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 plugIN campaign meet with Senator Jamie Eldridge

Senator Jamie Eldridge, along with Representatives Carmine Gentile (Wayland) and David Linsky (Natick), Wayland Town Manager Michael McCall, and representatives from each of the four communities participating in the plugIN Metrowest campaign (Acton, Framingham, Natick and Wayland) met on February 16th to celebrate the progress of MassEnergize's electrification campaign.

Haven't heard of plugIN? It is a community outreach effort to reach, inform, and encourage MetroWest homeowners to shift away from fossil fuels that contribute to global warming and transition to electrification. The campaign specifically focuses on rooftop solar, community solar, and heat pumps (that heat and cool homes).

“The plugIN campaign is an example of what should be happening throughout our state and the country to work at the community level to address global warming,” said State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough). 

You can plugIN with us! It's as easy as 1, 2, 3…

1. Visit pluginmetrowest.org.  Like, comment and share our community solar, heat pumps and home solar pages!
2. Submit a testimonial and tell others if you have community solar, heat pumps and/or home solar - what did you learn, do you love it, who was your vendor.
3. Inspire others! Send us a video from your phone to Aimee.Powelka@massenergize.org for us to share. Not sure how best to submit a video? See an example here:

• • • • Hold your phone horizontally
      • Use this intro: "I'm (first name) from (community name) and I plug in by: (one of these options signing up for community solar / having a heat pump / and/or putting solar on my roof.)
      • Then answer one of these: How did you sign up for community solar? What motivated you to get a heat pump? Have you seen some cost savings?
      • And close with this comment: “I hope you plug in with (your technology).”

If you are unsure whether to install a heat pump in your home or if you’re ready to get 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.

One month to go until MassEnergize's Community Climate Leaders Conference 2024! We're excited to inspire, motivate and network with the leaders of climate advocacy here in New England.

We are proud to announce that we have over 120 registered attendees for the event who are ready to engage with a breadth of amazing local leaders, community organizers, and more. Learn more about the conference here!

If you are willing and able to volunteer on the day of the conference, we would love your help! Please click here to sign up!

We are still looking for sponsors! If you are involved with or know of an organization that may be interested in sponsoring the event, please contact info@massenergize.org 

Thank you to our platinum and gold sponsors! 

Please contact us at info@massenergize.org or download our sponsorship deck here!

At our upcoming MassEnergize Community Climate Leaders Conference, a unique community art project, led by local artist Andrew Breithaupt, will provide an alternative way for conference attendees to engage in climate action.  Demonstrating that we need “all hands on deck”, the project will involve everyone who would like to, adding their hands to creating a collective piece of community art.

This community art project underscores MassEnergize’s commitment to not only discussing climate change but actively engaging communities through creative and impactful means. Art, in this context, is not just an accessory to the conversation on climate change but a fundamental driver of personal expression, environmental stewardship, and climate engagement.

By integrating art into the fabric of the Community Climate Leaders conference, we want to underscore the importance of multidisciplinary approaches in the fight against climate change. Art becomes a bridge, building community while connecting the dots between understanding climate change, being motivated by its impacts, and taking leadership to mobilize action to address it.

At our February Community of Practice meeting, we were joined by John Yildiz, a member of the activation team from The Week: an experiential learning tool that uses documentary films and group conversations to educate people on the climate crisis. If you or your organization is interested in organizing a session with the The Week, click here.

We also shared updates about the exciting agenda we have lined up at our upcoming Community Climate Leaders Conference. MassEnergize is still looking for volunteers for the day of the conference. Please fill out this form if you are interested in volunteering, and don’t forget to spread the word! 

Aimee Powelka shared with us some statistics from the communities already using our newest software feature - Event User Nudges! Those communities currently using the feature have seen greater than 80% open rates, more users to their sites and Energize Wayland finds it a real time saver! Let us know if you'd like nudges enabled for your community as we look to release this feature to the next wave of communities! 

And last but not least, we heard from our Community leaders who shared updates and questions from their communities. Couldn't make February's meeting? Watch the video recording here.

Our next Community of Practice Meeting will be on Monday, March 11th. Please register here if you would like to attend.

Curious about getting an electric vehicle (EV), but not sure where to start? Join GECA for their popular Electric Vehicles 101 webinar to learn the basics! They'll cover environmental and consumer benefits, information about batteries and charging, state and federal incentives, and have plenty of time to answer all of your questions.

Click here to register! 

Landscapers, homeowners, people working on quieter, cleaner land care and a water expert will be on the call and will share information about how to make your yard more sustainable.

Q & A will follow. Please join us to get informed ahead of the spring planting season

Click here to register! Any questions, email meamedfield@gmail.com  

Heat pumps are one of the most effective ways to make your home more comfortable,  reduce your carbon footprint, and help create a healthier community. Learn about air source heat pumps, geothermal systems, and heat pump water heaters. 

Steve Breit, of the Heat Smart Alliance and master heat pump coach will provide an overview, neighbors will share their experiences with heat pumps, our community coaches will discuss how they can help you take the next step. Bring your questions!

Find more about the event and register here!

In this virtual plugIN talk, Sam Kooharian, Energy Advisor for EnergySage, gives a quick overview of solar power and discusses why now is an optimal time for home solar installation, including helpful aspects of the solar market, great financial incentives, and potential future changes that make the present an optimal moment for solar.

Also, for renters and condo owners, as well as those with homes not suitable for solar, Sam will touch on community solar efforts and why these developments are essential. Finally, three Acton residents will give brief testimonials about their experiences with solar. Questions welcome!

Register here.

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