Zero Carbon Renovation Fund

September 20, 2023

Interview with Vickash Mohanka, Acting Chapter Director

By Tyler Aprati 

What is the Zero Carbon Renovation Fund (ZCRF)?

The Zero Carbon Renovation Fund is a bill proposing the opening of an account and allocating $300 million from the Massachusetts state Legislature to fund the renovation of existing buildings. You can effectively think of this as the state opening a bank account to support a green transition for Massachusetts buildings. This funding would be used for purposes of zero carbon renovations, which include upgrading buildings to be more energy efficient, building electrification, transitioning to renewable energy, and the use of greener construction materials. 

Why is this important?

It's very expensive to decarbonize existing buildings, so the funds allocated in this account would provide the initial money needed to support a transition to sustainable housing. While the initial funding will be great, creating the fund itself is more significant, because it will open the door to further support and opportunities.

At an individual level, anyone who wants to get energy efficiency upgrades will benefit. Overall it will help decrease fossil fuel dependence and lower energy bills. The ZCRF will also prioritize low- to moderate-income buildings, with a focus on high energy burden and environmental justice communities. This will help communities that need it the most and maximize the funds' impact.

What can we do to help make this fund a reality?

Join a group such as the Sierra Club or Mass Climate Action Network. You don’t have to be an expert to bring this issue up, Sierra Club can help organize within your local government where it matters most. State representatives are there to listen to you so reach out to them. I always say that if you can bring ten people to a meeting with a state representative, they will remember that forever. While awareness is important, is it necessary to create the political will to pass legislation. This needs to start at a municipal level and continue upwards. The ZCRF also fits into this larger picture of climate action that included building stretch codes, retrofitting, and Community Choice Aggregation.

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