As always, please reach out to let us know what else we can be doing to support you or your community on the road to a healthier planet for all!

Members of the Accelerating Climate Resilience team meet with Wayland elders at the Wayland Council on Aging

Empowering Climate Resilience for Elders, a groundbreaking initiative at the forefront of tackling the escalating challenges of climate change within Metrowest communities, is making significant strides. Funded in part by a grant from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), and being implemented by MassEnergize, this project was conceived by Abigail Shute and Julie Gagen, the Sustainability Managers of the Towns of Wayland and Weston respectively.  MassEnergize was selected because of our extensive experience in working to build climate resilience across the MetroWest, alongside our strong connections with climate leaders in the region.  This project stands out as a beacon of hope and innovation in supporting our elders who are increasingly vulnerable to the harsh impacts of climate change. 

The summer of 2023 was a stark reminder of the growing threat of climate chaos. Record-breaking temperatures swept across regions, turning cities into heat islands and pushing the mercury to alarming levels. Elders, often grappling with health, mobility, and socio-economic challenges, found themselves disproportionately affected. The sweltering heat not only posed immediate health risks but also intensified feelings of isolation and discomfort.

Continue reading here!

Metrowest is going electric!

The plugIN collaboration between Acton, Natick, Wayland, and the city of Framingham is launching its outreach campaign to residents in the four respective communities. MassEnergize is facilitating the plugIN collaboration to provide needed capacity and coordination to local leaders.  The goal of the campaign is to help residents create healthier homes and communities by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

MassEnergize’s assistance includes providing needed personnel capacity to the communities, developing and hosting the pluginmetrowest.org site, providing professional marketing materials and strategies, and evaluating the program’s impact. Users on the plugIN site can learn about the benefits of heat pumps and solar installations (including community solar that is available to everyone who pays an electric bill as well as home rooftop solar), which range from cutting electric bill costs to contributing to a healthier future for MetroWest residents. What’s more, plugIN allows users to read their neighbors' testimonials and receive coaching to determine which energy-saving products are right for them.

PlugIN supports three electrifying ways you can make a positive impact on your home and our community:

1. Embrace home rooftop solar power
2. Tap into community solar programs 
3. Optimize your home’s comfort with heat pumps

We can create a healthier, more sustainable, comfortable living environment for everyone in MetroWest through resident engagement and action. 

If you are unsure whether to install a heat pump in your home or if you’re ready for a quote, plugIN helps make greener decisions easier. Visit www.plugINMetroWest.org to learn more about how you can participate and benefit from the plugIN campaign resources.

As our inaugural Community Climate Leaders Conference fast approaches, we have an incredible list of speakers who cannot wait to share their climate insights with you. Our keynote speaker, Anne Therese Gennari, is a TEDx speaker, educator, and author of The Climate Optimist Handbook. 

Though it can be easy to become pessimistic as the looming climate crisis unfolds in real-time, activists like Anne Therese remind us to remain invigorated. Thanks to the actions you and your communities are taking to combat climate change, everyone is better off. 

Be sure to check out Anne Therese’s TEDx talk, “From Angry Activist to Climate Optimist,” which she gave back in 2022. 

Get ready for a day full of upskilling: Attendees will build their personal and organizational toolkits through informative panel sessions, and develop professional relationships in order to more effectively address the environmental challenges we face. There will also be an opportunity to contribute to a collective community art project!

You'll meet an array of other climate advocates: including Dr. Sarah Das, a climate scientist and educator at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and Sabrina Shankman, climate crisis reporter for the Boston Globe who spent eight years at InsideClimate News, covering the Arctic. 

The conference is set to be a collaborative, enriching experience for all participants. We hope that active participation will breed thoughtful conversations that inspire breakthrough perspectives. 

Don’t forget! We are still looking for conference sponsors. If you know of or are part of an organization that could be a good fit to sponsor the event, please contact us at info@massenergize.org. Download our sponsorship deck here!

MassEnergize is excited to announce the addition of two new MassCEC interns to our team for the upcoming Spring semester, spanning from January to May. Both students are from Boston University; Jaelyn Carr is joining us as our Community Engagement Intern, while Kai Wasserman is contributing as our Climate Communications Intern. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Jaelyn and Kai, our talented interns for this Spring semester!

