Mass Save Coming for Franklin Small Biz

The Sponsors of Mass Save® have announced a partnership with 88 Massachusetts communities across the Commonwealth, including Franklin, through the Main Streets initiative. Launched in April and continuing through October, the initiative connects small business owners with approved contractors to schedule no-cost energy assessments and determine solutions for lowering energy use and saving money.

In 2023, the Sponsors of Mass Save visited 91 communities across the Commonwealth which resulted in more than 360 fully weatherized small businesses. Since 2022, the initiative has prioritized equitably delivering greenhouse gas reductions by partnering with historically under-resourced communities, Environmental Justice Communities, as designated by the state, and Mass Save Community First Partners.

Now into 2024, the Sponsors have expanded their multilingual marketing strategy to meet the needs of EJCs, where, according to the Office of Environmental Justice & Equity, 25 percent or more of the population may not be fluent in English. Language support is provided at in-person events, and all pre- and post-event materials (such as flyers, applications and contracts) are translated into the languages primarily spoken in those communities.

The Sponsors continue to build on these successful efforts through close collaboration with local community partners, and will also be holding Main Streets events in other Norfolk County communities including Canton, Dedham, Milton, Norwood, and Quincy.

“Small businesses are the backbones of communities across Massachusetts and deserve opportunities to improve their energy efficiency and gain a competitive edge by lowering their energy costs,” said Tilak Subrahmanian, Vice President for Energy Efficiency and Electric Mobility, Eversource. “Through Main Streets, small businesses, especially those facing an undue energy burden, can maximize their savings opportunities and reduce their carbon footprints. We look forward to engaging with more businesses this year to help drive participation in energy efficiency programs.”

Main Streets energy efficiency solutions start with a no-cost, no-obligation energy assessment to identify energy-saving opportunities for small businesses, such as weatherization, insulation, occupancy sensors, programmable thermostats, refrigeration controls, lighting controls and more. Improvements like installing aerators and spray valves happen on the spot at no cost to the customer. More involved projects, like the installation of energy-efficient motor controls, are scheduled for a future date. The Sponsors of Mass Save offer increased incentives for a range of energy efficiency improvements to further offset the cost of upgrades, and interest-free financing is available for any remaining costs. 
 
Local licensed electricians contracted by the Sponsors will complete approved projects and ensure minimal disruption to daily business operations, and all high-efficiency products installed as part of this initiative include warranties for both materials and labor. For businesses interested in scheduling a no-cost, no-obligation assessment for business, including those in communities not part of an official Main Streets partnership this year, please visit www.masssave.com/smallbusiness