To really secure your online life, you need two things: a reliable password manager and a really strong password. Let’s talk about the strong password first. There's a common joke in the cybersecurity community: "Size does matter!" And it's absolutely true for passwords. Even if you use a password that's all lowercase but stretches to 20 characters long, it's going to be much more secure than a fancy mix of letters, numbers, and symbols that's only eight characters long. The strength of a password is not just about the combination of characters—it's primarily about the length. Feel free to test your potential password on this website to know how strong it is!

Managers, Managers, Managers

Now that we understand the importance of a strong password, let's briefly touch on how a password manager can help. A password manager is a tool that securely stores and manages your passwords for different accounts, so you don't have to remember each one. It can generate strong, unique passwords for each site and fill them in automatically when you need them. This way, you only need to remember one master password—just make sure it's a strong one!
There are mainly two types of password managers: managed-based services and local-based applications. Each has its own set of pros and cons.

Managed-Based Password Managers:

E.g: 1password, LastPass, GooglePassword, BitWarden

Pros:

• Accessible from anywhere with an internet connection
• Automatically syncs across all your devices
• Regular updates and security patches from the provider

Cons:

• Potential vulnerability if the service provider is hacked
• Requires internet access to use
• Dependent on the provider’s security practices

Local-Based Password Managers:

E.g: Managers, Managers, ManagersNow that we understand the importance of a strong password, let's briefly touch on how a password manager can help. A password manager is a tool that securely stores and manages your passwords for different accounts, so you don't have to remember each one. It can generate strong, unique passwords for each site and fill them in automatically when you need them. This way, you only need to remember one master password—just make sure it's a strong one!
There are mainly two types of password managers: managed-based services and local-based applications. Each has its own set of pros and cons.

Managed-Based Password Managers:

E.g: 1password, LastPass, GooglePassword, BitWarden

​Pros:

• Accessible from anywhere with an internet connection
• Automatically syncs across all your devices
• Regular updates and security patches from the provider

Cons:

• Potential vulnerability if the service provider is hacked
• Requires internet access to use
• Dependent on the provider’s security practices

​Local-Based Password Managers:

E.g: KeeWeb, KeePass, Enpass

Pros:

• Stores your data locally, reducing the risk of external breaches
• Doesn’t require an internet connection to access your passwords
• Full control over your data and security settings

Cons:

• Limited to the device it’s installed on unless manually synced
• May require more technical know-how to manage backups and updates
• Risk of data loss if the device is lost or damaged

Always do your own research to find which type of password manager fits your needs best. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, and the right choice depends on your specific requirements and preferences. Remember, the cybersecurity landscape is always evolving, so staying informed is key to staying secure.

My 2¢

This blog is just my two cents. As mentioned previously, I am not a security expert. The world of cybersecurity is incredibly dynamic and fast-paced. Threats evolve, and new vulnerabilities are discovered almost daily. It's a bit scary, but keeping up with these changes is essential for maintaining a secure environment. Think of it as a key survival skill in our digital age. By staying informed and using tools like strong passwords and password managers, we can protect our information and navigate the digital world with confidence.

When the weather is kinder, I head to the beach. Sitting under a palm tree, sipping coconut water, while enjoying a good book or some music always lifts my mood. ​

Francisco Tapia has long struggled with protecting his family from the penetrating cold that seeps through the poorly insulated walls of his modest home in Lowell.
​Originally from the Dominican Republic, the winter months in Massachusetts feel particularly harsh. Tapia used to cover his windows with makeshift plastic sheets in a desperate attempt to keep the cold at bay, but still his family struggled to keep the home warm.

One day, amid the usual clutter of unwanted mail, Tapia received a letter from Mass Save, the state’s energy efficiency program. It was written in English, a language he struggled with, but a small paragraph written in Spanish caught his attention, offering a phone number for Spanish speakers. Francisco dialed the number.

