
The Challenge: Develop Scalable Pathways for Home Decarbonization
Every home is different. Individual homes' clean energy potentials are vastly different, too. Homeowners need customized recommendations for comprehensive energy efficiency and home decarbonization projects. To serve a significant number of homes, program administrators and other practitioners need scalable protocols for assessing homes and developing the decarbonization plans.
About the Decarbonization Pathways Pilot
Through the Decarbonization Pathways Pilot, MassCEC is developing and testing an innovative protocol for comprehensive home decarbonization assessments for single-family and low-rise residential buildings (up to three stories). MassCEC plans to perform the newly developed assessment protocol on a diverse cohort of about 75 homes throughout the Commonwealth whose owners are interested in decarbonizing. In addition to the decarbonization assessment, participants will receive a decarbonization plan, technical assistance, and financial incentives to implement some or all of the recommended decarbonization measures.
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Program Goals
The goals of the Decarbonization Pathways pilot program are to:
- Create and test a model for comprehensive consumer engagement and home decarbonization that could be scaled by Mass Save® or another entity — in service of achieving the state’s decarbonization targets
- Develop consumer-facing resources and showcases to support homeowners and landlords who are ready to take action now and decarbonize their buildings
The home decarbonization assessment will evaluate several areas — energy efficiency, electrical upgrades, heating and cooling, hot water, cooking & other appliances, and personal transportation — with the goal of eventually eliminating the use of fossil fuels from the home, in addition to promoting efficiency.
Project Team
Technical Consultant
MassCEC is working with Abode Energy Management to conduct the following tasks:
- Develop protocols for a decarbonization assessment that build on the framework and successes of the Mass Save® Home Energy Assessment
- Create a framework for the recommendations that will come out of the assessment
- Produce a structure for customizable individual decarbonization plans based on the assessment's recommendations and the homeowner's goals
- Provide technical expertise for participants looking to implement decarbonization recommendations
Review Committee
MassCEC has assembled a committee of external experts to review and provide input on the decarbonization assessment protocols, recommendations, and customizable planning tool.
Committee members:
- Alissa Whiteman, MA Department of Energy Resources
- Amar Shah, Rocky Mountain Institute
- Andrew Posner, Capital Good Fund
- Bob Eckel, Eversource
- Brendan Delaney, Action Inc.
- Brian Beote, Action Inc.
- Briana Kane, Cape Light Compact
- Frank Nitti, National Grid
- Greg Phipps, Reading Municipal Light Department
- John Balfe, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership
- Leah Berger, National Grid
- Nikhil Nadkarni, City of Cambridge
- Orest Manzi, Action for Boston Community Development
- Sophie Theroux, Holyoke Gas & Electric Department

Who's Eligible to Apply?
Eligible applicants are residential building owners of the following building types:
- Single-family home
- Multi-family building with four (4) or fewer units*
- Single owner or multiple owners
- All units in the building must participate
The Pilot is not intended for the following:
- Condos
- Commercial buildings
- New construction or homes built within the last ten (10) years
The home must also meet the following criteria:
- Must be located in a utility territory that contributes to the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust. This includes the Massachusetts service territory of National Grid, Eversource, Until, and municipal light plants that have elected to pay into the Renewable Energy Trust (please see masscec.com/municipal-lighting-plant-communities for more information).
- Must be an occupied residence year-round. For example, summer homes that are unoccupied in the winter are not eligible for the Pilot.
During the Pilot, Applicants should plan to, at a minimum:
- Complete all Mass Save® weatherization recommendations.
- Install cold-climate heat pumps (Applicants who are replacing their heating or cooling system and/or plan to install a whole home heat pump system are preferred).
Full program details and eligibility requirements are available in the Program Manual.
Apply
Application Process
- Review eligibility requirements in the Program Manual
- Preview the online application form by downloading the PDF version
- Complete and submit an application using this link*
*We are no longer accepting applications for Cohort 1, click here to sign up to be notified when Cohort 2 opens.
Decarbonization Pathways: Background and How to Apply to Cohort 1 (Closed)
Learn more about the Pilot including background, applicant eligibility, incentive levels, and the application process.
FAQs
Additional Resources
- View a video recording of the panel “Developing Scalable Pathways for Home Decarbonization” presented on February 15, 2022 at the Pre-Conference Showcase for BuildingEnergy Boston 2022. The discussion includes an update on the proposed decarbonization assessment protocols.
- Visit Abode's Participant Portal (coming soon), which will provide more information about the application timeline, incentives, and how to schedule a decarbonization assessment.
- Questions? Please email us at buildings@masscec.com with “Decarbonization Pathways” in the subject line.