“Save Money, Save the Planet”
Cambridge Energy Alliance (CEA) is a City of Cambridge program that promotes energy efficiency and renewable energy. Our goal is to help residents, businesses, and institutions in Cambridge save money while also reducing Cambridge’s carbon footprint. Toward this goal, we promote the Mass Save program, a state-wide, utility-run program that offers significant incentives for a wide range of energy upgrades. We can also connect you to financial institutions that can help you pay for energy efficient improvements to your home or business. Additionally, we keep you updated on local energy-related news, and we offer energy education and tips through our website, blog, Twitter and Facebook pages, Energy Advisor contact form, and outreach at events.
Background
In May 1999, the Cambridge City Council voted to join Cities for Climate Protection (CCP), an international consortium of communities working to reduce the impacts of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels. As a member of CCP, the City created a city-specific greenhouse gas emissions inventory and subsequently set targets and strategies to reduce these emissions through a comprehensive and well-defined plan.
To help achieve these goals, the City, in partnership with the Henry P. Kendall Foundation, created the Cambridge Energy Alliance (CEA) in 2007 as a non-profit organization. In 2011, CEA was disbanded as a nonprofit and became a program of Cambridge’s Community Development Department, continuing its mission of helping Cambridge residents and businesses identify and arrange financing for energy efficiency improvements for their homes and businesses.
Our Focus on Buildings
Over 80 percent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Cambridge are from buildings—houses, apartment buildings, retail business, offices, educational institutions and large commercial operations. Given the City’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, eliminating wasted energy in our homes and workplaces is a priority.
In December 2013, the City of Cambridge created the “Getting to Net Zero Task Force” charged with advancing the goal of putting Cambridge on the trajectory towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 with focus on greenhouse gas emissions from building operations. The resulting Net Zero Action Plan was created to: 1) reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the built environment; 2) improve energy efficiency and conservation in existing and new buildings; 3) support renewable energy generation both on- and off- site; and 4) create best practices to engage and educate users and influence occupant behavior. Click here to learn more about the Net Zero Action Plan.
Contact Us
- Phone: 617-349-LEAF (5323)
- Fax: 617-349-4669
- Mail: 344 Broadway St, Cambridge MA 02139