He reached Victor Vargas, a Spanish-speaking representative of Mass Save; Vargas runs a Lowell program designed to help low-income and non-English speaking residents improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Vargas informed Tapia that, based on income requirements, he qualified for a no-cost insulation and air sealing upgrade by National Grid through Mass Save.

"The relief was immediate and profound," Tapia told El Planeta. He said he expects the heating improvements will not only keep his home warmer in the winter but would also significantly reduce his energy bills, easing his family's financial burden.
​
The Mass Save program is designed to help all residents; it offers things like free energy-efficiency assessment and help accessing rebates and state incentives for upgrading insulation, windows and heating/cooling technology. Yet a recent study found that certain groups, including low to moderate-income households, renters and those with limited English proficiency, tend to participate less in programs like Mass Save.

Two years ago, Mass Save started a new effort to reach more residents struggling to pay for their energy costs or energy upgrades. It launched the Community First Partnership, which works with more than 50 municipalities to offer funding and support for outreach in their communities.

In 2022, Lowell was selected to participate, and Vargas was appointed as the first “energy advocate” of Lowell. He was tasked with helping residents understand how to take advantage of Mass Save programs and connect them with additional resources to reduce their energy burdens. Over the next year, Vargas said he helped 32 Hispanic families benefit from Mass Save programs.
​
"After being introduced by the city at a council meeting, we set up an online form so that people could see my available schedules and schedule their visits," said Vargas. "This approach has been fundamental in reaching a diverse community, including a significant number of residents who speak Spanish and Portuguese."

A large part of his work consists of combating linguistic and cultural barriers.
"Many of the residents who speak Spanish have specific doubts about how these programs can benefit them, especially when it comes to convincing homeowners to allow energy efficiency improvements," Vargas said.
​
Vargas has also worked to establish effective communication between tenants and landlords, facilitating the approval of improvement projects at no cost to the parties involved.

Low-income communities and residents with lower English proficiency deserve access to energy efficiency programs, said Tasha Espéndez, director of Community Programs at the nonprofit All In Energy, an organization that aims to build an inclusive clean energy economy.

She said building that outreach takes three key things: Trust, time and language.

"It is not enough to translate documents into Spanish or other languages. It is essential to improve the quality of communication throughout the entire process to ensure that services are fully accessible," said Espéndez. She credited Mass Save for their efforts to respond to this need by working hand in hand with local advocates like Vargas, who speak the language of the communities they serve.

While some people trust their energy providers, Espéndez said others face confusing information and unfavorable contracts promoted by predatory groups.

"Misinformation creates an atmosphere of uncertainty, making people doubt the legitimacy of energy efficiency programs," she said, adding that collaboration with entities like National Grid has been key in addressing concerns and teaching about viable and beneficial energy programs.
​
​Many residents don’t have time to do independent research to figure out which programs could be helpful. And receiving competing and confusing offers, such as sales offers from competitive suppliers, can discourage people from exploring energy efficiency programs that could benefit them.

Earning people’s trust is critical, agreed John Massie, senior director of programs at National Grid, the electricity provider in Lowell.

"When the message comes from a local messenger, someone in your community you may know or trust, or from a community leader, that can strengthen that message," Massie said. "We are working hard to spread this message to residents across the state."

The message does seem to be reaching residents: "After receiving the letter from the Mass Save program, I decided to take the opportunity to conduct a no-cost energy assessment," said Samuel Pagan, a Lowell resident whose first language is Spanish and a current Mass Save Program customer, during a conversation with El Planeta.

"They connected me with a local provider, and soon we had someone assessing our house who later installed a new heating system," he added.

Pagan is thrilled with the energy improvements the program helped him bring to his home.
​
"Since we obtained the assessment and updated the system, I feel that the temperature in the house is much more pleasant. Additionally, we are saving significantly on energy bills, which is always welcome," he said, looking out the window at a garden that was beginning to bloom.

The city of Lowell was recognized for its climate leadership and selected as the “2023 Mass Save Climate Leader” for its investment in energy efficiency. Mass Save said the city reduced more than 500 tons of greenhouse gas emissions through improvements in lighting and air conditioning.

