Boston Globe: "A better future for heating your home"

"As we prepare for colder weather, the choice has already been made for many residents that they will be burning euphemistically named “natural gas,” or methane. This fuel, which is no more natural than any other fossil fuel, is not only responsible for massive property damage and loss of life following explosions, as we saw in the Merrimack Valley disaster three years ago — it is also a potent fossil fuel, responsible for 27 percent of climate-altering emissions statewide, second only to transportation and significantly greater than even the energy generation sector.

If the state does not move away from our reliance on gas, we probably won’t hit our statutory emissions reduction goals set by the Global Warming Solutions Act and the recent 2050 net-zero roadmap legislation. Working in opposition to those goals, gas utilities are planning decades of new pipelines, projected to cost Massachusetts gas customers $20 billion — a Big Dig-sized project — according to a recent report commissioned by Gas Leaks Allies."

Continue reading the article online. (Subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/11/23/opinion/better-future-heating-your-home/

Olivia Cerf and Ben Butterworth stand near the heat pumps they installed at their Melrose home.ERIN CLARK/GLOBE STAFF

CommonWealth Magazine: "Home energy upgrades could be challenge"

 

"THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE has once again sent a comprehensive climate bill to Gov. Charlie Baker, and this time Baker has sent it back with a series of amendments. While the two sides agree on the broad terms of the bill, a major sticking point is an interim goal on the road to net zero emissions by 2050. The bill would mandate that emission levels reach 50 percent of 1990 levels by 2030. The Baker administration (and current state policy) favors a 45 percent goal.

That difference of 5 points almost seems like a rounding error, but it has major implications for everyday residents, especially for homeowners. Among other measures, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Kathleen Theoharides says that extra 5 percentage points would require the complete elimination of heating oil. EEA estimates retrofitting oil-heated homes would cost an additional $3 billion over 10 years. Meanwhile, under either interim target scenario, tens of thousands of homes need to convert from carbon-heavy fuels like oil and gas to renewables like solar and wind." 

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/news-analysis/poll-home-energy-upgrades-could-be-challenge/

CommonWealth Magazine: "Home energy upgrades could be challenge"

Understanding the Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) programs (4 part series)

Via the Mass Consumers Affairs blog:

"If you are a home improvement contractor or homeowner in Massachusetts, we’ve got you covered with our introductory guide to understanding the Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) programs – from both perspectives, the homeowner’s and contractor’s.

This introduction to HIC programs is the first of our four part “HIC—Easy as 1-2-3!” blog series dedicated to providing resources and information concerning HIC law, contractors, homeowners, complaints and enforcement hearings, arbitration, and the Guaranty Fund. Keep reading to educate yourself or brush up on your knowledge about HIC programs in Massachusetts."

Continue reading Part 1
http://blog.mass.gov/consumer/massconsumer/hic-easy-as-1-2-3-introduction/

Part 2
http://blog.mass.gov/consumer/massconsumer/hic-easy-as-1-2-3-hic-easy-as-1-2-3-part-2-arbitration/

Part 3
http://blog.mass.gov/consumer/massconsumer/hic-easy-as-1-2-3-part-3-guaranty-fund/
 
Part 4
http://blog.mass.gov/consumer/massconsumer/hic-easy-as-1-2-3-part-4-homeowners/

Understanding the Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) programs (4 part series)