Case Studies

Region: Northeast
Population / Sq. Mile: 9,095.8 (in top 75th percentile)
Median Income: $68,808 (between 25th and 50th percentile)
Total Actions: 14

Salem’s long running climate efforts began in 2009, immediately following the passage of the Green Communities Act. From these early planning stages, Salem has developed into a leading example of municipal action, launching a Sustainability and Resiliency Department in 2022. The city’s stated goal is to align with, if not exceed the State of Massachusetts’ goal for carbon neutrality by 2050. To this end, in July 2021, it released the Resilient Together Action Plan in partnership with Beverly, MA. The plan outlines mitigation and resiliency actions for both cities across seven categories: buildings and development, natural resources, public health and safety, solid waste, mobility, energy, and infrastructure.

The forthcoming Sustainability and Resiliency Department will oversee sustainability, energy, and resiliency efforts within the municipal government, expanding the staff committed to these projects from 2 to 5.5. Its proposed 2022 goals include executing first year actions from the Resilient Together Action Plan, focused on education and outreach; initiating a comprehensive energy project achieving at least 40% reduction in utility costs; installing solar on new municipal properties; and analyzing the best approaches to zero emissions from municipal fleet.

Salem’s climate actions to date, which cover all but one of the Climate Leadership Team’s recommended key actions, have achieved significant fiscal impacts in addition to environmental ones. The sustainability staff are responsible for $500,000 annual utility cost savings for the municipality, $250,000 total revenue from incentives, and $600,000 annual savings for residents.

Region: Greater Boston
Population / Sq. Mile: 4560.1
Median Income: $113,000
Total Actions: 12

Swampscott’s fight to combat climate change is guided by its Renewable Energy Committee (REC). The group of volunteers evaluate and make recommendations to the Board of Selectmen regarding energy conservation, energy efficiency, and conversion to greener energy sources. The Committee is currently targeting three initiatives: residential energy efficiency, EV adoption by residents and town personnel, and climate action policy.

Swampscott worked with National Grid in 2016 to encourage 242 homeowners to obtain energy assessments. As a result, the municipality saves over 4 billion BTU’s of energy annually. The REC also continues to push Swampscott’s partnership with state-based energy company, Revise. Revise’s no-cost home energy audits allow residents to make energy improvements within their home. Completing the audit allows customers to be eligible for grants and zero interest loans, and discounts on improvements to home efficiency. The Committee is encouraging residents to get audits. Furthermore, a push is underway encouraging residents in town to upgrade efficiency in their homes through simple measures including insulation and energy efficient appliances. The committee also encourages residents to invest in renewable technology like solar generation, and to eliminate carbon-based heating appliances.

Additionally, Swampscott has partnered with neighboring towns Salem and Nahant to run its solarize campaign, “Solarize North Shore.” The state-run program provides marketing grants to help promote adoption of renewable energy technology by residential customers in the state. The first application of the program took place seven years ago, and there are now over 200 rooftop solar systems in Swampscott.

The town’s remaining initiatives are EV adoption among town personnel and residents, and its climate action plan. Under the EV adoption initiative, Swampscott is working with the select board and the department leaders to adopt an “EV first” procurement policy that is modeled after other similar policies adopted in Massachusetts (like Bedford). Several charging stations have been installed at local schools. The police department has purchased hybrid vehicles and is looking to install chargers at the department. Town hall is also interested in installing chargers as it currently has two EVs in its fleet.

Swampscott’s climate action plan includes completing greenhouse inventory. As a designated Green Community, Swampscott has received energy efficiency grants from the Department of Energy Resources of over $850,000. The REC will continue collaborating with the conservation committee and select board to think beyond energy efficiency and more broadly about ways to withstand increased climate change events.

Region: Greater Boston
Population / Sq. Mile: 18,519
Median Income: $134,186
Total Actions: 15

After adopting a Climate Action Plan in 2002 Cambridge has achieved state leadership in this sphere, owing to the city’s educated population and fiscal resources. The city’s extensive programs are managed by the Department of Community Development through three divisions: Environmental and Transportation Planning, Zoning and Development and the Cambridge Energy Alliance.

Notable Programs:

Article 22 Green Building Dashboard. Interactive database and map showing information on buildings meeting the sustainable design standards of in Article 22 of city’s Zoning Ordinance. An open data with a full listing of approved buildings and more information is also available.

Article 22 of the Zoning Ordinance, Green Building Requirements and Article 22 Green Buildings Open Data. Act which promotes environmentally sustainable and energy-efficient design and development practices. The regulations apply to new construction and to renovation projects of a significant size. Project review applies to developments of 25,000 square feet or more.

Cambridge Clean Heat is city-wide initiative launched in 2021 in collaboration with energy service company Abode to assist city residents with transition to air source heat pumps and solar hot water systems. Includes are technical assistance and contractor referrals.

