Framingham, Natick To Bring Mass Save Services To 'Main Street'

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Businesses, nonprofits and other nonresidential organizations in Framingham and Natick will get access to a special Mass Save program in September, according to the municipalities.

Here's more from a city of Framingham news release:

As part of the Mass Save Community First Partnership, Framingham and Natick are partnering with Eversource on the Main Streets energy efficiency initiative. During the month of September, the program will help small businesses, houses of worship, and nonprofits reduce their energy costs and impact on the environment. This year’s program follows the success of similar initiatives organized in recent years, and offers enhanced incentives to local organizations.

Energy experts from Eversource-approved contractor AECOM will be in Natick from Sept 12 to 16 and in Framingham from Sept. 19 to 23 meeting with businesses and nonprofits, scheduling no-cost energy assessments and answering questions about energy-efficient equipment upgrades and other improvements.

"The City of Framingham is proud to partner with Eversource and the Town of Natick to help MetroWest small businesses and nonprofits save money and energy," said Framingham Mayor, Charlie Sisitsky. Natick Select Board Chair, Paul Joseph, continued, stating, "This program offers excellent information and incentives to advance energy efficiency. It is a great way to mitigate the impact of rising energy costs, and I encourage all eligible organizations to participate.:

“It’s our mission to amplify and accelerate the success of local businesses, and we believe that energy efficiency can be a powerful tool for businesses owners to improve their competitiveness,” added MetroWest Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Jim Giammarinaro.

All local small businesses, houses of worship, and nonprofits are eligible to participate. There are incentives available for organizations that own or rent their space. The Main Streets energy efficiency initiative begins with a no-cost energy assessment to identify energy-saving opportunities such as new lighting, occupancy sensors, programmable thermostats, refrigeration controls, insulation and more.

Some of the improvements, such as installing new energy-efficient light bulbs, occur right on the spot. Larger improvement projects, such as new HVAC equipment or energy-efficient motor controls, are scheduled for installation at a future date and may qualify for Mass Save incentives from Eversource and interest-free financing to offset the cost of upgrades.

“Over the last several years, we’ve had great success bringing Main Streets to our communities and helping thousands of local small businesses implement energy efficiency solutions that help them save money, reduce their energy use and gain a competitive edge,” added Eversource Vice President for Energy Efficiency and Electric Mobility, Tilak Subrahmanian.

Local, licensed electricians contracted by Eversource will complete approved projects, ensuring minimal disruption to daily business operations. All high-efficiency products installed as part of the program will include warranties for both materials and labor.

In preparation for the initiative, Eversource will be sending more information about the program directly to Framingham and Natick businesses. For more information about the program and to schedule a no-cost assessment at a convenient time, businesses should visit Eversource.com/mainstreets or contact Eversource’s contractor, AECOM, directly by calling (617) 371-4512 or by emailing irene.petruzzelli@aecom.com.