NEWS BRIEF: Great Barrington to participate in residential clean heating program

Great Barrington — The Great Barrington Selectboard and town manager Jennifer Tabakin have announced that the town of Great Barrington was selected by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to participate in the HeatSmart Mass initiative.

HeatSmart Mass is a community-based education and group purchasing program for clean heating and cooling technologies, which, via a $9,000 grant, will enable Great Barrington to reduce its carbon emissions, lessen the environmental impact of energy usage for indoor heating and help residents save on home heating costs.

Great Barrington will kick off its HeatSmart initiative early next year under the leadership of Great Barrington Energy Action Team member and newly-appointed HeatSmart coach Michael Feldstein. With funding in place to help residents modify their home heating systems, the town intends to launch its efforts by connecting with residents who have signed up for the Solarize Mass program and expressed an interest in green energy.

Great Barrington will work with partner organizations the Great Barrington Senior Center, Construct, Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires, the Guthrie Center, Berkshire Center for Justice, and Greenagers to educate residents on financial aid programs that would help defray the costs of switching to more environmentally friendly heating sources.