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Green Newton

Helping Newton residents take meaningful climate and environmental actions — and advancing local policies that support them.

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Today’s Agenda

Opening remarks

Judy Lehrer Jacobs - Green Newton

Weatherization

Rachel Surette - HomeWorks Energy

Heat Pumps and Heat Pump Water Heaters

Brendan Ryan & Michelle da Silva - Elephant Energy

How do Heat Pumps Relate to Newton’s Climate Action Plan?

Caroline Weiss - City of Newton

Q&A session

Quiz & Giveaway

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HomeWorks Energy

Energy Efficiency, Simplified

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Mass Save History

Been around since the 70’s

Each electric and gas utility ran their own

2008 utilities came together to form one program for them all.

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Mass Save Overview

State mandated program.

Program is sponsored by the utility companies.

A small charge on every bill goes to a fund that makes up Mass Save.

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What We Do

Different programs under the Mass Save umbrella:

Home (1-4 family properties)

Serve National Grid, Eversource, and Cape Light Customers

Multi-Family (5+ unit properties)
Business

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What We Do

Weatherization /

Insulation

Home Energy Assessments

HVAC /

Heat Pumps

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Combustion Safety

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Weatherization

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Weatherization Install GOALS

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Working with attics

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Health and Safety

Knob & Tube

Vermiculite

Mold

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Instant Savings Measures

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Ductless Mini Splits and Heat Pumps

• Popular technology used for cooling and heating

• Alternative to ducted systems and window A/C

• Flexibility - Can be installed in specific rooms, or to cover entire home

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Weatherization and heat pumps

Accurate sizing

Reducing electric usage

Lower carbon footprint

Increased home comfort

Accessing maximum rebates

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HEA Report and Presentation

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Working with Green Newton

Scheduling online:�HWE.Works/GreenNewton

Call Center:

781-305-3319

Steve.S@homeworksEnergy.com

781-492-0692

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Heat Pumps 101

Elephant Energy

December, 2025

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Your Presenters Today

HOME COMFORT ADVISOR

Michelle da Silva

michelle@elephantenergy.com

Brendan Ryan

GENERAL MANAGER NEW ENGLAND

brendan@elephantenergycom

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Intro: this bill is a step backward for everyone. It slows progress in clean energy, threatens renewable investments, and makes electrification harder to access — especially for the communities hit hardest by climate change.

Federal tax credits may only be one piece of the puzzle, but they’re a powerful one. If you’re in a position to install this year, now’s the time to do it. A $2,000 federal credit is nothing to shrug off, and when you stack it with state, local, and utility rebates, the savings can really add up. That said, this post isn’t here to scare you into installing this year or make you feel like it’s now or never. It’s here to explain what’s happening so you can make the best decisions for your home, your budget, and your timeline — while still taking advantage of the opportunities available

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Agenda

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Climate-friendly homes

MA Rebates and incentives

Elephant Energy and our mission

How do Heat Pumps work?

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Climate-friendly homes

MA Rebates and incentives

Elephant Energy and our mission

How do Heat Pumps work?

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We’re on a mission to accelerate the end

of fossil fuel use by electrifying everything,

starting with homes.

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At Elephant Energy we have helped over 1,500 families get cozy, climate-friendly homes

Making home electrification more accessible, affordable, and achievable.
4.8-star average rating on Google.
Certified B-Corp, committed to sustainability and accessibility.

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Climate-friendly homes

MA Rebates and incentives

Elephant Energy and our mission

How do Heat Pumps work?

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Decisions made around our kitchen tables are the #1 source of U.S. carbon emissions…

Electrifying our lives is a table stakes step to a sustainable future

US Carbon Emissions by sector ¹

¹ Rewiring America, https://www.rewiringamerica.org/research/energy-related-emissions-facts-and-data

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Why electrify?

Cleaner Planet:

Electric homes emit 25%-93% less carbon over 15 years ¹

Increase Comfort:

Ensure more consistent temperature control ²

Save Money:

Save an average of $1,050-2,585 on energy bills ³

Increase Health & Safety:

Nearly 13% of childhood asthma is due to gas stoves ⁴

Add Home Value:

Increases home value by 4-7% ⁵

¹ Rocky Mountain Institute, The New Economics of Electrifying Buildings (2020)

² Rewiring America, Household Savings Report (2020)

³ International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Population Attributable Fraction of Gas Stoves and Childhood Asthma in the United States (2022)

⁴ Shen, X., et al. Estimation of change in house sales prices in the United States after heat pump adoption (2021)

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Home Electrification in Practice

Furnace

Water Heater

Gas Range

Gas-Powered �Vehicle

Heat Pump

Heat Pump �Water Heater

Induction Range

Electric Vehicle

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Climate-friendly homes

MA Rebates and incentives

Elephant Energy and our mission

How do Heat Pumps work?

