• About
    • Our Mission and Who We Are
  • Take Action
    • Individual Action >
      • So Much You Can Do!
      • Run For Office
      • Buildings (Home/Office) >
        • Gas
      • Transportation
      • Food
      • Landscaping
      • Solar
      • Waste >
        • Gift Wrap
        • Reduce Plastic
    • Group Action >
      • Donate
      • Volunteer
    • IdleFree
    • More Action In Wellesley >
      • Other Local Organizations
      • Pollinate Wellesley >
        • Milkweed Sale
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Green Schools
    • Mission and Who We Are
    • Teachers >
      • Environmental Education
    • Green Team Representatives >
      • Smart Event Guide
      • Borrow Free Supplies for Your Event!
    • Families >
      • End of year Locker Cleanout Tips
      • School Supply list

Worried About Energy Prices?

10/6/2022

 
Picture
You are not alone.
There are numerous ways you can reduce your energy use as the cooler months arrive. Look for things you can do here as well as the suggestions below that have no costs associated with them. 
  • Use the curtains: Let the sunlight in to heat up your home in the mornings by opening your curtains on your south-facing windows. Then close them at night to decrease heat loss.
  • Eliminate phantom energy use (appliances draw power even in the off position) by unplugging them or using an advanced power strip to power them down. 
  • Run your dishwasher only when its full, and skip the pre-rinsing and drying cycles.
  • Do laundry in cold water and dry multiple loads of laundry in a row to utilize one load’s residual heat to dry the next
  • In general, minimizing your energy use between 5-8pm weekdays will also help. The more of us that do that could significantly reduce the dirtiest, costliest energy that the Wellesley Municipal Light Plant (WMLP) has to buy. This reduction of energy during peak times is called "leveling the load". Doing so enables the WMLP to purchase less electricity at peak times, thus lessening what it has to pay for energy. These savings are indirectly passed on to us, the customers. ​
  • Turn the temperature on your thermostat down before going to bed, or set your programmable/smart thermostat to do it automatically.
  • Have a ceiling fan? Run it in a clockwise direction to move warm air down into a room you are using.  
  • Keep the refrigerator door shut as much as possible to avoid cooling down the house and make sure its temperature of the refrigerator is set between 35 and 38 degrees.
Let us know ideas you have to reduce emissions.

Insider Scoop: They Renovated & Now Only Pay $10/Month For All Electricity (Car Too!)

7/13/2022

 
Picture
We realize it's the summer and ironically we are talking about ice dams.  Many of us have unfortunately experienced them, including Teri and Jamie Ebersole here in Wellesley. Over the last several years, they did piecemeal projects to protect themselves from recurring ice dam damage. However the dams highlighted to them the increasing severe weather due to climate change. Thus, when they decided to renovate their kitchen, they took a hard look at the resiliency of their home.  In the end, they spent a fair amount of their renovation budget on aspects of their home that will make their family home more resilient.

What does that mean?  Climate resilient buildings are built, or retrofitted, to withstand severe storms and natural disasters. The Ebersoles wanted their 1940 colonial – gone farmhouse – home to withstand extreme weather. They interviewed a few architects and builders and went with Wellesley’s Kraus Associates. After much research, and discussions with Abode and other energy efficiency experts, the Ebersoles now have a beautiful renovated, healthy and resilient home they are proud of.

This all turned out to be a valuable investment as well. The last 2 months they have only paid $10 a month for all of their electric cooking, heating/cooling, driving, laundry needs!
How are they doing this? They moved to electrical, high efficient systems, and fully insulated and weatherized their home:
  • Added insulation to attic; sealed ductwork
  • Removed existing radiators and central air conditioning
  • Installed ducted electric air-source heat pump for the whole house (2 central units that are entirely ducted, 1 that handles the 2nd floor)
  • Exchanged their Viking gas range for an induction stove
  • Exchanged gas dryer for electric dryer
  • Purchased plug-in minivan which they LOVE
  • Installed drip irrigation everywhere possible after construction
  • Installed 12.41 kWh solar system. Although their home was not considered highly solar suitable, it currently covers 98% of their energy use for all of the above so far! Full disclosure, one family member was not really interested in solar during the start of the project but by the end is thrilled with the payback, and is checking the app to see “how much did the solar produce today?”
  • Added a bulkhead for emergency egress from basement 

They still have their gas-fired tankless water heater, since it was newish at the time of renovation, but that is the only gas in their home. They will likely replace it with an electric air-source heat pump water heater at its end of life.  Since they have a family member with lung challenges, they are very happy to minimize the amount of unhealthy natural gas in their home.
“We love our house and want to stay here a long time, so it made sense to make it healthy, resilient and sustainable for the long-term.”

