book a "peace offering," for adults and teens/millennials that shares ideas that are not only good for the planet, but good for your health and wallet too. Take some time to read The Climate Diet this summer. Its short, informative and available at the library and the local book store! Then share the book; we all have something to learn.  Last week after the Massachusetts Legislature put its climate bill on the Governor’s desk for the second time, Governor Baker signed it into law. This sweeping and historic statute is the first piece of climate legislation passed in Massachusetts in over a decade, creating the foundation for bold and robust statewide climate policy for years to come.
Specifically, the Roadmap Bill strengthens Massachusetts’s emissions reduction targets to establish a 50% reduction by 2030, a 75% reduction by 2040 and a goal of Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Having targets like these will hold the Commonwealth accountable to reduce emissions in our energy, transportation and building sectors. To make these goals, the act stipulates the development of a Net Zero Energy stretch building code, which it empowers communities to adopt by 2022. It also mandates energy efficiency standards for appliances by 2025, and authorizes another 2,400 megawatts of offshore wind power. It also provides protections for Environmental Justice communities. What does this mean for Wellesley? Later this month, Wellesley’s Sustainable Energy Committee (SEC) will be updating the Town’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goals and bringing them to the Annual Town Meeting (ATM) 2021. These goals, contained in Article 24, call for reductions in town-wide GHG emissions of 50% below Wellesley’s 2007 baseline by 2030, 75% below Wellesley’s 2007 baseline by 2040, and net zero town-wide GHG emissions by 2050. These science-based goals follow State policy, are in line with The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, support Wellesley’s Unified Plan, and echo similar climate actions taken by an increasing number of Wellesley’s peer communities across the Commonwealth. Residents are encouraged to contact their Town Meeting Members letting them know they support these emissions reductions goals for our community.  Stephen from Home Energy Works shared some enticing information about what MassSave can do for Wellesley residents who heat with natural gas. You can watch the event here and learn all that the Mass Save program offers:
It surprised some of us to learn that even if you live in an older home, you can really take advantage of this program on a variety of fronts:
Beyond comfort and cost savings, there really is an increase in energy efficiency through weatherization efforts after the assessment. Since you have already paid into this program for years in your National Grid gas bill, why not have an energy specialist offer you a personalized report, instant savings and lots of free things? Steven also spoke about the improved technology of air-source heat pumps (“mini splits”)” that are used for cooling and heating. These alternatives to ducted systems and window A/Cs are flexible, meaning they can be installed in specific rooms, or cover the entire home. These heat pumps, whether they are “mini-splits” or part of a ducted system, are a much more efficient way to heat your home than any other HVAC system, so their greenhouse gas emissions are markedly lower. Heat pumps also cost 3-4 times less to operate than delivered fuel systems such as oil or propane. Plus, heat pumps cool your home in the summer! This is one reason why heat pumps can add 4.3 -7.1% to the resale value of a home. SPOILER ALERT: Starting April 1, the Wellesley MLP will be offering rebates up to $2000 for the installation of air-source heat pumps, so you can heat AND cool in one. In addition to providing these rebates, the MLP’s program, called CLEAN COMFORT, will provide knowledgeable advice to homeowners from third-party energy experts to help you find the best heat pump option for your home. This program also provides a list of TRAINED and CERTIFIED INSTALLERS to ensure satisfaction. Believe it or not, Wellesley buildings make up 53% of our greenhouse gas emissions. Good news is that with energy efficiency efforts and the installation of heat pumps, we can change that and help the communal effort to reach net-zero by 2050. You can watch Stephen’s presentation at approximately the 30 minute mark here. Sustainable Wellesley is a community partner of Home Energy Works and for every Home Energy Assessment, they will make a$25 donation to Sustainable Wellesley. Go to www.homeworks.works/Wellesley or call Steven at 781-492-0692 to learn more. Also, if you heat with oil, propane or electricity, you can still get a free home energy audit. Just call the Wellesley MLP at 781-235-7600, ext. 3380.  Style. Fashion. Inspiration. All in a conscientious way.
Join the Zoom chat this Thursday, March 4th, at 7. Learn more about who is really paying the price for fast fashion. We will be looking at not only the sustainable factors but the ethical and societal as well. After offering some solutions, we will be opening it up to questions and answers. To Attend: Please fill out this form and submit your questions or comments. |
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