Newton Climate News

August 12, 2026

Newton's Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness 2.0 Program

The City of Newton is participating in the State's Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) 2.0 program. Through this grant program, we will revisit our climate resilience priorities with a focus on equity and project implementation.

We are seeking up to 5 Community Liaisons to join our MVP 2.0 team.

In this role, Newton community members will lead conversations on community needs, connect with their friends and neighbors, and help implement a community-informed climate resilience project.

This position will involve 1-5 hours of paid work per week, for up to 2 years. Technical knowledge of climate science is not required. If you're interested, learn more by reviewing our flyer and consider applying here.

Image description: "Become a Community Liaison" flyer.

Backyard Blueprints:

Call for Detached ADU Designs

Newton’s Planning & Development Department was recently awarded the 2026 AARP Community Challenge grant, which through a detached ADU design competition, will help make it easier and more affordable to build ADUs in Newton. The department is accepting design submissions through October 9th.

Individuals, students, or teams of architects, builders, manufacturers, designers, and other design professionals are encouraged to apply. Although there are no experience requirements, all applications must include plans stamped by a Registered Professional Engineer or Registered Architect in Massachusetts.

You can learn more at newtonma.gov/adu and apply here.

Upcoming Events

In-Person Events

Picnic & Play in the Park: Junk Jam & Upcycle Parade – Thursday, August 13th, 10:30-12:30, Lincoln-Eliot School. Join Green Newton and the Newton Parks, Recreation & Culture Department for a creative afternoon of sustainability and fun! Learn more about this upcycling event here.

Energy Help Office Hours – Tuesday, August 18th, 11am-1pm at the Cooper Center (Activity Room 1). Drop by during office hours for assistance from the City of Newton's Climate Action Coordinator and Green Newton's Energy Advocate. Residents and local business people can ask energy-related questions and bring their energy bills for a review. To make an appointment (optional), call 617-796-1660. Read more about office hours here.

August Invasive Pulls – Various dates throughout August. Check out the Newton Conservators events page for details.

Healthy and Prepared: Staying Safe During Extreme Weather – Wednesday, September 2nd, 1:30-2:30pm at the Cooper Center. Extreme heat, flooding, poor air quality, and ticks are becoming more common concerns in our region. Join representatives from the City of Newton Health & Human Services Department and Sustainability Team to learn how these hazards can affect your health and what you can do to prepare. We'll also share ways to keep your home comfortable, stay active safely, and access local resources and assistance.

Image description: "Healthy and Prepared: Staying Safe During Extreme Weather" event graphic.

Newton Power Choice's electricity supply price is still lower than Eversource Basic Service's new supply price, which changes every 6 months. Learn more about Newton Power Choice here.

Join Our Climate Efforts:

Make Back to School Sustainable

August came too quickly, as usual, and many of us are thinking about preparing our wardrobes, backpacks, and homes for the activities that September brings—whether that's going back-to-school shopping, refreshing your work gear, or resetting your routines.

Small changes can make easing back into a busy season simpler and greener. Consider trying just one or two of these actions as you prepare for fall:

Prioritize reusable and sustainable school supplies. Consider reusing materials from last year, checking thrift stores, renting books, using refillable pens, and looking for sustainable materials.
Donate or swap outgrown clothes. Swaps with your friends and neighbors can provide new-to-you clothing for free.
Try waste-free lunch and travel items. Reusable lunch boxes and containers, water bottles, travel mugs, and shopping bags can minimize waste for years.
Rethink your commute. Can you and your family walk, bike, carpool, or take public transit at least one day a week?
Take a step toward lowering your energy bills.

Schedule a no-cost Mass Save Home Energy Assessment
Make sure you're enrolled in Newton Power Choice
Use blinds and curtains to block direct sun
Raise your AC by a few degrees

Image description: Back to School clipart including a backpack, books, and pencils.

Curious about Solar?

Takeaways from "Scoop on Solar" Program

Our team recently co-hosted an educational program, "The Scoop on Solar Energy," in partnership with Green Newton, the Newton Free Library, and local solar installers. Presenters shared valuable information about solar in Newton, energy efficiency, rooftop solar, and community solar. We're sharing a few key takeaways from the program for anyone who couldn't make it but would like to learn about solar!

The City of Newton currently has 24 municipal solar projects generating energy. Explore municipal solar data here.

Weatherization is important before installing solar because increasing your energy efficiency reduces your energy use. As a result, a smaller solar system can often meet your home's electricity needs.

When you have a no-cost Home Energy Assessment, you will receive recommendations for energy efficiency improvements and learn about incentives you qualify for, which may include 75-100% off the cost of approved insulation. (Get started here.)

Community solar is a shared solar energy system in which multiple customers—such as renters, homeowners, and businesses—subscribe to an off-site solar farm and receive credits on their electric bills. This option can work well for renters, condo owners, or those with a shaded or unsuitable roof. (Learn more about community solar here.)

Massachusetts residents can still save with valuable solar incentives. You can get a state tax credit of up to $1,000, earn fixed payments through the SMART program for every kilowatt-hour your panels generate, and through net metering, receive electric bill credits for any extra energy you send back to the grid.

Owning your solar system yields the highest long-term savings, with an average 7-10 year payback. With a leasing model, you can expect a fixed, predictable monthly payment and $0 upfront cost.