Clean Power Blog

Web, Cleantech Meet This Weekend in Somerville

Sandra Kreis

Senior Manager of Business Development

Apr 1, 2014

When we think of cleantech, minds immediately go to solar, wind, and maybe even electric vehicles.  Yet the second part of the word – tech – invokes a whole meaning. 

A little over a year ago, in the span of twenty-four hours, I attended two high-impact events: TechStars' Demo Day and the New England Clean Energy Council's Greentie Gala.  The first is a magnet for the who’s who of the Boston tech scene, while the latter is one of the signature annual events of the Commonwealth’s thriving clean energy sector.  The cross-pollination of individuals at the two events was minimal.  In fact, it was so striking that Walter Frick covered it in BostInno. 

Over the last few years, a sector has emerged to bridge this gap by applying software development skills to solve the world’s pressing needs for solutions to energy and water issues. This field, branded by Sunil Paul in 2011 as the “cleanweb”, has emerged as one of the most promising, flexible and engaging markets in the clean energy sector.

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Retroficiency, CSG Partner on Energy Efficiency Innovation

Andrew Chabot

Project Administrator

Mar 13, 2014

Massachusetts is continuing to set the pace for energy efficiency innovation.

Boston-based Retroficiency - a provider of proprietary software that focuses on building efficiency intelligence – was recently listed in Forbes as one of America’s Most Promising Companies.  This recognition is due to Retroficiency’s innovative technology that helps building owners use energy more wisely.

Recently, they inked a partnership with Westborough based Conservation Services Group (CSG) to assist CSG in its analysis of multi-family buildings, which has traditionally proven to be a difficult market segment to penetrate.

Westborough-based CSG is a national leader in residential energy efficiency services, and believes that this new partnership with Retroficiency will enable them to more effectively prioritize the most high-value customers nationwide while helping to reduce both time and cost.

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Next Round of Commonwealth Woodstove Change-out Program Arrives

Nick Berghane

Feb 26, 2014

On February 18, woodstove owners across the Commonwealth began to fill out applications after Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan announced a new round of the Commonwealth’s Woodstove Change-out Program, committing up to a million dollars to encourage residents to replace older, inefficient woodstoves with healthier, higher-efficiency models.

The announcement was made at The Fire Place, a cozy woodstove retail shop located in Whately. The store redeemed more vouchers than anyone else when the program was first launched last winter.

 The Commonwealth Woodstove Change-out Program provides vouchers of $750 or $2,000 to Massachusetts woodstove owners looking to trade in their non-EPA certified stoves for models that use less wood and release less pollution into the air. This program allows residents to both improve their health as well as their bank account. DOER Commissioner Mark Sylvia summarized this sentiment while speaking at the announcement, saying, “These vouchers will help residents save money on upfront costs and monthly wood costs, while helping the Commonwealth reduce air pollution.”

Secretary Sullivan and Commissioner Sylvia were also joined by MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton, MassDEP Deputy Commissioner Marty Suuberg, and the American Lung Association Northeast Director of Public Policy Casey Harvell.

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