​Curious who they used? See below:
  • Architect and Builder: Kraus Associates
  • Heating and cooling:  T&K Mechanical
  • Solar: Sunbug Solar 
  • HVAC Consultant (free, made available by Wellesley MLP): Abode
  • Energy Efficiency Experts:  Sustainable Energy Analytics
Reach out to us to learn more.

Big News! Increased Rebates & INCENTIVES!

6/2/2022

 
Picture
Big News!!   

Both Wellesley’s Municipal Light Plant and the state’s MassSave Program have increased the amount of money a homeowner can get for home energy efficiency improvements.

MASS SAVE REBATES
If you live in a one to four unit home and get a bill from National Grid (for example, if you heat your home with natural gas or you have a gas fireplace or stove), then you are eligible for the larger rebates from MassSave. Before you can qualify for these rebates or incentives, you must schedule and complete a no-cost home energy assessment with an authorized Mass Save® home assessment contractor such as HomeWorks.
​

Special financing options are also available through Mass Save®, including a” HEAT Loan”:  0% financing for qualified individuals. 

WELLESLEY MUNICIPAL LIGHT PLANT (WMLP) REBATES
If you are NOT a National Grid customer, the WMLP’s new rebates are for you.  
The WMLP also offers a no-cost Home Energy Audit if you heat with oil, electricity or propane.  Call 888-772-4242. Read on for specifics.

WMLP Insulation and Air-Sealing Incentives - 50%, up to $1,500 max. for contractor installed insulation, following a home energy audit. Only for homes which are converting from oil heat to electric heat pumps.

WMLP Heating & Cooling Rebates
Air-source heat pumps:      Up to $5,000


Only for MLP customers who currently heat with oil,electricity or propane. Contact cleancomfort@wellesleyma.gov for requirements. Pre-approval by Abode required.

Integrated controls: $100 per, up to $400                                                                           

Wireless-enabled thermostats: 50% up to $125

Electric Heat Pump Water Heaters:  @ UEF≥ 3.2: $500

WMLP Rebates for 
EnergyStar® Appliances
Dehumidifier                               $50
Refrigerator                                $50
Front-loading clothes washer   $150
Dishwasher                                $50                        
Conversion of range or cooktop:  $500 - gas to induction
Conversion of range or cooktop: $100 - electric to induction                  
Replace gas clothes dryer - with heat pump clothes dryer   $250
Replace electric dryer - with heat pump clothes dryer  $100

WMLP Additional Rebates

Electric panel upgrade                       $750
Level 2 Electric Vehicle 
  
 Smart WiFi charger      50%, up to $350
Electric lawn mower                                $75                                               
  
Electric landscaping equipment          $25      

Guess what, there may be Federal Tax Incentives too
 for home energy efficiency upgrades.Go to Energy Star for details and availability.

Its 2022 & There Is So Much You CAN Do!

1/23/2022

 
Picture
2022 is here and you want to know what little old you can do for the climate.
Good news!
There is so much YOU can do.
Click here for ideas.
Email us at info@sustainablewellesley.com with stories of your successes, tips and tricks and more.

​Interested in Cost and Energy Savings on Heating and Cooling? Hear from Experts Dec. 9th 7pm

11/30/2021

 
Picture
Due to broad interest, Wellesley’s Municipal Light Plant has extended its pilot “Clean Comfort” program through June 30, 2022. Wellesley residents have been taking advantage of this program which offers personal, expert coaching as well as financial rebates to move to air source heat pumps. To learn more about this program and air source heat pumps, join a discussion with experts and users on December 9th at 7pm. 

Register here for this 1 hour Zoom meeting to learn how you can save money and lower your carbon footprint. 

