Financial Pathways
While building performance upgrades can help reduce overall costs in the long term, the upfront costs can often present a financial challenge for many buildings. Building owners can seek upfront capital funding through grants, loans, and contractual programs and reimbursement through rebates, incentives and tax credits.
Two Massachusetts organizations ready to support your projects:
Mass Save
Mass Save® is a collaborative of Massachusetts’ electric and natural gas utilities and energy efficiency service providers. The Sponsors of Mass Save are helping Massachusetts large existing buildings improve efficiency, increase comfort, and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Get Started:
Industry Professionals:
Find the appropriate Mass Save Program Administrator contact to receive guidance on your customers’ energy efficiency and decarbonization projects.
MassCEC
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center accelerates building decarbonization with proven electrification technologies, financing solutions, and workforce programs that deliver immediate economic and environmental benefits to every Massachusetts community.
Available Funding:
- BETA: Project Planning (Rolling Applications) | MassCEC works with participants to explore and disseminate approaches to commercial building electrification and decarbonization.
Existing Directories
DOE Better Buildings Hub – Financing Navigator Resources | High-level summary of the various capital and financial sources that apply to commercial, industrial, public sector, healthcare, and higher education buildings. Please note this is a national resource.
Boston Retrofit Resource Hub | See financial resource sections such as Tax Incentives and Financing Options.
Building Electrification Accelerator’s Funding and Technical Assistance Directory | Current and upcoming federal, local, and state funding / technical assistance opportunities to support electrification, improve energy efficiency, and renewable energy in existing buildings.
Local Financial Resources
PACE Massachusetts | Mass Development offers loans to finance building upgrades, paid back over time through energy savings.
Building Decarbonization Advisor Program | Funds decarbonization planning services and technical assistance for eligible building owners in Boston.
City of Cambridge Solar Assistance Program | Provides no-cost support to Cambridge businesses, non-profits, and owners of commercial and large residential buildings.
LEAN Multi-family | Provides funding for affordable multi-family building owners to implement energy efficiency upgrades, both gas and electric.
Affordable Housing Decarbonization Grant | DOER funds deep energy retrofits and decarbonization projects in affordable multi-family buildings.
LISC Climate Ready Housing | Funds deep energy retrofits and zero over time planning in affordable multi-family buildings. Massachusetts Housing Partnership, MHP, EOHLC
Green and Healthy Housing Programs | Massachusetts Housing Partnership offers first mortgage financing for affordable multi-family buildings.
Electrify Cambridge | Funds building energy consultations for small to large residential buildings in Cambridge.
Solar Upgrading Non-profits | Resonant Energy provides solar feasibility studies, financial analysis, and grant writing assistance for non-profit organizations.
Low Income Services Solar Program | Provides grants for non-profit organizations that serve low-income residents and environmental justice communities to install solar energy systems.
Equitable Emissions Investment Fund | City of Boston grant program to fund building decarbonization for non-profit organizations, with a priority focus on environmental justice neighborhoods.
Green Communities Grants | Provides funding for guidance, technical assistance, and local support to reduce energy use and costs through clean energy projects in municipal buildings, facilities, and schools.
Build for Mass | State-funded program providing bridge financing for clean energy projects in public buildings, including the installation of ground source heat pumps or battery storage at municipal facilities.
MassDEP Commercial Refrigeration Grant | Financial incentives for retail food businesses, food banks, and non-profits to install climate-friendly commercial refrigeration equipment.
Strategic Decarbonization Planning Series: Building the Business Case
On Demand TrainingWhy this is important: 2-part series to help industry professionals tackle retrofit projects with confidence. This session focuses on finance and long-term asset strategies to inform decision-making.
Quick Cost Calculations for Electrification
On Demand TrainingWhy this is important: Learn how to calculate and compare the energy cost of heat pump systems to fossil fuel.
LISC Decarbonization Hub website
Professional ServicesWhy this is important: Explore deep energy retrofit case studies, funding opportunities, and a vendor list to support the decarbonization of affordable multi-family buildings.