But some say the city still needs to help more of its residents benefit from the energy efficiency program.
José Tineo, a real estate broker at Rovi Homes who works with many Spanish-speaking clients, said he has seen homeowners struggle to keep up with energy bills. He described a client who owns a multifamily home and was barely keeping up with the mortgage and was unable to make needed energy improvements.

Tineo said he and other clients need improved access to programs that reduce high energy costs and therefore ease the economic burden of housing.

"The next step for me is to continue working with my clients' needs. Understanding their needs will allow me to better advise and use available resources, such as those offered by Mass Save, to help the community get ahead in their daily lives," he noted.

Tineo isn't alone in hoping to connect more residents with free and low-cost programs run by Mass Save. As the Lowell Community First Partnership enters its third year, supporters are continuing to watch Lowell's efforts and see what strategies they might use in other communities, too.

Tasha Espéndez, director of Community Programs at the nonprofit All In Energy, said Lowell has proven a strong example of reaching residents from different underserved groups.
​
"It is essential to improve the quality of service throughout the energy efficiency process and adapt communication to the linguistic needs of the community.”

The Massachusetts Community Climate Bank (MCCB) is the first green bank in the United States to focus on decarbonizing affordable housing, and the Energy Saver Home Loan Program is the MCCB’s first consumer product. The new loan program will lower barriers to clean energy adoption and assist property owners to cut their energy use and reduce or eliminate their reliance on fossil fuels by providing affordable financing and high-touch customer service features.

"Last year, we were proud to launch the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank – the nation's first green bank dedicated to affordable housing. Today, we are thrilled to take its work to the next level with the launch of its first consumer loan product that will help people across the state afford energy efficient homes," said Governor Maura Healey. "Low- and moderate-income families disproportionally carry the burden of both climate change and the high cost of housing. Programs like this will help provide affordable financing options for homeowners to support our clean energy transition. We congratulate the teams at the Office of Climate Innovation and Resilience and MassHousing for their leadership."

"The Massachusetts Community Climate Bank addresses two of our most pressing challenges — climate change and the high cost of housing," said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. "This new consumer loan program will help us move forward on our climate goals and make housing more affordable."

"I am thrilled about the Community Climate Bank’s new Energy Saver Home Loan Program! For the first time, low and moderate-income homeowners will have concierge support—a real person—to walk them through, every step of the way, what needs to be done to make their home more energy efficient, switch to clean energy, and take care of coordinating all the eligible rebates in addition to flexible low-cost financing," said Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer. "The Community Climate Bank took the initiative to find out what customers want, and designed a program that delivers. This will be a hassle-free experience for busy homeowners. Getting fossil fuels out of your home and reaping the savings from clean energy should be easy, and thanks to the Community Climate Bank, now it will be!"

The housing stock in Massachusetts is among the oldest in the United States and Massachusetts homes are some of the most reliant in the country on oil heating. Residential and commercial buildings are responsible for 30 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in Massachusetts, and 60 percent of building emissions are generated by single family and small multi-family homes. Transitioning these homes to clean energy is a core component of Massachusetts’s ambitious goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions in the year 2050.

The Energy Saver Home Loan Program is designed to accelerate the adoption of clean energy technologies by low- and moderate-income homeowners. 

The new loan program will provide flexible financing for a wide range of residential clean energy projects that support emissions reduction and healthier homes. Eligible homeowners may use Energy Saver loans to finance health and safety improvements such as roof replacement and oil tank removal, home weatherization, electrical system upgrades, heat pumps, new efficient appliances and fixtures, and installation of rooftop solar panels, battery storage and EV charging stations. To receive financing through the program, home improvements must reduce total energy usage by at least 20 percent.

