Lexington is leading the way in clean energy, but technical jargon and complex incentive programs can often create barriers to adoption. To ensure all our neighbors can access clean energy incentives, LexCAN has launched Lexington HeatSmart for Chinese Speakers.
What is the HeatSmart Program?
Lexington HeatSmart is a town-wide initiative that has been operating for three years, providing educational resources and a marketplace of third-party vetted contractors, empowering residents to adopt clean heating and cooling technologies with confidence. HeatSmart for Chinese Speakers is specifically designed to build cultural and linguistic bridges and help residents of Chinese descent access the existing HeatSmart program. We provide 1-on-1 support in Mandarin and English to maximize available incentives, navigate quotes, and answer technical questions
This program is made possible through the generous support and partnership of the sponsors of Mass Save, Grassroots Fund, and EmPower Massachusetts. Their commitment to energy equity allows us to provide these services at no cost to our residents.
Savoring the Savings: A Successful Launch
Our recent “Dine and Learn” kickoff event was a wonderful success, with over 40 neighbors coming together to start their clean energy journey. The evening featured a bilingual presentation led by Beibei Wang and Andy Joynt, with vital video translation support from Chen Yang and Lucy Liu.
The highlight of the night was the lively Q&A session. While many attendees were already bilingual, having interpreters on hand allowed for deep, nuanced discussions about home comfort and sustainability. Check out a recap of the event here.
What We’ve Learned So Far
The launch event provided invaluable “boots on the ground” insights into the specific needs of our community:
- Electricity Rate Protection: We discovered several attendees were enrolled with predatory electric suppliers and paying high electricity rates. We were able to advise them on how to switch back to the Lexington Community Choice Aggregation Program.
- Heat Pump Optimization: Many residents already have heat pumps but are struggling with high bills. These neighbors are perfect candidates for our specialized advisory sessions to help diagnose system settings.
What’s Next? Join Our “HeatSmart Office Hours”
Based on your feedback, we are changing our format to be even more hands-on. Think of it as HeatSmart Office Hours.
Friday, May 1 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Lexington Community Center
Show up whenever you like! Bring your Eversource bills, home energy assessments, or installer quotes. Our advisors will be stationed at laptops, ready to sit down with you 1-on-1 to discuss your situation. While you wait, enjoy free catering and chat with neighbors who have already made the switch.
Missed our kickoff event?
Watch the recording