Beyond her professional endeavors, Jaelyn has a keen interest in nature, which is reflected in her love for plant care. As she progresses through her academic journey, Jaelyn is focused on applying her growing expertise to make a positive impact in the field of environmental policy and sustainable energy solutions.

Kai is excited to use storytelling as a tool to help educate Massachusetts residents on the climate crisis. Outside of class, Kai enjoys hiking, reading, and attending concerts.

At our January Community of Practice Meeting we heard from MIT about their recent heat pump survey and ZeroCarbon MA gave us an overview on Specialized Code Adoption. We also had some MassEnergize updates! We heard about some of the learnings from the recent ECO (Electrifying Community Outreach) solar and heat pump survey and had a quick demonstration on our latest platform feature - user event nudges! 

Our next Community of Practice Meeting will be on Monday, February 12th where we will be joined by a speaker to give us an overview of The Week, as well as sharing with you some of the exciting programs happening here at MassEnergize! Please register here if you would like to attend.

MASS ENERGIZE IS HIRING!

CLIMATE ACTION PROGRAM COORDINATOR:

Are you passionate about making a significant impact in local communities' efforts to combat climate change? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you! MassEnergize is looking for a full-time Climate Action Program Coordinator, serving multiple projects helping to drive community level climate action and supporting community resilience.  As the Program Coordinator, you will take the lead in coordinating and managing MassEnergize's grant-funded projects while providing crucial support to our partner communities. This role demands versatility, requiring you to wear multiple hats and allocate focused time to discrete project areas.

For more information on how to apply, please click here.

Application deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with preference for those received by Feb 4, 2024

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT:

Our Administrative Assistant, Jo Jagger, will be going on Maternity Leave at the end of March. We are looking for an organized and energetic individual with a demonstrated commitment to addressing climate change to work at MassEnergize on a 6 month temporary contract. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Administrative Assistant will provide support to MassEnergize’s daily operations, financial management, fundraising efforts, and general outreach and communications. Could it be you or someone you know? If you are passionate about making a positive impact and possess the skills to support our mission, we would love to hear from you.  

For more information on how to apply, please click here.

Application deadline:  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with preference for those received by Feb 15, 2024

Join Storm Surge and co-presenter The Screening Room for a special screening  of INUNDATION DISTRICT. This critical film, co-directed by David Abel and Ted Blanco, reveals the perils of Boston’s decision to build a new district on landfill at sea-level despite early warning of sea-level rise by some of its own world-renowned scientists. The film will be followed by a conversation with director David Abel, moderated by a member of the Storm Surge Board of Directors.  Watch the Trailer - Inundation District.

Tickets are $10-$12. Advanced Tickets are encouraged. Purchase Advanced Tickets here. 

Bring them to Fowler where Mothers Out Front and volunteers with wire cutters will help us remove the wire so the greenery can be composted and the forms reused! We will meet in the backyard, so wear your work gloves and bundle up! If you have wire cutters, please bring them with you!

Can't make the date? Drop off your wreaths and garlands ahead of time in the backyard where the drop-off site will be marked.

No registration required. Volunteers welcome. Any questions email fowler@concordlibrary.org or call 978-318-3350.

For more information, click here.

However, manufacturers have announced an exciting line-up of new electric cars that will be coming out in the next year or so. Sign up for this one-hour webinar hosted by Energize Action / GECA to hear what's coming when. 

We'll talk about the following cars: Chevrolet Blazer EV, Polestar 3, Audi A6-e-tron, VW ID.7, and many more!

Click here to RSVP!

This event is hosted by Green Energy Consumers Alliance (GECA).

Are you thinking about replacing your oil or gas furnace with high-efficiency mini-splits/heat pumps? Join the Energize Acton February “Clean Energy Home of the Month” tour and see for yourself a house currently heated and cooled with cold weather heat pumps. Feel the comfort level for yourself and talk with the homeowner, David Martin, about his experience moving the home from fossil fuel heating and cooling to cleaner energy systems. Our February home is also unique because it is a heat pump to hot water system, though David is well versed in all heat pump systems.

Register HERE.

The February House Technologies:  Hydronics Heat Pump, Water Heater, Dryer, Induction Stove, EV

Where: High Street, South Acton

Please help us by sending your community event pictures to  info@massenergize.org. We appreciate your support!