The Energy Saver Home Loan Program is unique in its ability to finance a larger amount (up to $100,000) in home improvements, including improvement costs eligible for clean energy rebates, utility incentives and tax credits. Financing will feature affordable loan terms with no upfront cash required. The new loan program will finance the cost of approved improvements, with rebate and incentive proceeds – including existing Mass Save and new federal rebates expected to be made available later this year – being used to pay down a portion of the loan amount. This provides bridge financing, helping customers with the upfront costs associated with weatherization, electrification and solar projects while they await rebates and tax credits.

The MCCB financing will come in the form of a low-cost, long-term subordinate mortgage. Interest rates will range from 0.5 percent to 2 percent, depending on household income. Mortgages will have a 240-month term, allowing for lower monthly payments. Loans will include an 18-month interest-only period, providing consumers with low-cost bridge financing for clean energy incentive and rebate programs, and will be serviced at MassHousing’s Mortgage Servicing Center.

"The Energy Saver Home Loan Program takes advantage of MassHousing's statewide reach, high-touch customer service model, and expertise serving needs of lower and moderate-income homeowners," said MassHousing CEO Chrystal Kornegay. "This new loan product will empower homeowners across Massachusetts to help advance our state’s ambitious clean energy goals, while slashing their home energy usage and making their homes healthier and more comfortable."

"The Energy Saver Home Loan Program is a game changer for our residents looking to get fossil fuels out of their home and reduce their energy costs," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "Reducing emissions from buildings are essential to meeting our climate targets. With the innovative solutions offered by the Climate Bank, Mass Save, and historic federal funds, Massachusetts residents will see more efficient, cleaner, healthier homes."

The Energy Saver Home Loan Program is designed specifically to meet the needs of low- and moderate-income homeowners.

The loan program will employ flexible underwriting requirements and repayment structures that will lower the monthly costs associated with clean energy improvements. The program builds on MassHousing’s existing network of partner lenders and the Agency’s decades of experience supporting Massachusetts homeowners.

The new loan program also offers new consumer supports not available through other publicly supported home energy programs across Massachusetts. The program will provide homeowners with wraparound customer service that will make clean energy improvements more accessible to consumers.

The MCCB will administer the Energy Saver Home Loan Program in partnership with service providers across Massachusetts, who will help consumers to develop a customized home improvement plan, find quality contractors, and access available rebates and incentives to make the project more affordable. The high-touch program model will reduce barriers and connect consumers with resources more quickly and effectively. All In Energy, the Cape Light Compact and CET will provide consumer-facing concierge services. Abode Energy Management will serve as the program’s statewide energy services provider.

The Energy Saver Home Loan Program is available to all income-qualified Massachusetts homeowners. The program may be used to finance energy improvements in either owner-occupied single-family homes, or in owner-occupied multifamily homes with up to 4 residential units. Homeowners earning less than 135 percent of the area median income are eligible for financing. Income limits vary by county and range from $190,775 in greater Boston to $124,875 in Berkshire County.

The MCCB has allocated up to $20 million for the program, with a goal of committing up to 1,000 loans over the next two years. The program is designed to be scaled up with federal Inflation Reduction Act resources.

MassHousing will work with a network of originating lenders to support the program. Participating lenders include Avidia Bank, Bank of Canton, Bristol County Savings Bank, Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank, Fall River Five Cents Savings Bank, Fidelity Cooperative Bank, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Holyoke Credit Union, Mill Cities Community Investments, Monson Savings Bank and The Cooperative Bank. The program is open immediately and homeowners may check their eligibility and begin the application process by visiting www.massclimatebank.com.

The MCCB is an ambitious new climate finance initiative announced by Governor Maura Healey in June 2023. Located within MassHousing, the MCCB’s initial focus is to support decarbonization strategies in the residential sector, specifically in the low- and moderate-income multifamily rental and single-family homeownership markets.

The MCCB is the first climate bank in the nation to launch with a specific focus on decarbonizing affordable housing. MassHousing is drawing on its decades of housing finance and investment expertise and lending capabilities serving these markets to advance the MCCB mission. The Climate Bank was established with $50 million in seed funding from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s Climate Mitigation Trust. The Energy Saver Home Loan Program will utilize a portion that that seed funding.

