Published: 1/21/2019 8:02:12 AM
John Majercak wants to help you take control of your heating costs, make your homes more comfortable and do the environment a favor.
Majercak, president of the Center for EcoTechnology and a Conway resident, is scheduled to hold an informational meeting at Conway Town Hall on Jan. 29 to talk about Solar Access, a new Massachusetts program funded by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the Department of Energy Resources for middle-income homeowners.
Those who qualify are able to buy solar panels and a heat pump in an amount less than what they pay each month for their heating bill. According to CET’s website, photovoltaic solar panels convert sunlight into electricity to power a home without pollution or carbon emissions, and heat pumps use electricity to efficiently heat and cool the home. This program requires both to be installed because the solar panels will be able to provide energy for heating and cooling, which saves money participants can use toward solar panels, “making your cash flow net-positive,” according to the website.
Majercak explained the program is available to anyone in the state who qualifies. He said there are two main qualifications — a household must be at 80 percent or less of the state median income and must earn less than $91,000 a year per year.
He said the program is unavailable to anyone living in a town or city, such as Holyoke or Chicopee, that has its own municipal utility company.
“A heat pump is a really cool, relatively new way to heat a home. It’s very efficient. It uses electricity produced by solar panels,” he explained. “What’s so cool about them … is they can be used as a heater or an air conditioner.”
Majercak said heat pumps do not replace a home’s heating system, but having one will mean you use that system much less often.
He said he will answer all questions from the public at the informational meeting, which is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. More information on this program and several others can be found on the Energy Committee page of Conway’s website, townofconway.com.
You can also learn more by calling 413-341-0418 or visiting bit.ly/2U21dHI.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.