Energy Saver Powers Extensive Upgrades in Dartmouth

When Pam retired after a long career as a college financial aid professional, she wanted to ensure that she could stay in her Dartmouth home for as long as possible.

She also wanted to make significant improvements to the house to make it more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. Using the Energy Saver Home Loan Program (ESHLP) through MassHousing and the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank (MCCB), and the Turnkey program through Mass Save, Pam completely upgraded her home to achieve an estimated 91 percent energy reduction and a six-ton yearly reduction in its CO2 emissions.

“I’m a happy camper. It’s the best thing I could have done,” she said. “I knew I wanted to do solar and heat pumps.”

After contacting Isaksen Solar about solar panels and C2S Energy about heat pumps, Pam learned about the ESHLP.

“Both companies were local and were excellent,” said Pam. “I was talking financing with the salesperson from Isaksen, and they offered a financing option, but he also mentioned something about this loan program through MassHousing (and the MCCB).”

The ESHLP helps eligible Massachusetts homeowners cut their energy use by at least 20 percent and reduce or eliminate their reliance on fossil fuels. It provides 20-year, low-interest second-mortgage loans that support a variety of energy-related home improvements. Another benefit of the program is that participants receive guidance on available incentives and tax credits to lower the cost of their home energy projects.   

Energy Saver Home Loans are made in partnership with Concierge Service Providers (CSPs), who guide homeowners through all aspects of the home energy improvement process. The CSP covering Pam’s community is Center for Eco Technology (CET).

“Pam’s project is a great example of how homeowners can successfully combine Mass Save Turnkey incentives with the Energy Saver Home Loan Program to achieve their electrification and decarbonization goals. At CET, we’re happy to guide customers through these opportunities so they can make energy upgrades that are both impactful and financially manageable,” said Simon Siher, Value Stream Manager at CET.

After consulting with CET and starting the process to obtain her loan, Pam was referred to Abode Energy Management, the Energy Service Provider for the ESHLP. Pam received a no-cost decarbonization assessment before Joe Fisher, a Decarbonization Consultant from Abode, sent her a detailed report identifying solutions that would reduce the home’s energy usage by an estimated 91 percent and reduce its CO2 emissions by six tons a year.

“Joe is one of my favorite people from 2025,” said Pam.

“Pam’s project was incredibly rewarding to see coming to fruition over the course of the year. What initially looked like a project that may need to choose between different priority measures became a notable example of collaboration between multiple programs to achieve a coordinated result,” said Abode’s Joe Fisher.

In consulting with Pam, Joe realized she might qualify for the Mass Save Turnkey program. Turnkey helps Massachusetts residents with moderate incomes fully replace, at low or no cost, their heating and domestic hot water systems. Pam said because of Joe, she had her heating and hot water systems fully replaced at no cost with electric heat pumps. She then used her ESHLP loan to pay for her solar panels to bring her electric usage down.

“Joe made no false promises. He said, ‘Pam, there is a relatively new program out there. You may meet qualifications and it could possibly pay for your heat pumps,'” she said. “His responsiveness and guidance were extremely helpful,” she added. “I asked tons of questions. The pieces all fell together and before you know it, I was coordinating the heat pumps and the solar in a very similar window of time.”

She is delighted with her home upgrades.

“This is the first time in my life I have central air conditioning,” said Pam. “I gave away my heavy window units to a local school, and they were happy to have them. Taking out the old heating system and oil tank, I don’t have to run a dehumidifier in the basement anymore that probably added $150 to my monthly electric bill. I have so much more space for storage down there now.” 

Pam got her ESHLP loan through Sean Bettencourt at BayCoast Bank.

“He was excellent. I went in and he was extremely helpful. My background as a financial aid administrator was helpful in getting them all the documents they needed. I was organized and they didn’t ask for anything that was difficult to get my hands on,” said Pam.

“Being retired, it was easy for me to be available. But if I was still working nine-to-five everyone involved would have worked with my schedule. They recognize your time is as important as theirs. I had somebody by my side the entire time and they didn’t waste my time. I felt like I had a team behind me. I didn’t lose sleep. This prevented me from having anxiety.”

“We are thrilled to be able to help Pam through the ESHLP loan,” said Sean Bettencourt, Branch Manager for BayCoast’s State Road location. “She had everything organized for us, so it took no time at all. The process was seamless.”

“It was smooth sailing,” added Tyler Rocha, Vice President of Consumer Lending at BayCoast Bank, who helped coordinate the ESHLP loan on Pam’s behalf. “She was able to cut her energy costs while making her home more comfortable and efficient. It’s a win-win for families and for our environment.”

Now that her home is the way she wanted it, Pam is hoping to enjoy it for as long as possible.

“Affordability is key. These programs make this much more of a reality,” she said. “My monthly (ESHLP) payment is absolutely reasonable. My electric bill is very low now. One of my favorite things to do every day is check my electric and CO2 savings. I have an app that tells me what my energy and CO2 savings are.”

Beyond her home improvements and savings, Pam is happy to be doing her part for the environment.

“I also have a hybrid car and want to contribute to the environmental health for my daughters and one day maybe for my grandchildren,” said Pam. “It’s the best thing you can do for the environment. It’s the future and I will be able to stay in this house because I will be able to afford it. I’m proud. I can’t tell you the number of people I have shared my story with. I’m solar and I’m heat pumps and I’m proud.”

The Massachusetts Community Climate Bank at MassHousing, with resources like the ESHLP, is working to accelerate investments to decarbonize the building sector in Massachusetts. As the Commonwealth transitions to a net zero future, MCCB promotes an equitable transition to clean energy by addressing the needs of low- and moderate-income households and environmental justice communities.

“Pam’s story is a powerful example of what homeowners can achieve when they have access to expert guidance, reliable contractors and affordable financing. We are delighted that the Energy Saver Home Loan Program helped Pam achieve her goals for environmental sustainability, bill savings and home comfort,” said Maggie Super Church, MCCB Director of Policies and Programs.