From day one, the Healey-Driscoll administration has been committed to making Massachusetts a global leader in climate resilience and the clean energy economy. On Governor Healey’s first day in office, she established the nation’s first cabinet-level Climate Chief to coordinate climate policy across all executive agencies. Focused on making Massachusetts the world’s climate innovation lab, she recently proposed a $1 billion, 10-year investment in climatetech which will create thousands of good-paying jobs. Additionally, the administration has aligned state capital investment with mandated emissions reduction targets, established a clean energy innovation pathway for high school students, and filed an historic housing bond bill that would provide $150 million to decarbonize state-owned public housing and incentives for development of energy efficient, fossil-fuel-free homes.

​January 18, 2024
​FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: agoldstein@ninetywest.com

BOSTON — Local, state, and federal leaders came together yesterday to advocate for policy that protects Massachusetts residents from predatory third party electric suppliers. The call follows years of data illustrating that third party suppliers frequently rely on aggressive, misleading tactics and lead to massive consumer overpayment. 

In 1997, Massachusetts deregulated its electricity market, allowing customers to choose between their utility and third party suppliers. But as in other states with deregulated electricity, third party suppliers have failed to deliver promised benefits to residential customers; instead, they often charge exorbitant rates and lean on misleading marketing as well as aggressive - sometimes downright illegal - sales tactics.
​
Beginning in 2018, a series of reports by then-Attorney General Maura Healey and current Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell have documented consistent, significant consumer losses – including $525 million in overpayments between July 2015 and June 2021 – disproportionately impacting low income residents and people of color. 

“Our research in the Attorney General’s Office continues to show that vulnerable residents across Massachusetts are losing money when they sign contracts with competitive electric suppliers. This is an issue of economic security and energy injustice as we continue to see suppliers enrolling disproportionately high numbers of low-income residents and residents of color with false promises of savings on their utility bills,” said Liz Anderson, Chief of the Energy and Ratepayer Advocacy Division at the Attorney General’s Office, speaking on behalf of Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell. “With Senator Crighton and Representative Moran’s proposed legislation, there is a solution sitting at the State House that must be passed. Attorney General Campbell is proud to support this bill and will continue to push for its passage on behalf of consumers.”

In a recent letter to the Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey joined with U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-7) to urge regulators to “immediately open an investigation into the unfair and deceptive marketing acts and practices of competitive electric suppliers.”

“As winter continues and competitive electric suppliers across the nation continue to prey on fears of high electricity bills, we must not tolerate business as usual,” said US Senator Markey. “Consumers deserve protection, not deception. The green energy revolution must have a level playing field.”

In the City of Boston, some residents have paid suppliers as much as $300 extra per month compared to the City’s Community Choice Electricity (BCCE) program, at rates as high as $0.60/kWh. The City’s BCCE program offers consumers an alternative to basic utility service, including a 100% renewable option, that reduces costs while maintaining transparency and accountability. 
​
“Boston is one of the places where competitive electric suppliers have been most aggressive. These companies aggressively target low-income residents, seniors, in some instances members of the disabled community, Black and brown residents, immigrants, in particular those who don’t speak English as their first language,” said Rev. Mariama White-Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy and Open Space for the City of Boston. “Many times, we are hearing about these same predatory companies misrepresenting themselves as part of the City of Boston program. I know this to be true because they made the mistake of coming to my front door and telling my husband that they were connected to the City’s program.” 

Rev. White-Hammond continued: “There has been more than enough opportunity for these companies to change their behavior. The fact that they continue to do these predatory practices is a choice, and a choice for which they should be held accountable.”

Across Massachusetts, there are 167 cities and towns with municipal aggregation — and more programs are pending approval from the Department of Public Utilities. A ban on third party suppliers from signing up new residential customers would not apply to  aggregations, preserving consumer choice and contributing to clean energy goals through the many programs that offer renewable options.  