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What is a heat pump and what makes them AMAZING?

Warm when

you’re cold

Cool when

you’re hot

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What is a heat pump and what makes them AMAZING?

Heat pumps transfer thermal energy (heat!) from air on one side of the wall to the other.

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What is a heat pump and what makes them AMAZING?

Heat pumps transfer thermal energy (heat!) from air on one side of the wall to the other.

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And what about a heat pump water heater (HPWH)?

Similarly a HPWH employs heat pump technology to heat water efficiently

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Which is more comfortable?

Image credit: NateTheHouseWhisperer.com

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There are two types of heat pump systems

Reuses existing ductwork
Provides even temperatures so your home is more comfortable year round
3x more efficient than even the most efficient furnaces

A single mini split can condition over 1,000 sq ft
Allows for multiple heating & cooling zones since each unit works independently
Various options to choose from

Ducted Systems

Mini Split System

Indoor Air Handler Unit

Outdoor Condenser

Wall Mounted Mini Split

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Putting it all rebates and incentives together

The cornerstone is the Mass Save® program.

Up to $10,000 for whole-home heat pumps through 2025. (This steps down to $8,500 in 2026)
Access to 0% interest HEAT Loans to finance your project.

Three key steps for Mass Save® :

Home Energy Assessment (free)
Weatherization (subsidized)
Electrification (rebates + financing)

	Incentive Type	Cost
Heat Pump		$19,000
MassSave Heat Pump Rebate (point of sale)	Utility	-$10,000
Federal Income Tax Credit	Tax Credits	-$2,000
Total Cost, after incentives		= $7,000

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How to find the right heat pump for your home

Sizing is everything!!!

Bigger ≠ Better

Comfort vs. Efficiency

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How to get in touch with us!

Call us!

(617) 720-2286

Email

hello@elephantenergy.com

More information

elephantenergy.com

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�TALKING POINTS:

We know we've covered a lot of ground today, and that's precisely why we created this downloadable guide for you. It simplifies everything we've talked about into clear, manageable steps so you can plan with confidence.

Ultimately, our goal here at Elephant Energy is to be your trusted partner through this entire process. You shouldn't have to be a public policy expert or a rebate hunter just to make a positive change for your home and for the planet.�

The most important thing to remember is that you don't have to figure this out alone. And while 2025 offers a unique opportunity to combine federal, state, and local incentives for maximum savings, the journey to a more comfortable and efficient home doesn't end this year. The strong local programs will continue, and the value of electrification is here to stay

(Transition to the final QR code slide)

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How do Heat Pumps Relate to Newton’s Climate Action Plan?

Caroline Weiss, City of Newton Climate Action Coordinator

December 9, 2025

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Our Climate Action Plan Goals

What?

Carbon neutrality by 2050
Increased resilience for the City of Newton

Why?

Mitigate and adapt to climate change
Climate action = health benefits, opportunity for financial savings, and stronger community resilience to extreme weather

How?

Residents like you taking action, alongside municipal efforts!

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Requires widespread heat pump adoption!

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Where Our Emissions Come From

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https://www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/reports/2009/state_briefs/pdf/ma.pdf

Household Energy Consumption by End Use

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Heating Fuel Sources in Newton

Gas is dominant (~70% according to 2022 Census data)
Followed by oil (~13%)
And electricity, including both electric resistance and heat pumps (~10%)

Most households now using oil, propane, or electric resistance heating would likely save money (and energy!) by using heat pumps, regardless of electric rates.

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Join us!

Weatherize to the Max
Heat & Cool Smart
Go Solar
Green your Transportation

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Economic, Environmental, & Comfort Benefits

Heating and cooling in one system
NEW heat pump discount rate during the winter
Financial incentives

Up to $10,000 in Mass Save rebates (through 2025)

Healthier indoor air
Greater humidity control
Up to 4x efficiency of fossil fuel heating
Proven reliability: Designed for our cold New England winters
Lower greenhouse gas emissions

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A Resource to Get Started: Local Heat Pump Installers

24 responses to the City’s Request for Information from local heat pump installers
This list is not a recommendation, but a resource!
We encourage anyone interested in heat pumps to get at least 3 quotes

Or visit: newtonma.gov/heatpumps

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Leading by Example

3 fossil fuel free elementary schools, including new ground-source heat pumps at Franklin and Countryside
A new heat pump chiller at the Newton Free Library
Other electrification projects: the home of the Newton Early Childhood Program, the Auburndale Branch Library, the Cooper Center for Active Living, Fire Station #2, and more projects on the way

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Thank you!

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Read our draft CAP 2.0 and learn more about Newton’s climate initiatives!

climateplanning@newtonma.gov

newtonma.gov/cap | newtonma.gov/energycoach

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