MELROSE ENERGY CHALLENGE

The City of Melrose has partnered with Abode to help residents transition to clean heating technologies.

ABOUT MELROSE ENERGY CHALLENGE

Melrose Energy Challenge is a city-wide initiative providing educational resources and a marketplace of third-party vetted contractors, empowering residents to adopt clean heating and cooling technologies with confidence.

Air source heat pumps and solar hot water systems are cost-effective, market-ready technologies that transform how homes use energy. These technologies can help save you money on your utility bills and also significantly help Melrose decrease its overall carbon footprint, benefiting the community.

Melrose Energy Challenge is working with Abode to connect residents with local, reputable contractors. Through this program you can request, receive, and compare quotes from multiple contractors to ensure the system you select will meet your goals and operate efficiently. For more information visit the Melrose Energy Challenge website.

Questions?

Martha Grover
Melrose Sustainability Manager
781-979-4195
mgrover@cityofmelrose.org

Clean Heating Technologies

Air Source Heat Pumps

Air source heat pumps (ASHP), often referred to as ductless mini-splits, are a clean technology you can use to both heat and cool your home. There are a number of economic, environmental and health benefits associated with installing air source heat pumps.

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Ground Source Heat Pumps

Whereas air source heat pumps use the air as their heat reservoir, ground source heat pumps (GSHP) use the ground as their heat reservoir. Whether a ground source heat pump is right for you depends in large part on the site conditions of your home.

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Heat Pump Water Heaters

A heat pump water heater is powered by electricity to heat water for use with faucets, showers, and appliances. The heat pump unit pulls in air from the surrounding space, extracting heat from the air and using the refrigerant cycle to heat the water.

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Solar Thermal Systems

Solar thermal, also known as solar hot water, similarly collects solar energy using roof-mounted panels or tubes, but rather than converting that energy into electricity as with solar PV systems, solar thermal systems store the energy in water, heating it.

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Why Clean Heating & Cooling?

Environmentally Friendly

Clean heating technologies tied to the MA electric grid produce 40-60% less carbon emissions than traditional fossil fuel based systems.

Economic Benefits

Massachusetts leads the nation in energy efficiency, which includes making these systems more cost effective to run and ensuring the installation is comparable to traditional systems.

Health & Wellness

Whether carbon monoxide in our home, or carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, the writing is on the wall– a world without burning fossil fuels is where we must go.

Comfort

Properly sized clean heating technologies can radically improve your home’s temperature and humidity all year long. Keep you cozy and your house healthy.

Incentives for Clean Heating & Cooling

Mass Save HEAT Loan

If you’re installing a solar hot water system or air source heat pumps, you may be eligible for a 0% interest HEAT Loan from Mass Save. You can finance up to $25,000 over the course of 7 years for home energy efficiency upgrades. While fuel prices fluctuate for many projects the energy savings can often come close with covering the principle payments each month. Find out more about Mass Save’s HEAT Loan program.

Rebates & Tax Credits

Massachusetts leads the nation in energy efficiency and has many incentives and rebates available to help make clean heating technologies affordable. Learn more about rebates available from Mass Save, or through the MassCEC. Mass Save heat pump rebates have increased starting in 2022, and eligible air source heat pump equipment could qualify for a rebate of up to $10,000. Learn more about Mass Save heat pump rebates.

HOME ENERGY ASSESSMENTS

Homes are complex systems consisting of physical features and mechanical equipment. To help think about your home holistically, we encourage you to schedule a no-cost home energy assessment. Your energy specialist will evaluate your home’s insulation levels and provide you with recommendations for incentivized upgrades. These upgrades can have a substantial impact on the selection and performance of your heating and cooling system, reducing your carbon footprint and energy bills.

SCHEDULE NO-COST ASSESSMENT

CLEAN ENERGY CONSULTATIONS

At any point throughout your project, speak with one of Melrose’s trained local volunteer Heat Pump Coaches to discuss heating and cooling technologies, available rebates and incentives, next steps for improving your home’s energy efficiency, and more. Coaches can also connect you with one of Abode’s technical experts for further support or for quote comparison services. Together our goal is to equip you with the knowledge and resources needed to move forward on your project with confidence. You are welcome to speak to us multiple times as your project develops.

“I’m thinking about heat pumps, and I have some questions.”

Get an introduction to heat pumps, find out more about the help available or ask a question.

SCHEDULE

Learn how heat pumps work
Explore heat pump types for your home
Overview of operating costs & incentives
Home weatherization considerations
Guidance on working with installers

“I’d like more in-depth help with my heat pump project.”

Work with a trained Heat Pump Coach to discuss your clean energy goals and how to achieve them.

INTAKE FORM

Review the details of your home’s current energy and weatherization conditions.
Receive help throughout the process of seeking and assessing proposals from installers.
Receive an expert evaluation of quotes you have received.
Get help with heat pump performance issues.
Explore whole home decarbonization pathways.

Meet Our Coaches

Raj Das

Joe Ben-David

Susan Murphy

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DO YOU LIVE IN A MULTI-FAMILY BUILDING?

If you live in a multifamily, air source heat pumps are a good solution to heat and cool your home. That said, there are extra considerations to take when installing this technology on a shared property. Visit the Mass Save website to learn more about suitable clean heating and cooling options and help you find ways to finance your project.

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PARTICIPATING CONTRACTOR LIST

Use the Participating Contractor List to find qualified installers in your area.

VIEW CONTRACTOR LIST

VIDEO RESOURCES

Here are some helpful videos to get you started.

Raj Das

Raj and his wife, Ann, have raised their family in Melrose for the past 30 years. Raj recently retired from GE Aerospace in Lynn after a 38 year career, the last 20 as a Supply Chain and Military Systems Operation Executive. He held leadership roles in all aspects of plant operations, new engine product introductions, and military manufacturing programs. Raj was a key business champion for diversity and inclusion initiatives. ED Photography in Melrose is Raj’s current business and passion. His business features family, graduation, high school senior, headshot, small weddings, as well as commercial photography. He also volunteers his services with Melrose High School, MAAV, and other community events. Raj earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering at Tufts University and an MBA from Boston College. He is a naturally curious engineer always looking to stay on top of the latest technology. He knows and has first hand experience with both ducted and ductless air heat pumps. His house in Melrose was converted from steam heat to ductless air heat pumps in 2022. In his Orleans house, the conversion was from oil forced hot water to a ducted air heat pump system, including a hot water heat pump. Both houses have solar panels with battery back up. These projects have helped him navigate MassSave audits, the Heat Loan process, and MA Heat Pump rebates.

Joe Ben-David

Joe Ben-David is a retired sales engineer in the computer communications field who has recently settled in Melrose. He has worked in trades including construction, air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, and theater tech. He looks forward to engaging with homeowners to enhance their understanding of the benefits, requirements, and options with heat pump technologies, and the incentives and rebates applicable to the investment in them.

Susan Murphy

Susan is a longtime resident and participant in Melrose sustainability and climate efforts, and she led the City’sHeatsmart Melrose campaign in 2020. She is excited by recent advances in heat pump options and better understanding of how to best tailor these systems to individual homes and resident preferences, and looks forward to more successful installations and satisfied residents. Susan has a background in engineering and environmental permitting and has worked for the US Environmental Protection Agency and in local government. Her home in Melrose has been fossil fuel free since 2020, with geothermal heating and cooling, air source heat pump in an addition, solar hot water and solar photovoltaic panels, and she is working towards electrifying a vacation home in Gloucester with air-to-water heat pumps and solar-assisted heat pump hot water.