Residents and community members gather for the Acton Sustainability Office’s Heat Pump Pizza Party which was held on Dec. 4. (Photo Courtesy Town of Acton) 
Volunteer Clean Energy Coach David Martin speaks to Acton homeowners about alternative heating systems including heat pumps during the event. (Photo Courtesy Karen Root-Watkins) 
Town of Acton Sustainability Director Andrea Becerra, Jude Aronstein from Energize Acton, Karen Herther from Energize Acton, and Town of Acton Environmental Analyst Lauren West, clear out empty pizza boxes after the successful Heat Pump Pizza Party. (Photo Courtesy Town of Acton) 
Kit Wu, a heat pump pricing researcher and founder of Laminar Collective, speaks to Acton residents about available incentives and pricing for heat pumps during Acton’s Heat Pump Pizza Party. (Photo Courtesy Karen Root-Watkins)
ACTON — The Town of Acton Sustainability Office, in collaboration with Energize Acton, held a successful Heat Pump Pizza Party.
The event took place on Dec. 4 at Town Hall and about 130 residents and community members participated. Attendees spoke with volunteer Clean Energy Coach David Martin and Kit Wu, a heat pump pricing researcher and founder of Laminar Collective, who shared information on how heat pumps work, available incentives, and pricing information, and explained how to retrofit a home.
State Sen. Jaime Eldridge and State Rep. Dan Sena were in attendance.
Pizza and beverages were provided by Acton House of Pizza.
Prior to the event, the Town of Acton sent letters to homeowners who had oil, electric resistance, and propane heating systems about the opportunity for residents to learn more about heat pumps.
Heat pumps are an efficient heating and cooling alternative to these sources that could help lower utility bills, even if residents are not ready to replace their entire heating and/or AC system. They also substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
This event was part of Acton’s clean energy initiatives to help address climate change and mitigate greenhouse emissions.More than 240 residents have contacted a volunteer Clean Energy Coach since the start of the program in 2023, most of them reaching out with questions about heating and cooling their homes with heat pumps, followed by queries about solar, energy efficiency audits, and electric vehicles (EVs).
Acton residents and businesses who would like to learn more about the free Clean Energy Coaching program can click here or visit ActonEnergyCoach.com to sign up for free support from a coach.
Clean Energy Coaches can help residents and building owners learn about, plan for, and initiate actions such as adopting home/building weatherization, efficient electric heat pump technologies, solar, electric vehicles, and/or other clean energy upgrades.
“Acton continues to be a leader in taking meaningful steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I am impressed with the ongoing staff and volunteer efforts to help educate residents regarding the benefits of energy conservation measures such as heat pumps. Congrats to Director Andrea Becerra and her team for a very successful outreach effort,” said Town Manager Mangiaratti. “This program utilized a impressive outreach strategy which included targeted mailings to residents that currently heat with oil. This along with other outreach methods such as social media led to so much interest that registration had to be temporarily shut down while organizers worked to find a larger venue. Also special thank you to Select Board Members David Martin and Jim Snyder-Grant who are volunteer energy coaches and participated in this event.”
To learn more about Energize Acton, click here.
For more information about the Town of Acton’s Clean Energy Initiatives and programs, click here.
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