“The no cost coaching offered by the Town’s consultants Abode Energy Management, in combination with the incentives, made this transition easy,” said a Wellesley resident. 

If you are considering replacing oil furnaces or air conditioners, you may be particularly interested in this program. For those that have air source heat pumps, learn how to use them to their full capacity as well. 

View the Air Source Heat Pump Rebate Program Requirements.

Can't make this event? You can watch the May 19th webinar here or the November 9th here.

Have questions? Call 781-235-7600 or email cleancomfort@wellesleyma.gov.

Sustainable Wellesley is hosting this free webinar. The Town of Wellesley has a goal to reduce emissions to net zero by 2050, and buildings play a big part in reaching that goal as they emit 56% of our greenhouse gas emissions (58% of that comes from the residential sector). Learn how you can help Wellesley reach its goal, while lowering your heating and cooling costs and be more comfortable.

Why I love My Electric Car -- Tonight @ 7.30pm

9/30/2021

 
Picture
Join the Zoom TONIGHT at 7.30pm to hear one woman's story how she walked away from tailpipe emissions and is loving her electric car. Its a great way you can take real action. 

Register here.  

Sharon Kirby, a member of Sustainable Wellesley, generally tries to “do the right thing.”  When it was time to buy a new car, she did her homework, ultimately choosing an Electric Vehicle (EV).  She is so thrilled with her choice that she offered to share her research with us in this simple half-hour presentation. She has some surprising discoveries about Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.  There will be plenty of time for questions afterward.


For car lovers, prepare to get excited and know you will be defending the planet as well. Believe it or not, 43% of Wellesley’s carbon emissions are due to the use of gas and diesel vehicles that rely on internal combustion engines. In other words, transportation in and around Wellesley is one of the single largest cause of greenhouse gases in our town. So when you drive; drive electric.

There are a variety of mobility options in and around Wellesley. If you are in the market for a car- new or pre-owned - small or large - join the conversation tonight  and/or head over to the parking lot next to the library to see a variety of electric and hybrid cars this Saturday, October 2nd from 1-4pm.  See and talk to owners of

Polestar 2
Mustang Mach-E
Tesla Model Y
Audi e-tron SUV
MINI Countryman Plug-In
Hyundai KONA
Chevrolet Bolt
Chevrolet Volt
Toyota Prius Prime
Tesla Model 3
Volkswagen ID.4
Nissan LEAF 
Chrysler Pacifica

Register here or just come on by.
  

Both events are free and open to all. Ask about incentives on electric vehicles!

Planning An Event?

9/23/2021

 
Picture
There are many ways to reduce the impact of your events this season. Thank you Wellesley Green Schools for this helpful Smart Event Guide!

Save Money with an Energy-Efficient Water Heater!

7/22/2021

 
Picture
Concerned About the Efficiency of Your Water Heater?

Sustainable Wellesley has teamed up with HomeWorks Energy to help spread the word about no-cost virtual Home Energy Assessments and the importance of energy efficiency in all seasons.

Water heaters decrease in efficiency as they age. Upgrading an old water heater to a more energy-efficient unit can help save money on energy use and lower your carbon footprint. 

Schedule a no-cost Home Energy Assessment today to unlock access to professional advice from a Home Energy Specialist about your hot water tank. Ask about the Mass Save® HEAT Loan, a 0% interest rate loan for up to 7 years, that can be used to help finance new heating systems. The sponsors of the Mass Save program also offer generous rebates for qualified water heaters!

​Schedule your Home Energy Assessment here, and for every performed Assessment, HomeWorks Energy will support Sustainable Wellesley with a donation. Save money and support us at the same time by signing up today!


Schedule Your No-Cost Virtual Home Energy Assessment Now

6/29/2021

 
Picture

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:
  • No-cost LED light bulbs 
  • No-cost faucet aerators and water-saving shower heads
  • No-cost programmable thermostats
  • No-cost advanced power strips
As an added bonus, scheduling through the link here provides Sustainable Wellesley with a donation for every completed Home Energy Assessment. Sign up now to save energy and support Sustainable Wellesley!

