Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) CEO Alicia Barton today announced a $30 million, five-year commitment to increase the use of clean, cost-effective heating and cooling systems in households and businesses across the Commonwealth.

“This funding will offer many Massachusetts residents access to efficient, clean options for heating and cooling which will in turn help the environment and provide consumers with the opportunity to save on energy costs,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “The Clean Heating and Cooling program also supports our growing clean energy industry and will help the state reach its ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals.”

The Clean Heating and Cooling program, run by MassCEC in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), provides rebates between $750 and $12,500 to home and business owners who install high-efficiency clean heating and cooling systems. These systems include air- and ground-source heat pumps, which use air or ground temperatures to heat and cool buildings, and central biomass boilers, which burn renewable organic material rather than traditional fossil fuels.

“Over the life of the systems, clean energy technologies like heat pumps can result in significant energy cost savings for consumers, making them an attractive investment. MassCEC is putting this funding commitment in place to allow more consumers access these technologies to reduce their carbon footprint at lower up-front costs,” said Barton.

In addition to helping consumers save on energy costs, this five-year commitment will help the Commonwealth reach its goals set out in the Global Warming Solutions Act, which calls for a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

”MassCEC’s five-year commitment to renewable heating and cooling technology will broaden the choices available for homes and businesses,” said Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Commissioner Judith Judson. “Soon DOER will also expand incentives for renewable thermal by adding these technologies to its regulation that provides market-valued certificates, as is currently provided for combined heat and power systems and renewable electricity.”

While traditional oil and gas systems burn fuel to create heat, a heat pump works instead by moving heat into or out of a building. In the winter, air-source heat pumps take naturally-occurring heat from the outside air and distribute it throughout a building. In the summer, air-source heat pumps remove heat from warm indoor air and distribute the cool air throughout a building. Ground-source heat pumps use the nearly constant underground temperature of the earth to heat and cool a home. Central biomass heating systems produce heat by burning renewable organic matter like wood pellets or chips. 

Depending on technology type and system size, homeowners are eligible for rebates ranging from $750 for a single-room air-source heat pump to $12,500 for ground-source heat pumps that heat an entire building. 

MassCEC plans to expand the program by making rebates available for commercial property owners later this year. MassCEC will also offer increased incentives for low- to moderate-income customers who meet certain income thresholds beginning in October.

The Baker-Polito Administration today announced a $900,000 investment in the Commonwealth Woodstove Change-Out Program, which provides rebates to homeowners who replace their older, inefficient woodstoves with cleaner, EPA-certified models that use less fuel and reduce energy costs.

“New, more efficient woodstoves will save homeowners money on wood costs, while improving public health and reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “The Woodstove Change-Out Program is an important part of the Baker-Polito Administration’s commitment to clean energy, and a healthy environment.”

Launched in 2012, the Commonwealth Woodstove Change-Out Program is administered by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER).

“This program is a perfect example of a multi-agency partnership that results in the use of lower-cost fuels and more efficient technology for Massachusetts' residents, which will ultimately protect air quality in our neighborhoods,” said MassDEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg.

The program has helped more than 850 residents swap out their dirty, inefficient stoves for newer, cleaner models, with more than 350 of these rebates going to low-income residents. Residents installing new stoves can expect to save an average of $2,000 for each cord of wood they are currently burning, over the lifetime of the stove.

EPA-certified stoves on average require one-third of the amount of renewable wood sources to produce the same amount of heat as older models, while releasing 70 to 90 percent less particulate matter, which has been shown to lead to health conditions like asthma. Every 100 new stoves burning one cord of wood each per year reduce an amount of greenhouse gas emissions equal to taking nearly 50 cars off the road.

“Clean energy comes in many forms, and this program will once again allow homeowners to take control of their energy use, improve their own environment and save money at the same time,” said MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton.

“These rebates will make a big financial difference to those purchasing the cleaner and more efficient models,” said DOER Acting Commissioner Dan Burgess. “These new stoves will reduce emissions, heat more effectively and will improve the health and comfort for homes across the Commonwealth.”

Rebates range from $750 to $1,250, depending on emission levels and type of stove, and from $1,750 to $2,250 for residents who meet certain income requirements.

“This is an excellent opportunity for homeowners to upgrade, save, and innovate,” said Senate Majority Leader Harriette L. Chandler.  “I hope that many homeowners will take advantage of the Commonwealth Woodstove Change-Out Program.”

“The Woodstove Rebate Program is a great investment towards reducing our carbon footprint while also reducing energy costs for the citizens of Worcester and across the Commonwealth,” said State Representative John J. Mahoney

Residents must have an existing and operational non-EPA-certified woodstove to qualify for a rebate. To apply for a rebate, residents must visit a participating woodstove retailer, who will handle the application process on the residents’ behalf.

Rebate applications will be accepted until at least May 22, 2015, with the deadline being extended if funds remain. Residents can find a local participating woodstove professional by visiting www.masscec.com/woodstove.