MassCEC Awards $1 million to Innovative Energy Efficiency Companies

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                               

 

 

BOSTON – Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Ian Bowles joined state officials and local businesses today to announce four grants totaling $1 million for companies and organizations to carry out business plans that will help customers make greater energy efficiency improvements in their homes and buildings.

 

These grants are part of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s (MassCEC) Energy Efficiency Service Innovation grant program, which aims to supplement Massachusetts’ leading energy efficiency programs by testing new business models for delivering energy efficiency services to residential or small commercial, institutional and/or industrial energy users.

 

“Ramping up efficiency is the best way for homeowners and companies to save both energy and money,” Secretary Bowles said. “I am pleased to announce these grants, which will explore new ways for Massachusetts residents and businesses to get the most out of our nation-leading energy efficiency initiatives.”

 

“One of the Massachusetts clean energy industry’s key strengths is its commitment to energy efficiency,” said MassCEC Executive Director Patrick Cloney. “These innovative companies are making great strides in the effort to encourage and help homeowners and businesses make a commitment to energy efficiency.”

 

Under nation-leading energy efficiency plans hammered out by the Patrick-Murray administration and Attorney General Coakley’s office and approved by the Department of Public Utilities in January, Massachusetts has chosen energy efficiency as its “first fuel” – what we look to first to meet the state’s energy needs. Now under way, these three-year plans call for Massachusetts electric and natural gas utilities to invest more per capita in energy efficiency measures for their customers than is being invested anywhere else in the US – $2 billion overall – and lock in savings of $6 billion for participating home- and business owners. That means more investment in home air-sealing, insulation, efficient lighting, and appliances, and less energy – and money – wasted this winter, and all year long. The MassCEC Energy Efficiency Service Innovation grants are intended to support the development of innovative business models to help Massachusetts consumers and businesses make the most of their opportunities to save energy and money through energy efficiency investments.

 

MassCEC solicited grant applications in April 2010 and awarded $250,000 to the following companies, which will use the funding to:  

 

iBLogix is the building energy intelligence company that helps utilities, Energy Services Companies (ESCOs) and property owners rapidly identify energy efficiency opportunities across large building portfolios.  Using advanced analytics, the iBLogix platform remotely benchmarks building energy performance, eliminating the need for costly and inconsistent on-site energy assessments. iBLogix will use the grant funds to achieve product development, energy assessment trial and revenue milestones and to hire additional personnel. 

 

Synergy is a residential construction and services firm specializing in the integration of energy efficiency, comfort, and air quality in new construction and deep energy retrofits of existing homes. Synergy will use the grant funds for training, capital investments in equipment and marketing and outreach in order to achieve scale and reduce costs to the consumer.  

 

Next Step Living is an energy efficiency contractor that offers comprehensive home energy audits, weatherization, energy retrofits, and other green home services to homeowners and renters in greater New England through innovative partnerships with municipalities and corporations. Next Step Living will use the grant funds to support its continued expansion of its core business in Massachusetts and its enhanced efforts to drive improved conversion rates to deeper energy savings measures that fall outside of the Mass Save program’s rebate-eligible offerings and that will result in 30 to70 percent energy savings.

 

The National Institute for a Sustainable Economy (NISE), Boston  

NISE has an innovative business model coupled with a highly intelligent energy management system that provides a comprehensive “one-stop-shop” solution for homeowners to reduce their energy consumption by 20 percent or more. NISE will use the grant funds to support its ramp-up plan in order to implement energy efficiency measures in over 100,000 homes in Massachusetts.

 

Created by the Green Jobs Act of 2008, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) has as its mission to foster the growth of the Massachusetts clean energy industry by providing seed grants to companies, universities, and nonprofit organizations; funding job training and workforce development programs; and, as home of the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust, supporting the installation of renewable energy projects throughout the state.

 

 

 

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