    Categories

    All
    11th Hour
    2022
    350.org
    5 Minutes
    Action
    #ActioninWellesley
    Actions
    Add To Your Resume
    Air Quality
    Air Source Heat Pumps
    All Ages
    Apartment
    Appliances
    Attorney General
    Author
    Award
    Banks
    Beacon Hill
    Becca Rausch
    Bike
    Bikes
    Biking
    Bill McKibben
    Biodegradable
    Boards And Committees
    Book
    Book Club
    Book Group
    Books
    Borrow
    Boston
    Build
    Builders
    Building
    Buildings
    Bus
    Business
    Buy Nothing
    Cabell Eames
    Call
    Cancer Causing
    Candidate
    Candidates
    Car
    Car Free
    Cars
    Catalog
    Catch Connect
    Children
    Christmas Tree
    Clean
    Clean Energy
    Clean Heat
    Clean Up
    Climate Actin
    Climate Action
    Climate Action Committee
    Climate Action MA
    Climate Action Plan
    Climate Angst
    Climate Bill
    #climatechange
    Climate Distress
    CLimate Justice
    Climate Matters
    Clothing
    Coach
    Cold
    Comfort
    Commonwealth
    Community Service
    Commute
    Compost
    Conservation
    Conserve
    Conversation
    Cook
    Cooking
    Cooking Technology
    Cool
    Coping
    Corporate Responsibility
    Create
    Cynthia Creem
    Dana Hall
    Dave Becker
    Decarbonize
    Demonstration
    Dems
    Design
    Distress
    Donate
    Drive
    Drought
    Dryer
    Easier
    Easy
    Efficient
    Elect
    Election
    Electric
    Electric Appliances
    Electric Car
    Electric Experience
    Electricity
    Electricity V
    Electric Lawn Care
    Electric Vehicles
    Electrificatino
    Electrification
    Electrify
    Electronic Waste
    Energy
    Energy Assesment
    Energy Audit
    Energy Efficiency
    Energy Efficient
    Energy Price
    Energy Savings
    Energy Use
    Environment
    Environmental Justice
    Environmental Voters Projct
    Equitable
    EV
    Events
    Evolutions
    Experts
    Fall
    Family
    Farm Animals
    Fashion
    Fast Fashion
    Fathers Day
    Feel Good
    Fields
    Finance
    Food
    Food Pantry
    Food Waste
    Free
    Fridays For Future
    Fun
    Fund
    Future
    Garage Sale
    Garden
    Gardens
    Gas
    Gas Leak
    Get Involved
    Get Off Gas
    Get Together
    GHG
    Global Climate Strike
    Goals
    Go Green
    Grass
    Green Building
    Green Consumer Alliance
    Green Schools
    Grow Food
    Hardy School
    Health
    Healthy
    Healthy Family
    Heat
    Heater
    Heating And Cooling
    Heating System
    Heat Pump
    Heat Pumps
    Help Others
    High Efficiency
    High Performance
    Holiday
    Holiday Lights
    Holidays
    Home
    Homes
    Hope
    Hot Water
    House
    Hunnewell School
    HVAC
    Hybird
    Ideas
    Idle
    Idling
    Incentives
    Indiction
    Induction
    Inspiration
    Inspire
    Internship
    Investment
    July Jubilation
    Junk Mail
    Jupiter
    Kelsey Hudson PhD
    Kids
    Landscaping
    Lawn
    Lawn Care
    Lawn Mower
    Lawns
    Leadership
    Lead On Climate
    Leaf Blower
    Leaf Blowre
    League Of Women Voters
    LEED
    Legislation
    Legislators
    Library
    Lighting
    Light Plant
    Lights
    Lincoln
    Living Sustainably
    Lobby
    Local Government
    Local Politics
    Make Change
    Marathon
    Marine Pollution
    Masks
    Mass Climate Action
    Mass Save
    MCAN
    Meatless Monday
    Meet
    Meet Goals
    Meet New People
    Meet People
    Mindy Domb
    Mini
    MIT
    Mobility
    Mobility Plan
    Money
    Mopo
    Mother's Out Front
    Mower
    Municipal Light Plants
    Mustang
    Native
    Native Garden
    Native Plants
    Natural Resources
    Natural Resources Commission
    Nature
    Neighbor
    Net Zero
    New Construction
    New Year
    No Cost
    Noise
    Olin
    Opportunity
    Organize
    Parade
    Parenting
    Partner
    Party
    Passive Home
    Passive Homes
    Peabody
    Peak
    Pension
    Pets
    Pfas
    Pipe Lines
    Pizza
    Plants
    Polestar
    Police
    Politics
    Pollinate
    Pollution
    Pre Loved
    Pre School
    Psychologist
    Public Transit
    Questions?
    Quiet
    Rainwater
    RDF
    Reach Goa
    Reach Our Goals
    Read
    Realtors
    Rebate
    Rebates
    Recycle
    Recycling
    Recycling Facility
    Reduce Costs
    Register To Vote
    Renewable Energy
    Renovate
    Renovation
    Reslience
    Retro Fit
    Reuse
    Re-use
    Rev. Vernon K. Walker
    Rides
    Rummage Sale
    Run
    Run For Office
    Safety
    Save
    Save Energy
    Save Money
    Saving Us
    School
    Schools
    Science
    Scoot
    Sen Mike Barret
    Share
    Share Inputt
    Shop
    Show
    Smart Heating And Cooling
    Snow Blower
    Social And Family Event
    Solar
    State House
    Statewide
    Stay Warm
    St. John's School
    Stove
    Student
    Students
    Summer
    Supplies
    Support Climate Action
    Survey
    Take Action
    Talk
    Teachers
    Test Drive
    Thanks
    TikTok
    Tiny Home
    Tonight
    Town Goverment
    Town Government
    Town Hall
    Town Meeting
    Town Of Wellesley
    Town Politics
    Toxins
    Train
    Transit
    Translate
    Transportation
    Tree Planting
    Try
    TV
    Use Less
    Vehicles
    Virtual Event
    Volunteer
    Vote
    Vote Your Values
    Walk
    Washing Machine
    Waste
    Water
    Water Conservation
    Wayland
    WeCare
    WEF
    Wellesley
    Wellesley Free Library
    Wellesley Green Schools
    Wellesley High School
    Wellesley League Of Women Voters
    Wellesley Middle School
    Wellesley Police
    Wellesley Police Department
    Wellesley Public Schools
    Wellesley RDF
    Wellesley Students
    Wellesley Town Hall
    Wellesley Water
    Wellesley Wonderful Weekend
    Weston
    What's Is New
    Whs
    Winter
    WMS
    Work
    Wrap
    Write
    Yard Sale
    Year End Charitable Giving Wellesley
    You Are Invited
    #YouCanDoIt
    Your Talents
    Your Values
    Your Voice
    Your Voice Heard
    Zero Emissions

