Mayor Menino Announces Renew Boston Whole Building Incentive for Residents During the Boston 500: Challenge to Save Energy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 3, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Mayor Thomas M. Menino in concert with National Grid and NSTAR today announced the new Renew Boston Whole Building Incentive initiative that significantly reduces the cost for energy efficiency improvements in two and three family homes through the Mass Save Home Energy Services Program.This new initiative fulfills the Mayor’s pledge to better reach two key segments of Boston residents: renters and middle income households. Today’s announcement was part of the Boston 500: Challenge to Save Energy, a citywide day of action with the goal to sign-up 500 Bostonians for a Renew Boston no-cost home energy assessment.

“Renew Boston’s partnership with Mass Save has been a phenomenal success over the past few years saving money and energy for residents,” said Mayor Menino. “But there are homes that have challenges in participation, and the whole building incentive will help reach this population.”

The new Renew Boston Whole Building Incentive, which is generously sponsored by National Grid and NSTAR through Mass Save, will address the split incentive between landlord and renter for making energy efficiency improvements by offering the following:

90% off insulation improvements up to $3,000 per unit, where all eligible units are weatherized
Incentives to remediate common pre-weatherization barriers: Up to $250 for dryer venting replacement, repair, and installation, up to $300 for combustion safety evaluation and repair, and up to $250 to evaluate for live knob and tube wiring.

These new measures are in addition to what the existing Mass Save Home Energy Services program already offers to all participants through Renew Boston including:

No-cost energy assessment
No-cost air sealing
75% or up to $2000 off insulation improvements

“Over the last 3 years, Renew Boston has been bringing the benefits of energy efficiency to Bostonians,” said Brian Swett, Chief of Environment and Energy. “We have been searching for ways to better include renters and the new whole building incentive focus on exactly that.”

“Renew Boston is the positive result of many working together to deliver substantive energy efficiency benefits to our customers and the Commonwealth. We are thrilled Mayor Menino is a dedicated champion of energy efficiency. Through his vision to expand Renew Boston, deeper savings will be achieved and many more customers will have a program that suits their needs,” said Marcy Reed, president of National Grid, Massachusetts.

“Renew Boston has been groundbreaking in its neighborhood-by-neighborhood outreach approach,” said Penni Conner, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer for Northeast Utilities, NSTAR’s parent company. “As a result, we’re seeing increased participation and significant energy savings for customers. NSTAR is proud to partner with Mayor Menino and the City of Boston on this industry-leading program.”

The Boston 500: Challenge to Save Energy kicked off today at the Jamaica Plain Home of Laura Sylvan, whose triple decker had recent energy efficiency upgrades through Renew Boston’s partnership with National Grid and NSTAR. Sylvan’s open house is one of many events being held across the city as part of the Boston 500: Challenge to Save Energy, a citywide day of action with the goal to sign-up 500 Bostonians for a Mass Save no-cost home energy assessment. Volunteers from over 30 Boston-based community groups will be at neighborhood baseball games, farmers markets, family concerts and many other public events to ensure that the Renew Boston energy efficiency services are accessible to all Boston residents.

All Boston residents are welcome to participate in the Boston 500: Challenge to Save Energy. To find local events residents can visit www.renewboston.org/boston500. Boston residents can take advantage of the Whole Building Incentive by signing up for a no-cost home energy assessment or after at www.renewboston.org or by calling 617-635-SAVE (7283)

Renew Boston is a part of Greenovate Boston, Mayor Menino’s new citywide umbrella for Boston’s sustainability initiatives. Visit www.GreenovateBoston.org for more information.

Contact:
Mayor’s Press Office
Press.Office (at) cityofboston (dot) gov