New Tool and Step-by-Step Guide: Community Greenhouse Gas Inventories A greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory is an important part of developing a data-informed climate action plan. An inventory can help identify the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions within a community; from there, cities and towns can prioritize policies and programs for reducing emissions. By […]
Continue reading...New Resources for Equitable Net Zero Planning Prioritize Net Zero Actions and Implement Equity with our Frameworks In response to the climate crisis, cities and towns across the globe have made commitments to achieve Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by maximizing reductions in energy use and supplying buildings, transportation, and infrastructure with renewable sources of […]
Continue reading...Use MAPC’s Updated Green Municipal Aggregation Toolkit to Support Renewables in Your City or Town In 2014, MAPC pioneered an exciting model for green municipal aggregation (GMA). For more than five years, we have worked with communities to adopt, deploy, and support GMA. Municipal aggregation, also known as community choice aggregation, allows a city or […]
Continue reading...Voices on Climate Change “Cape Cod was named for the codfish, and now we don’t see any codfish anymore,” observes Chatham fisherman Jamie Bassett, gesturing out to the Atlantic Ocean from his boat, “Does that mean the waters are warming around here? I don’t know. I’m not a scientist, I don’t know what the optimum […]
Continue reading...October 2 is National Energy Efficiency Day, and MAPC is joining with other regional and national organizations to highlight the advantages of energy efficiency – the cheapest and quickest way to lower energy use, cut utility bills, and reduce carbon pollution. Reducing energy used by municipalities, businesses, and individual homes benefits everyone, especially energy bill […]
Continue reading...Wayland’s newest resilience technology may not look flashy – just a series of boxes on the wall at the middle school. But the new equipment allows the school’s solar parking canopy to operate even if there’s a power outage – and prepares for the integration of battery storage in the future. On Tuesday, Sept. 17, […]
Continue reading...You heard from us earlier this spring about the impact and importance of municipal involvement in the international building code cycles. There is a big deadline this month for municipalities to play their part in influencing the next cycle of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Coming up on September 23, 2019, is the deadline […]
Continue reading...Keeping Cool and Warm While Staying Green An Introduction to Clean Heating & Cooling (CH&C) Opportunities for Municipalities in Massachusetts By Braxton Bridgers, Clean Energy Intern It’s been a hot summer so far. Record heat waves across the globe are making communities throughout the country think differently about the importance of air conditioning. As we […]
Continue reading...A new study by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) shows that ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft are increasing not just traffic but greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) in Greater Boston, in a first-ever analysis of the climate impacts of transportation network companies, or TNCs.
Continue reading...As public schools let out this week in Greater Boston, summer fun is on people’s minds and many are planning their vacations, barbeques, and other summer activities. While the warmer weather is welcomed by many, it also signals the start of extreme heat season – which can be a public health hazard, especially for the […]
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