Energy and Environment
Clean Energy Technologies
A number of clean, efficient technologies can help Massachusetts homeowners save money on their heating, cooling, and electricity bills while protecting the environment and maintaining a high level of comfort. These technologies include the following:
Clean Heating & Cooling: Air-source heat pumps (including cold-climate mini splits) and ground-source heat pumps provide efficient heating and cooling and can save money on heating and cooling costs. They can also reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with heating or cooling, and provide an alternative to electric resistance heat (i.e., electric baseboard), oil, propane, or other fossil-fuel powered heating/cooling technologies.
Hot Water: Heat pump water heaters and solar hot water systems can reduce water heating costs and greenhouse gas emissions associated with water heating. They provide an alternative to electric or fossil fuel (oil, natural gas, or propane) hot water systems.
Solar Photovoltaic (PV): Solar PV systems use sunlight to produce electricity and can save money on energy bills through reduced electric costs. PV systems can be installed and connected to the building’s electrical system to meet on-site electricity demands. Solar PV can be paired with energy storage to capture “excess” electricity so that it can be used at times when the PV system cannot produce enough to meet the immediate electricity needs for the home (e.g. at night.).
·Energy Storage: Battery technology stores electricity generated from the grid or from accompanying renewable sources (e.g., solar PV systems). The stored electricity is then available to be discharged at a later time to meet on-site electricity demands or demands from the grid. Battery storage paired with on-site solar can help ensure that electricity produced by an on-site solar PV system is fully utilized by the home/building at the site. Battery owners can earn incentives for reducing the load on the grid during peak times by participating in an active demand management program, which allows their electric utility provider to draw energy stored in the battery during times of peak electricity demand to help balance out the electric grid and avoid the use of energy from “peaker plants.”
Electric Vehicles (EVs): There are a variety of different electric vehicle technologies on the market. The most common include plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV). Plug-in hybrid vehicles use both an electric motor, powered by a battery and an internal combustion engine that runs on gasoline, and can be plugged in to an electrical outlet to recharge. Battery electric vehicles use an electric motor powered by a battery, and fuel cell electric vehicles use a fuel cell, instead of a battery (or in combination with a battery or supercapacitor), to power an electric motor.
There are several programs, including programs through Mass Save, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) that offer incentives to help residents access clean energy technologies. In many cases, incentives from different programs can be combined to help make clean energy technologies more financially feasible.
Clean Heating & Cooling
Mass Save Clean Heating & Cooling Rebates
Homeowners may be eligible to receive a rebate from Mass Save for replacing oil, propane, or electric resistance heat with high efficiency electric air source heat pumps.
Zero percent interest financing through the HEAT Loan is available for eligible clean heating and cooling technologies.
To get started, view heat pump details and apply online or download a mail-in form.
Incentives for Heat Pumps through the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (APS)
Homeowners that install high efficiency air source or ground source heat pumps may be eligible to receive incentives from DOER’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Program.
To get started, visit the program website to learn more about program criteria and how to apply.
Hot Water
Mass Save Hot Water Rebates
Mass Save offers rebates for high efficiency heat pump water heaters.
Zero percent interest financing through the HEAT Loan is available for eligible water heating technology.
To get started, view appliance details and apply online or download a mail-in form.
MassCEC Solar Hot Water Program
MassCEC provides rebates for solar hot water systems in 1-4 family homes (Residential Program) and multifamily buildings (Commercial-Scale Program). Additional incentives are available for households with incomes below 120% of the state median income.
To get started, homeowners should select a solar hot water installer and solicit proposals. The installer will submit the rebate application on the homeowner’s behalf.
Solar Photovoltaic (PV)
Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART)
The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER)’s SMART program provides incentives for solar PV installation throughout the Commonwealth. Upon application approval, the incentive is paid by the utility to the system owner based on the amount of electricity generated by the system.
Increased incentives are available for solar projects that serve low-income customers, provide community shared solar, or are coupled with energy storage.
Financing for solar PV on 1-4 unit properties is available through the Mass Solar Loan.
To get started, visit MassCEC and learn more about the costs of solar systems and performance, find an installer, and see other resources.
Mass Solar Loan
The Mass Solar Loan program matches property owners of 1-4 unit homes to solar installers and lenders that offer low-interest loans for solar projects.
Low-income customers are eligible for reduced interest rates and additional incentives to reduce loan principal. Residents with low credit scores are encouraged to apply. Eligibility criteria are listed on the program website.
To get started, review the guide on the Mass Solar Loan website and receive a price quote from a pre-qualified installer.
Energy Storage
Mass Save ConnectedSolutions
Mass Save’s ConnectedSolutions program allows battery owners to earn incentives in exchange for utility access to stored energy in times of peak demand. Participants can earn incentives per kW for a battery’s average kW event contributions to the grid during times of peak demand.
Eversource and National Grid customers are eligible to participate. To get started, review the list of qualified battery storage systems and complete a program application on the ConnectedSolutions website.
SMART Storage Adder
The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resource’s SMART program allows solar projects to achieve larger incentive payments by pairing energy storage with new solar installations, by unlocking eligibility to the Energy Storage Adder. The adder value depends on the ratio of energy storage capacity to solar array size and duration of storage discharge. More information on SMART is available on the SMART webpage.
To get started, talk to your solar installer about adding battery storage to your solar PV system.
Electric Vehicles (EVs)
MOR-EV Electric Vehicle Rebates
The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resource’s MOR-EV program offers rebates of up to $2,500 for the purchase or lease of battery electric vehicles and fuel-cell electric vehicles, and up to $1,500 for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Eligibility for the program is independent of utility type; both MLP and investor-owned utility customers are eligible.
To get started, apply for a rebate within 3 months of the purchase or lease date of a new vehicle with a purchase price less than $50,000.
National Grid & Eversource EV Make Ready
Through EV Make Ready, Eversource and National Grid are covering 100% of the infrastructure costs for new EV charging stations in multi-unit buildings.
To get started, Eversource customers should review the Eversource enrollment process guide and application and National Grid customers should download the National Grid application to apply to become and EV charging station host site.
Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (EVIP)
Private, public or non-profit dwellings with 10 or more units may be eligible for the Multi-Unit Dwelling Charging Program. This includes 60% of the funding, up to $50,000 for EV charger hardware costs. Learn more on the MassEVIP website.
To get started, apply online. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.