At the start of 2022, HEET received the exciting news that $5 million of Massachusetts’ American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding has been allocated to researching networked geothermal energy. With six networked geothermal demonstration installations moving forward in-state, rigorous independent data collection and analysis of the results is essential. We are so grateful to Senator…
This winter, households across the Northeast region are feeling the effects of higher heating costs on their utility bills. These rising costs are due to higher fuel prices compared to last winter. On average, natural gas prices are up 32 percent over last winter. In Massachusetts, natural gas heats 51.8 percent of homes, meaning that…
Good news for renters! Good news for landlords! Good news for people who want to stop climate change! Mass Save is offering free insulation to two and three family buildings if the WHOLE building gets properly weatherized. Building science says you have to insulate and air-seal an entire house to get the most heat-loss reduction.…
Thanks to Harvard Radio, WHRB 95.3 FM, for producing this PSA with HEET! Learn about HEET’s networked geothermal model, a non-emitting system of networked ground source heat pumps that heats and cools homes without natural gas, and the six GeoMicroDistrict demonstration installations moving forward in Massachusetts: Construction on one install by Eversource Gas is set…
We are so pleased to announce that HEET and the East Boston chapter of Mothers Out Front were selected as the two recipients of Boston’s first Community Clean Air Grant! The grants are awarded to support Boston’s clean air and carbon neutrality goals. Funds will allow HEET to distribute induction cooktops to Boston residents with…
HEET’s charrettes bring together utility representatives, environmental advocates, legislators, geothermal experts and other stakeholders to share knowledge on the best path forward for networked geothermal (a system of networked ground source heat pumps). This fall, stakeholders gathered over Zoom to discuss what legal and regulatory changes will be necessary to allow the utility-scale geothermal network…
Our newest program, EJAir (Environmental Justice Air), is partnering with the non-profit All In Energy to help improve the connection between environmental justice communities and Mass Save’s weatherization and energy efficiency upgrades. Energy efficiency upgrades can reduce carbon emissions, save households money and improve air quality. Through this new partnership, EJAir will provide outreach to…
Methane emissions in Massachusetts are six times higher than the state’s estimates, according to research published this November by Harvard University and Boston University scientists (Sargent, M.R., Floerchinger, C., McKain, K., Budney, J., Gottlieb, E.W., Hutyra, L.R., Rudek, J., and Wofsy, S.C.). Their research also finds that methane emissions have not decreased significantly between 2015…
In November, the HEET team put our efficiency skills to the test with a trip to the Boston Area Gleaners. Gleaners is a wonderful nonprofit that harvests surplus farm crops and distributes them to communities facing food insecurity. Gleaners has been a key partner in Our Table, an initiative launched by Lawrence community leaders with…
The Washington Post spent a day getting to know HEET’s visionary co-founder and co-executive director, Audrey Schulman. Read her profile here! Climate reporter Tik Root recounts Audrey’s and HEET’s evolution over the years. “Schulman is not an engineer or a scientist,” Root writes. “By profession, the 58-year-old is a writer with five novels to her…
