Renew Boston: Helping Boston save energy and save money through energy efficiency and renewable energy

Energy upgrades to no longer be free

JacobG — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:11:22 +0000

“A program that now offers free energy-efficiency home upgrades will only cover 75 percent of costs next year.

MassSave, a state program, will continue to provide free energy assessments, products and services—including energy-efficient light bulbs, low-flow showerheads, heating system inspections and insulation upgrades—for qualified participants. But Renew Boston, the city’s energy-efficiency initiative, will no longer supplement it, leaving the remaining 25 percent of costs for homeowners to cover….”

For the rest of this article visit jamaicaplaingazette.com/2011/11/18/energy-upgrades-to-no-longer-be-free/

Wanted: Residents to renew homes for free

JacobG — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:29:35 +0000

Wanted: Residents to renew homes for free

With winter weather fast approaching, the City of Boston is looking to bring residents in from the cold with a no-cost weatherization program. Now in its second year of operation, members of the Renew Boston program are urging renters and homeowners alike to register for the free services before the December 31 deadline….

For the rest of the article visit the Dorchester Reporter at http://www.dotnews.com/2011/wanted-residents-renew-homes-free

Mayor Menino Announces 600th Free Home Weatherization Through Renew Boston

JacobG — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 20:01:21 +0000

Today, Mayor Thomas M Menino announced the 600th no-cost home weatherization resulting in over $1 million of annual savings through the City of Boston’s Renew Boston initiative. Since Mayor Menino launched the program in August 2010, Renew Boston has partnered with community-based organizations to lead a grassroots marketing and neighborhood outreach campaign to encourage residents to participate in the program.

Over the past year, 8,000 residents have expressed interest in home weatherization, with over 3,800 households receiving a no-cost home energy assessment. In the coming months, these community-based organizations will continue to sign up Boston residents for free weatherization services to save money and energy this winter with registration ending December 31.

“Renew Boston is proof positive that community networks are effective in scaling up energy efficiency and leveraging local economic benefits for all,” Mayor Menino said. “This is Boston’s triple-bottom-line approach to sustainability: lowering utility bills for residents and businesses, create jobs and increase economic opportunity – all while greening our city.”

Renew Boston has contracted with 13 community organizations to conduct outreach and marketing for Renew Boston this past year. Three organizations are also contracted to provide fulltime outreach work as Renew Boston Neighborhood Network Coordinators including Nuestra Comunidad’s Partnership for Greening Blue Hill Avenue, East Boston’s Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH), and the Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation.

By working with these neighborhood organizations, the City has reached residents and businesses that have not traditionally accessed weatherization programs, particularly moderate income Bostonians and those for whom English is a second language.

Mayor Menino made the announcement in front of East Boston resident Patricia Cortes-Duran’s home, which recently received weatherization services, including air sealing and insulation that is expected to save 30% on heating and electricity bills this winter. Ms. Cortes-Duran learned about Renew Boston through the Neighborhood of Affordable Housing, which assisted her through each step of the program and provided translation services.

The Renew Boston initiative is an innovative energy efficiency partnership with NSTAR and National Grid that provides free weatherization services for qualified Boston residents with assistance from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The Renew Boston program uses $1.8 million of the $6.5 million EECBG grant to leverage rebates available under existing energy efficiency programs administered by NSTAR and National Grid for Boston residents and businesses. The no-cost energy efficiency improvements for residents are provided by Mass Energy Consumers Alliance and Next Step Living, a Boston-based energy services company.

Renew Boston program participants save immediately upon getting an energy assessment. On average, participants will save about $200 a year with installation of CFL light bulbs, aerators and programmable thermostats and a fully completed weatherization saves up to $600 in heating costs each year. The total annual savings by residents to date through Renew Boston is $1 million when combining savings from energy assessments and weatherization jobs.

The weatherization services are available for limited time for Boston residents within 60-120 percent median income and only to residents that live in buildings with four or fewer units. To determine eligibility and for more information on how to enroll in the residential program Boston residents can call (617) 635-SAVE or visit www.RenewBoston.org.

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A Letter From Mattapan

JacobG — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 09:59:23 +0000

Dear Renew Boston,

We have a small one family house in Mattapan and we were struggling with the gas payments. My niece told me about Renew Boston and I contacted them. In a few weeks I got an energy assessment where they told me that we needed to have the attic insulated because that was where all the heat was escaping! That insulation was completed on September 15, 2011 just before the cold season begins.

I am confident that this will lower our gas bill and make it the payments more manageable.

Thanks to Mayor Menino and his team for coming up with this innovative way to assist home owners in Boston. Congratulations to Next Step Living and the Renew Boston team for their help. I cannot thank them enough.