“The evidence is clear: third party electric suppliers are frequently greenwashing through misleading pro-environmental marketing. Suppliers use consumers’ good intentions to jack up the price for a product that hurts consumers without really helping the planet. By contrast, most municipal aggregations offer renewable energy that can save consumers money and advance Massachusetts climate goals,” said Larry Chretien, President of the Green Energy Consumers Alliance.

“In the course of meeting community members and enrolling them in Mass Save programs and low-income community solar, we were reviewing their electric bills and seeing that many were on these harmful third party supply contracts, were carrying a balance, and were not enrolled in discounted rates even though they qualified for them,” said Gabe Shapiro, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director, Partnerships at All in Energy. “In one campaign in Boston we directly supported 77 mostly low income residents. Many of these families were struggling to pay their bills. Over 40% were carrying a balance. More than half of these families were on third party supply contracts, and on average they were paying 43% more than they would have been if they were enrolled in the City’s Community Choice Electric program. Some residents didn’t even remember signing up for these contracts.”

Shapiro read a statement on behalf of Michelle, a resident from Dorchester who supports banning third party suppliers. “My father, who is an older member of the community, had an agreement with a third party supply company and they were charging him $0.49/kWh. Once the initial agreement expired, his energy bill doubled in price,” said Michelle. “Once my father applied and was approved through the City’s program, his electric bill came down tremendously.”

A bill by Massachusetts State Senator Brendan Crighton and State Representative Frank Moran would ban third party suppliers from signing up new residential customers. The ban would not apply to commercial customers or municipal aggregations. 

“Because competitive suppliers are able to charge whatever rates they want without approval from the state, too many customers get charged more as a result. Many customers don’t know what they’re signing up for, or are even signed up without their knowledge. These tactics are predatory and deplorable. We must put a stop to it,” said State Senator Brendan Crighton. "Our legislation would help these folks by preventing suppliers from entering into new contracts with individual residential retail customers. This will end the patchwork solutions to this pervasive problem and put a stop to these harmful practices once and for all.” 

As the Massachusetts State Legislature moves forward on a large climate package, it has the opportunity to put an end to third party suppliers' legacy of harming Massachusetts customers. Opposing the move are third party electric suppliers and industry associations. Supporting the ban are Attorney General Campbell, Mayor of Boston Michelle Wu, Governor Maura Healey, and many clean energy and consumer protection advocates. 

A recording of yesterday’s virtual briefing is available to interested media upon request, as well as any additional inquiries relative to the third party electric supplier industry. 

​
But then, I came across All In Energy. From the very first interview, something felt different to me. It wasn't every day that I had the chance to talk and be interviewed by a co-founder, in that case, Rouwenna!  During that 1st  interview, all my anxieties started to dissipate. All In Energy saw potential in me,  believed in me, and made me feel valued and seen. It was a contrast to my past experiences, where I felt like just another piece of the puzzle. 
 
And a few weeks later, I got the job! As an intern, I quickly became a part of a team that recognized me not just as an asset but as a person with valuable contributions to offer.  All In Energy gave me an environment where I felt empowered and trusted to excel in my role. For me, that was a revelation. I didn't know work could be this fulfilling.

As my journey continued, I transitioned from intern to coordinator, then manager, and eventually, senior manager. The organization not only offered opportunities for professional growth but also supported me during challenging times, like when my Optional Practical Training ended and I faced uncertainties about my work visa or when I got married and faced immigration challenges. All In Energy stood by me, offering reassurance and the chance to explore new possibilities, demonstrating their commitment to the human side of their staff - a value not all companies cultivate. 

Today, I’m here, immensely proud to be a part of an organization that values diversity, respects individuals, and believes in the power of every team member. My journey at All In Energy has been transformative and has taught me the true meaning of empowerment and belonging.

So, thank you all for watching, and for your valuable support to organizations like All In Energy. Your support enables individuals like me to thrive and contribute to a workplace where everyone's potential is recognized and celebrated.

