Benefits + Savings
Clean energy solutions not only reduce your reliance on fossil fuels, but can also save you money by decreasing your energy bills.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR IMPACT
Get a better understanding of the environmental impact and operating costs of your current heating solution as compared to clean heating technologies.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
This graph shows the carbon emissions produced by heating a standard 2,000 square-foot (SF) Massachusetts home using traditional as compared to clean technologies, assuming either today’s electric grid or a 100% renewable grid.
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions for Heating a Standard 2,000 SF Home
- 2020 Electricity Grid
- Based on the 2018 New England electric grid greenhouse gas emissions rate. https://www.iso-ne.com/system-planning/system-plans-studies/emissions/
- 100% Clean Electricity Grid
- An individual homeowner can achieve a high percent of clean electricity today by installing solar PV and/or by purchasing electricity sourced from renewables.
- To achieve Massachusetts’ Net Zero by 2050 goal, the utilities in Massachusetts will increase their purchase of clean electricity in the coming decades.
OPERATING COSTS
The graphs represent the annual heating operating cost for a standard 2,000 SF home heated by fossil fuels as compared to clean energy technologies.
*Please note that prices and performance may vary by year, system, and home weatherization level. Homeowners who install air-source heat pumps or ground-source heat pumps, which also provide cooling, can also expect to save 30% – 50% on cooling costs as compared to a standard central air-conditioning system.
INCENTIVES
There are a number of programs now available to homeowners, making clean energy solutions affordable to install.
INCENTIVES AVAILABLE BY CLEAN ENERGY SOLUTION
 Mass Save |  Mass Department of Energy Resources (DOER) |  Federal Tax Credits | Mass State Tax Credits |  Financing Options |  Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air-Source Heat Pumps | Electric Heating and Cooling Rebates | Alternative Energy Certificates (AECs) | Mass Save HEAT Loan | |||
| Automated Wood Heat | Alternative Energy Certificates (AECs) | 26% for systems installed through 2022 and 22% for systems installed through 2023; consult IRS website | Mass Save HEAT Loan | |||
| Battery Storage | ConnectedSolutions | SMART Battery Adder | ||||
| Ground-Source Heat Pumps | Electric Heating and Cooling Rebates | Alternative Energy Certificates (AECs) | 26% for systems installed through 2022 and 22% for systems installed through 2023; consult IRS website | 6.25% Massachusetts Sales Tax Exemption | Mass Save HEAT Loan | |
| Electric Vehicle | Eversource’s EV Home Charger Demand Response | Federal Tax Credits for New All-Electric and Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles | MOR-EV | |||
| Heat Pump Water Heater | Electric Heat Pump Water Heater Rebates | Mass Save HEAT Loan | ENERGY Star Equipment Tax Credit | |||
| Solar Electricity | Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) | 26% for systems installed through 2022 and 22% for systems installed through 2023; consult IRS website | 15% of the system cost as a state tax credit, up to $1,000 | Municipal Light Plant Solar Rebate Program (for MLPs that do not participate in SMART) | ||
| Solar Hot Water | Alternative Energy Certificates (AECs) | 26% for systems installed through 2022 and 22% for systems installed through 2023; consult IRS website | 15% of the system cost as a state tax credit, up to $1,000 | Mass Save HEAT Loan |
*Please note that this is not a fully exhaustive list and there may be other incentives available for more specific project types. Additional incentives may be listed on this page: https://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/ma.
AVERAGE COST AFTER INCENTIVES
Estimates include equipment and installation for a 2,000 square foot MA home.
Air-Source Heat Pumps
$16,000*
(whole home)
Ground-Source Heat Pumps
$22,000*
Automated Wood Heat
$20,000*
Solar Hot Water
$7,000*
Heat Pump Water Heater
$2,400*
Solar Electricity
$23,000**
*The average cost after incentives is an estimate based on a 2,000 square foot MA home and includes federal tax credits and/or Mass Save® rebates. Incentives for customers who currently have oil, propane, or electric resistance heat or hot water are higher than for customers who currently have natural gas heat or hot water. Actual costs may vary.
**The estimated cost of solar PV is based off actual MA projects from 2019 – 2021 and includes federal and state tax incentives. The average system size in Massachusetts is 9 kW DC. Over the lifetime of the system, additional revenue can be generated through energy savings or other incentive programs such as the SMART program. Please visit MassCEC’s Solar Cost Comparison Tool for examples of residential solar installations from 2001 – 2018.
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