Sincerely,

Carol

Mattapan

In Brighton, Renew Boston Helps Make a Dream Home a Warm House

JacobG — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 22:04:15 +0000

Sinh Trinh has been a Brighton resident for 23 years. It’s a neighborhood she loves and she was thrilled that she would be able to continue raising her family in Brighton when she bought her 2-family home in Oak Square 7 years ago. While staying in the neighborhood was a dream come true, the older home she owns was a small nightmare in terms of energy efficiency. It was poorly insulated and had significant air leaks, leading to icy drafts and soaring heating bills in the winter. “Sometimes we all slept in one bedroom because the drafts in some rooms were worse than others,” she recalled. Sinh was familiar with the state’s Mass Save program for energy retrofit support but because homeowners still had to pay for a portion of the work she never took advantage of it. However, when a flier promoting Renew Boston’s no-cost energy retrofits arrived in her water bill, Sinh jumped at the opportunity. “It was great! Renew Boston allowed me to have all the work done that will help us save energy and it was no-cost to me out of pocket. ”

Under the Renew Boston program Sinh received a free home energy audit, instant savings measures, and $3500 worth of insulation and air sealing work per unit of her home. “The home energy professional was very helpful and gave us a lot of advice on how we can save even more energy in our home. He changed our light bulbs for energy saving ones, installed a new programmable thermostat, and switched our shower heads to water-saving ones through the whole building.”

The insulation and air sealing work of both units was completed in March by Next Step Living. While she has noticed that the house stayed cooler this summer when the A/C was on, Sinh and her family are most excited for an upcoming winter free of icy drafts and soaring energy bills. It will make raising a family in her dream neighborhood that much more comfortable and affordable.

Community and Institutions Work Together to Renew Boston

JacobG — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 17:30:28 +0000

Green For All Blog post:

“From America’s first Subway to first-in-the-nation LEED requirements for private buildings, Boston has been a leader in sustainability. Mayor Thomas M. Menino is continuing to lead the way with an innovative initiative called Renew Boston that helps residents struggling to pay their bills by weatherizing homes and creating green jobs in the community….”

Read more from Renew Boston Director Brad Swing’s post on the Green For All Blog at http://www.greenforall.org/blog/community-and-institutions-work-together-to-renew-boston

Meet Cameron, Triple Decker Landlord in Dorchester

JacobG — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:09:25 +0000

The triple decker is synonymous with Boston. Renew Boston is actively engaging owners like Cameron to save money and add value to their building by adding wall insulation and other energy saving steps. Cameron is a new landlord in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood, trying to make a difference in his home and the homes of his tenants. Interested in energy efficiency, Cameron attended a landlord workshop in Codman Square this past winter to learn about weatherization. At the event, Cameron learned the different steps he needed to take advantage of the Renew Boston Program and most importantly, how to get his tenants through each step from income verification to the assessment. Shortly after, Cameron and all his tenants were approved for Renew Boston. They have completed the work and received for upwards of $10,000 worth of free weatherization work!

New Solar Program Annouced for Renew Boston

JacobG — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:05:57 +0000

On June 21, 2011, Mayor Menino announced the launch of the Renew Boston Solar Residential Pilot. This program will provide solar PV rebates to Boston homeowners who meet certain energy efficiency eligibility criteria. The City and its community partners will be hosting Solar 101 education sessions throughout the summer to educate residents about this new initiative and their options for going solar. To see if you home or business is right for solar, check out the Solar Boston Map and to learn more about some of the state and federal financial benefits of owning a solar PV system see the Solar Boston Permitting Guide.

Michael from JP

JacobG — Mon, 02 May 2011 20:10:44 +0000

Michael was very pleased about the “great staff service” he received by Renew Boston and it’s contractors Next Step Living. The weatherization work was done in October 2010 and Michael saved $250 in one month alone during this past winter on his natural gas heating and electric bills. Like hundreds of Boston residents, Michael received a free energy assessment through the Renew Boston Program and qualified for $3,500 of worth of insulation for free, with just $130.00 of “out of pocket” expenses.

Type of Building: Single Family
Dollar Savings/Year: Estimated at $1,065/ year
Weatherization Work: Received $3,630 worth of attic, wall and basement insulation, CFL, and low flow aerators.

Saithlyn, Dorchester – Owner of a Two Family Home

NeilV — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 19:54:15 +0000

“I was having such a difficult time with my utility bills. My natural gas bill was out of control and I couldn’t understand what was happening. I applied for fuel assistance and I didn’t qualify. I heard about Renew Boston and they came in to do an energy audit. Low and behold, the auditor told me that all the heat was going through my roof, because I didn’t have any insulation in my attic, it was completely empty. Now, my gas bill has been cut in half and I can’t thank the Next Step Living and the Renew Boston team enough. In addition, National Grid put me on a payment plan. I do see the change, and I am so glad that this program is available. I will be spreading the word about this program.”

Saithlyn was one of Renew Boston’s first customers. She was spending over $400 a month to heat her home with natural gas during the winter, but most of the heated air was lost through her attic due to improper insulation. In one day, the Renew Boston contractor, Next Step Living, fully insulated her attic and walls. Saithlyn’s heating bills dropped instantly, and her home comfort increased – no more drafts. This winter, she has seen her heating bills decrease by $200 a month.