Buildings and Energy

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Buildings are energy intensive and account for the largest portion of energy use. Our lights, appliances, air conditioning systems, and heating systems all consume energy. 

This means that buildings also produce a significant amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, the primary pollution causing climate change. In Somerville, 63% of GHG emissions come from buildings: 49% from residential buildings, 41% from commercial buildings, and 10% from natural gas leaks.

 

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Source: City of Somerville GHG Inventory (Prepared by AECOM)
 

The Fuels We Use

So, now you know where buildings emissions are coming from. But what about the fossil fuels that are burned to create them? Take a look at the pie chart and you'll see that natural gas is the dominant fuel Somerville uses to heat, cool, and power its buildings. As we work towards our goal of net-zero emissions, we'll aim to power more and more of our buildings with clean electricity and renewable energy instead of natural gas.

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Renewable Energy

Community Choice Electricity

56% of Somerville residents participate in the Community Choice Electricity (CCE) Local Green option. The CCE program provides new electricity supply options and more renewable energy to Somerville residents and businesses.

Fun fact: Since 2017, Somerville CCE’s default product has saved participants over $22 million in savings, compared to Eversource Basic Service, while also containing more renewable energy. Future savings cannot be guaranteed. 

 

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Source: Somerville CCE Products

What is a Kilowatt hour (kWh)?

A measure of electricity equal to 1,000 watts of power expended for 1 hour. One kWh is about equivalent to running an average dishwasher for an hour.

Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is all about using less energy while providing consistent, reliable power and reducing waste. An energy efficient building can maintain an ideal temperature while using the least amount of energy possible to do it.  

There are many ways to reduce the amount of energy our homes and businesses consume while improving resilience to climate impacts. For example, the Somerville Energy Efficiency Now (SEEN) program provides energy efficiency and heat pump advisory services. The Climate Forward Plan lays out several priority actions to help us reduce emissions: 

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• Making sure new buildings meet certain standards to withstand flooding and extreme heat.
• Adopting flood and extreme heat resilience standards for new construction.
• Requiring rental properties to report their energy use.
• Expanding programs to electrify building heating and cooling systems (HeatSmart/CoolSmart).

What You Can Do

Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
 

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• Sign up for the Community Choice Electricity (CCE) Program
• Take advantage of Mass Save’s Energy Saving Tips to save money and reduce your emissions
• Use the Somerville Energy Efficiency Now (SEEN) Resources to learn about energy saving programs for renters and homeowners
• Explore your options for rooftop solar
• Electrify your home with heat pump rebates from Mass Save