Net Zero Landing Page
What is Net Zero? How do we get there?
The Concept:
Net Zero Concepts and Definitions, https://www.epa.gov/water-research/net-zero-concepts-and-definitions
Net-zero by 2050: What does it mean? https://www.dw.com/en/net-zero-by-2050-what-does-it-mean/a-48958487
World Resources Institute: What Does "Net-Zero Emissions" Mean? 6 Common Questions, Answered, https://www.wri.org/blog/2019/09/what-does-net-zero-emissions-mean-6-common-questions-answered
Written in time for COP26: "... 'net-zero' is different from zero emissions, and this nebulous term can obscure a lot of important differences in how countries and companies actually plan to limit their contributions to climate change." https://www.vox.com/22737140/un-cop26-climate-change-net-zero-emissions-carbon-offsets. 10.29.21.
And right after COP26: Net Zero/Not Zero, by Gavin Schimidt, a climate modeler, working for NASA and with Columbia University, https://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2021/11/net-zero-not-zero/
"Net-zero CO2 has real geophysical significance. ... even though net-zero is not zero it is still geophysically meaningful and a useful concept for the general public to understand because it underlies the important conclusion that future CO2-driven warming is driven by future CO2 emissions."
Implementing it:
Arlington's Net Zero Action Plan., Feb. 2021. How our whole town can reach net zero.
https://www.arlingtonma.gov/home/showpublisheddocument?id=55139
"What is a Building Code?" Mothers Out Front Massachusetts, May 29, 2021.
https://www.mothersoutfront.org/news/chca-ma-building-code/
A valuable overview, including the connection between building codes and climate change, explanation of stretch energy codes, and additional resources for learning more.
Arlington's net zero plan, ACMI, April 2021
ACMI's James Milan interviews Arlington Planning Director and Town Energy Manager
A Pocket Guide to All-Electric Retrofits of Single Family Homes.
How to talk about climate change so people actually care
7 min. TED talk on how to connect with your audience so they get it in personal terms and see the urgent need to act Listen here.
Getting off fossil fuels:
Arlington Community Electricity (ACE) -- make your electric green and local!
Arlington Community Electricity (ACE) is a carefully designed program offered by the Town of Arlington to provide residents and businesses more electricity supply options and more renewable energy. The program is a Town-vetted alternative to Eversource’s default supply and other third party electricity suppliers.
Arlington Community Electricity is the only electricity program offered by the Town – beware of look-alike offers and always look for the Town seal on materials sent to you!
Learn more about the program options.
Heat Pumps
All About Heat Pumps, Green Energy Consumers Alliance
(1) What is a heat pump? (2) Who should install a heat pump? (3) Heat pump benefits (4) How to get a heat pump (5) new, bigger Mass Save heat pump incentives for 2022 (6) new independent consultant support for homeowners
Air Source Heat Pump Buying Guide, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP)
The GeoGrid
Heet.org. The GeoGrid explained. https://heet.org/geogrid/
Two key figures in bringing the GeoGrid to reality in Massachusetts talk to Boston Public Radio's Jim Braude and Margery Eagan. 3.9.2022. Audrey Schulman and Zeyneb Magavi, co-directors of Cambridge nonprofit Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET.org), discuss the fight for cleaner energy in New England, and the challenges ahead in breaking away from fossil fuels. LISTEN 26:29
More background reading:
The Natural Gas Paradox: Shutting Down a System Designed to Operate Forever
Heather Payne, The Natural Gas Paradox: Shutting Down a System Designed to Operate Forever, 80 Md. L.
Rev. 693 (2021)
Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.umaryland.edu/mlr/vol80/iss3/4
Investing [MA] Billions in Leaky Gas Infrastructure is a REALLY Bad Idea
Economist Dorie Seavey, author of GSEP AT THE SIX-YEAR MARK, A Review of the Massachusetts Gas System Enhancement Plan,
Listen here (15 mins):
World Green Building Council:
https://www.worldgbc.org/advancing-net-zero/what-net-zero
Net-Zero Energy Residential Test Facility
https://www.nist.gov/el/net-zero-energy-residential-test-facility
Project Drawdown
"'Drawdown'— the point in the future when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline, thereby stopping catastrophic climate change..."
Net Zero Buildings, https://drawdown.org/solutions/net-zero-buildings