Climate Protection Action Committee (CPAC). Advisory body appointed by the City Manager, meets monthly to develop goals, recommendations and actions and publish reports. Meetings open to the public.

Climate Resilience Zoning Task Force.Appointed by the City Manager this committee is studying and developing near-term zoning strategies to promote city resilience and adaptation to climate disruptions.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory of the city is compiled at both government operations and community scale by application of international protocols. Included are measurable emissions over one year and multiple years, categorized by scope, i.e. those occurring within and outside city boundaries.

Multifamily Retrofit Advisor. A partnership of the city with Mass Save launched in 2017 provides access at no cost to experts consulting apartment and condo buildings on energy efficiency and cost savings. Since 2020 the program virtual assessment services and referrals to qualified contractors.

Net Zero Tasks Force, Action Plan and Ordinance. Committee of experts, city-based institutions and residents conducts studies and develops comprehensive plan for neutralizing GHGs from city buildings by 2050. 2015 Task Force report became the foundation of 2015 Action Plan and Zoning Ordinance Article 22.

Additional Programs:

Community Electricity Program. Launched in 2017, offers city residents and businesses alternative subscriptions to renewable utility electricity supply sourced by way of community choice aggregation.

CitySmart. Information website connecting residents with resources for city commuting by bicycle.

Electric Vehicles Program. The city owns and operates ten EV charging stations on it’s territory while multiple charging stations are operated in Cambridge by private vendors.

Low Income Program. In partnership with Mass Save, offers underprivileged household replacements, often at no cost, for appliances, heating and cooling equipment and insulation.

Massachusetts Stretch Energy Code. A more stringent energy requiring greater energy efficiency in buildings than the statewide base code, was adopted by Cambridge in 2010

Municipal Sustainability Program. Ongoing projects to improve the energy performance of municipal buildings and vehicle fleet more fuel efficient, including city lighting and multiple other services.

Neighborhood Energy: Microgrids Pilot. A collaboration of the city with nonprofit group Climaable.org to launch a community-owned microgrid in the Campridgeport neighborhood.

Sunny Cambridge Program. A plan offering residents, landlords and businesses technical assistance and referrals for installations of solar PV powered electricity at buildings. Managed by Energy Sage company

Sustainability Dashboard. Tracks progress across multiple parameters toward achieving climate, transportation, and energy goals. Drawing on extensive data, the describes actions the public can take to support the goals

Sustainable Buildings Mapping. A digital map of over 100 buildings with various “green” designations is available on the city’s.website along with open data including added information.

Region: Cape Cod
Population / Sq. Mile: 715.5 (beneath 25th percentile)
Median Income: $75,820 (between 25th and 50th percentile)
Total Actions: 12

Falmouth can be a great example for communities acting upon climate change’s most immediate effects. Five years after the creation of its Energy Committee (2001), Falmouth elaborated its Climate Action Plan to create a more sustainable and climate-aware town. Since then, local leadership has worked to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to install clean energy sources.

In contrast to what further inland municipalities have done with their environmental efforts, towns like Falmouth have focused on coastal activities. Falmouth created the Coastal Resiliency Action Committee (2017), which assesses and plans for sea-rise level, erosion, snow storms, etc. Most recently in 2021, Falmouth became a Green Community and looks to keep improving transportation and energy efficiency.

Region: Western
Population / Sq. Mile: 814.7
Median Income: $50,478
Total Actions: 14

Greenfield was an early leader in sustainability initiatives. It first established its Energy Committee (now known as “Greening Greenfield”) in 2005 and launched the ongoing “Greening Greenfield” campaign in 2007. This comprehensive campaign has five phases. During the first two phases (2007-2009), leaders raised money to join the ICLEI Cities for Climate Protection Program, conducted energy audits in municipal buildings, and set goals to reduce town-wide emissions by 80% by 2050 and to keep 100% of renewable energy dollars in New England by 2050.

In the third phase (2009-2012), Greenfield focused on action steps. It became a Green Community in 2010, and it launched a campaign that challenged 10% of residents/businesses to reduce energy usage by 10% in 2010. It also created the Energy Smart Home Program, which helps connect residents with cost-saving energy efficiency programs and hosts educational talks and workshops.

The fourth phase focused on creating and implementing the Greenfield Sustainability Master Plan, which created town-wide sustainability goals across many sectors. It also established the Sustainable Greenfield Implementation Committee (formerly the Sustainability Advisory Committee). To keep up with the Committee’s work, follow its Facebook page.

Finally, the town is now focusing on achieving the sustainability goals presented in its plan and on continuing its educational work with adults and youth. To stay up to date with Greening Greenfield’s events, see its Facebook page.

Additionally, Greenfield is a leader in municipal solar. The town’s first solar farm, situated on a capped landfill, became operational in 2012. It supplies approximately 50% of the town’s municipal electricity, saves the town over $200,000 every year, and provided ~50 local jobs during construction.