A One-Stop-Shop Partnership for Energy and Comfort Upgrades
The City of Cambridge is partnering with BlocPower on a new, one-year pilot to help multifamily buildings complete upgrades that can improve indoor comfort and energy efficiency, while working towards our climate goals. Building owners will be able to take advantage of expert project oversight and financing support from BlocPower for upgrades, including energy efficiency, solar, and more comfortable, all-electric heating, cooling, and hot water technology. BlocPower offers building owners $0/down financing, volume-discounted procurement, and help accessing state and federal incentives to reduce upfront costs and increase project affordability.
How to Participate
We’re focusing on multifamily buildings with 5 or more units, as well as small businesses, in this one-year pilot. If you’re interested in seeing how this pilot could help your building, you can get started by visiting BlocPower to get a no-cost Instant Building Report. You can then connect with a BlocPower team member to discuss your project’s unique needs, learn more about available upgrades plus explore incentives and financing.
More About the Cambridge BlocPower Pilot
Nearly two-thirds of Cambridge households live in multifamily buildings, so finding ways to help our apartment and condo residents access clean energy and energy efficiency is an important part of our climate goals. Cambridge is the first city in New England to work with BlocPower on building decarbonization, and we hope this pilot will test a new way to make upgrades easy for building owners.
BlocPower provides green building retrofits across the country. Since its founding in 2014, the company has completed over 5,000 energy projects, and its customers typically save 20-40% on their energy bills each year. In 2022, Fast Company named BlocPower the #4 Most Innovative Company in the World.
As part of this pilot, Cambridge is working with BlocPower to utilize two types of the company’s proprietary software – BlocMaps and the Instant Building Report – to identify buildings with an ideal profile for upgrades and to provide building owners a preliminary estimate and scope of work.
Resources from BlocPower on Common Upgrade Measures
Heat Pump Cold Weather Performance
Can heat pumps actually work in cold weather climates? Absolutely. In fact, you’ll find heat pumps in two out of three homes in Norway, where January temperatures average 20°F. Today, heat pumps are trusted in some of the most extreme winter climates in the world, but it’s true that this wasn’t always the case. Read more about how the modern heat pump excels in cold climates.
How Insulation Improves Comfort and Saves Money
Ever noticed some spaces in your apartment are hotter or colder than others? What about bothersome drafts or smells from outside or neighboring units? A well weatherized home or building—effectively air sealed and insulated—helps to separate conditioned spaces from unconditioned. This relatively low cost upgrade measure is an easy way to improve comfort, air quality and reduce energy bills. Learn more.
Key Cost Factors for Heat Pumps
Ok, so how much do heat pumps cost? The price of a system is driven by four key factors: heat pump features and sizing; heat pump installation type; a project’s need for electrical or other supporting upgrades; and finally, the complexity and scope of the labor. Our job is to help identify the system that’s right for you, and that of course includes maximizing incentives to increase affordability. Check out our heat pump pricing guide.
Comparing Heat Pumps and Air Conditioners
Comparing heat pumps and air conditioners? The technologies are similar, but heat pumps have a major advantage, which yields big savings over time (hint: they provide cooling and heating). If your building relies on window air conditioning units or has a central system nearing end of life, we’d recommend exploring a heat pump system. Check out our guide here.
