The meeting commenced with the commissioner of the environment department and Green New Deal director, Oliver Cers Garcia, outlining the Boston Energy Saver program. Stressing the program’s importance, Garcia highlighted that language barriers have historically impeded access to energy efficiency programs, a challenge this initiative intends to overcome by offering multilingual resources. The program aims to bolster energy efficiency and renewable energy utilization, providing residents with the means to enhance their homes’ comfort while reducing energy expenditures.

Mayor Michelle Wu emphasized the Boston Energy Saver program as a strategy to ease the economic strain on households and small businesses, linking energy costs to broader concerns such as affordable housing, education, and childcare. Wu reiterated the program’s significance, initially announced during her state of the city address, as a “partnership with Eversource and National Grid to lower bills for renters, homeowners, and small business owners.” She encouraged residents to explore the various rebates, discounts, and incentives available.

Brian Sweat, the chief climate officer, further expanded on the program’s goals, illustrating the substantial energy burden faced by low-income households in greater Boston, where the median energy burden reaches 10%. The Boston Energy Saver program aims to impact this demographic by achieving “at least 5,000 heat pump installations and at least 10,000 weatherizations” in smaller residential and business buildings over the coming years.

Garcia provided a detailed overview of the enhanced incentives available through Mass Save, which now extend greater support to renters and low-income residents. He elaborated on the potential for buildings in specific neighborhoods to qualify for no-cost weatherization and possibly free heat pump installation. The initiative will leverage collaborations with various city departments and community organizations to effectively disseminate information and engage residents, offering tailored support to meet individual needs. Garcia encouraged residents to initiate their participation by visiting the program’s website, “boston.gov/save,” or contacting the program directly for assistance.

The meeting also featured discussions by various stakeholders, including Katherine Antos, undersecretary for decarbonization and resilience. Antos emphasized the personal nature of energy use and the necessity of cleaner heating solutions, noting the significant cost savings achieved through weatherization. She provided statistics indicating that Mass Save’s efforts have weatherized over half a million homes, resulting in $34 billion in benefits since 2013.

Meredith Levy, executive director of the Boston Neighborhood Community Land Trust, highlighted the intersection of climate justice and affordable housing. Levy pointed to the Boston Energy Saver program as essential in supporting vulnerable populations. Her organization’s mission to prevent displacement by acquiring buildings and ensuring affordability aligns with the program’s objectives.

Grace Man, energy justice director at the Boston Climate Action Network, emphasized the importance of community trust in transitioning to renewable energy. Man acknowledged that many residents find energy programs like Mass Save confusing and noted the Boston Energy Saver as a success in making energy solutions more accessible, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the city, community groups, and utility partners.