    RSS Feed

×

Sign up for updates!

Get Our Newsletter

Contact

info@sustainablewellesley.com
75 Emerson Road
Tel: 781-772-1188

Support us!

Volunteer
Donate

Follow us!

Copyright © 2019 By Sustainable Wellesley
Photos used under Creative Commons from Rennett Stowe, Fan.D & Dav.C Photgraphy, Ivan Radic, KOMUnews, focusonmore.com, Ivan Radic, shixart1985, vwcampin, shixart1985, Scrap Pile, garlandcannon, Ivan Radic, We Like Sharing, Ruth and Dave, Ivan Radic, REM Photo, Images_of_Money, Raed Mansour, comedy_nose, Ivan Radic, RLHyde, aqua.mech, dc_gardens
  • About
    • Our Mission and Who We Are
  • Take Action
    • Individual Action >
      • So Much You Can Do!
      • Run For Office
      • Buildings (Home/Office) >
        • Gas
      • Transportation
      • Food
      • Landscaping
      • Solar
      • Waste >
        • Gift Wrap
        • Reduce Plastic
    • Group Action >
      • Donate
      • Volunteer
    • IdleFree
    • More Action In Wellesley >
      • Other Local Organizations
      • Pollinate Wellesley >
        • Milkweed Sale
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Green Schools
    • Mission and Who We Are
    • Teachers >
      • Environmental Education
    • Green Team Representatives >
      • Smart Event Guide
      • Borrow Free Supplies for Your Event!
    • Families >
      • End of year Locker Cleanout Tips
      • School Supply list