Today’s Solutions: November 14, 2024

One by one, more cities are banning natural gas in new construction projects. One grassroots organization leading the transition to fully-renewable in Cambridge, Massachusetts is HEET, the Home Energy Efficiency Team. HEET advocates for replacing old gas infrastructure with geothermal micro districts using ground-source heat pumps. The organization is spearheaded not by engineers or scientists, but by a group of local moms who want to create a more sustainable future for their children. 

HEET was started by author Audrey Schulman who says that motherhood inspired her to take action on climate issues. Along with fellow neighborhood parents, like Zeyneb Magavi, Schulman decided to tackle plugging natural gas leaks from corroded pipes. After publishing a map of the city’s leaks and urging public officials to take action, Schulman and Magavi moved on to the larger root of the problem: natural gas as a whole. 

HEET’s proposed ground-source heat pumps draw heat from several hundred feet underground, where the temperature remains a relatively constant 54 degrees, to heat and cool buildings. It’s considered one of the most eco-friendly heating and cooling options out there, but its upfront costs have discouraged cities from adopting it. Unfortunately, it can cost up to $45,000 to install the technology in a single building. However, converting entire neighborhoods at once significantly reduces this cost, so HEET set to work convincing Cambridge to embrace the idea. 

HEET’s proposal is gaining momentum. The organization has partnered with some local officials and even local gas companies to bring their idea to scale. A feasibility study found that the transition to ground-source heat pumps would slash emissions by 60 percent, reduce strain on the grid, and save residents money on electricity bills. The concept is being tested at two sites in the community and HEET hopes that if those trials go well, the concept can be proposed for city-wide adoption. 

Schulman and Magavi recognize that it will be an uphill battle to overhaul the air conditioning of an entire city, but they’re determined to build a better world for their children, so they’re not giving up anytime soon. We will continue to follow this story as well as ground-source heat pump experiments elsewhere and provide updates.

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

Two Black women to serve together in the United States Senate in a historic f...

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For the first time in American history, two Black women will serve together in the Senate. Angela Alsobrooks, ...

Read More

Resilient community-building: staying safe in times of uncertainty

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY TEAM Recent global and domestic developments have left many feminists and allies feeling uneasy, uncertain about their place in society, ...

Read More

3 lifestyle hacks to help you become a little happier

There is no one path to finding happiness, but there are some lifestyle changes you can make to become more receptive to happiness. Without ...

Read More

For the first time ever, Greece meets energy demands with 100% renewables

The other week, Greece celebrated an exciting milestone! All of the country’s electricity needs were met by renewable energy for the first time, as ...

Read More