​We launched in summer 2018 in the BU Summer Accelerator program. We hired college interns and started tabling and doing presentations in Dorchester to connect residents to Mass Save no-cost home energy assessments. The next year, we built a partnership with the City of Cambridge focused on renters and today we lead outreach on all their energy programs, including their innovative new Electrify Cambridge program focused on fully decarbonizing residential buildings citywide. From 2019-2021, we built partnerships with the cities of Lawrence, Methuen, Chelsea and Framingham, building our multilingual team to connect Spanish and Portuguese speaking residents to Mass Save programs. The pandemic hit in the middle of this and, after a scary moment with only 2 weeks cash on hand, we pivoted to phone-based community solar outreach, received an outpouring of support from our donors, and we created a new Energy Bill Check Up service to help people cancel harmful 3rd party energy supply contracts and get out of massive energy bill debt. 

At the end of 2021, we had our largest opportunity for growth yet when we were selected to become the Lead Implementation Vendor for a new utility-sponsored community-outreach program called the Mass Save Community First Partnership, or CFP for short. 

We went from supporting 8 communities in Eastern MA in 2021 to supporting 26 communities statewide in 2022, most of which are environmental justice communities. In 2023, the program doubled - we are now supporting over 50 communities statewide,

We have shifted from doing field-based outreach campaigns ourselves to training advocates in the communities to run these campaigns. Working in CFP has allowed us to demonstrate on a larger scale that reaching residents in underserved communities is possible. Comparing the number of Home Energy Assessments done in CFP communities in 2022 with those completed in 2021, we see a 36% increase in home energy assessments, while these numbers declined in similar communities not participating in the program.

We have also been able to more quickly and effectively channel feedback to decision makers to create change in how the Mass Save programs are operated statewide. For example in partnership with the communities we serve, we have successfully advocated for the addition of new languages to the Mass Save phone lines, most recently Haitian Creole. More vendors are now able to serve low income customers to shorten the tremendous wait times they were experiencing to get work done. And Mass Save incentive rules have changed to benefit customers, such as by broadening who can get no-cost heating and cooling upgrades in rental units. 

It makes me so proud when I hear our community partners say things like Alex Pratt the Deputy Director of Housing and Community Development in Malden recently did when he noted, “It’s not hard to imagine how another organization with the same contract but different values might dismiss, delay, or otherwise “phone in” the work of bringing feedback to their client and making changes to the program. But AIE continuously elevates the needs of EJ communities to program sponsors, and has earned our trust time and again in pushing for changes that will help us serve all of our residents.”  

The rapid growth of our work has provided opportunities for us to expand our team and staff to advance into new roles. And it has served as a launching point into careers. To date, we have provided jobs, paid or credit earning internships to 70 individuals, of whom 57% have been women, 57% multilingual, and 67% BIPOC or Latinx. For 74%, their work with us was their first experience in the clean energy industry. It has been so inspiring to watch the career growth of these individuals. 

Take Grace Umana, a first generation college student whose parents immigrated to the US from Honduras. She joined our team while she was a student at BHCC to knock renter’s doors in Cambridge. She was interested in environmental justice but wasn’t sure she had the skills to jump into the industry. She totally did. She advanced through several roles with us to become a Program Manager. Grace was particularly adept at building trust with residents, especially Spanish speakers, and this allowed her to engage residents in energy efficiency programs, connect them with programs to overcome utility debt, and provide critical feedback to other vendors in the industry on how to build this trust. Recently, because of her amazing work in the City of Chelsea, Grace was recruited into a higher level job with the city where she will be engaging residents and connecting them with a wider range of services to address inequities. 

​Grace is only one of many stories where staff and interns’ experience with us has been a launching point in their careers. I encourage you to watch our social media and read our blog to find many other incredible stories of individuals who learned valuable skills at All In Energy and who are leveraging those to make positive change within our organization and beyond. 

All of this is possible thanks to incredible donors who support our work and provide us with the resources we need to create innovative new programs, empower community advocates to do successful outreach campaigns to underserved groups, support staff and interns’ professional development, and advocate for larger-scale change in how our state’s energy efficiency programs are designed and operated.