Now more than ever, climate mitigation is coming home to The Trustees.
Decarbonization projects have ramped up at the organization in the past two years, yielding enhancements to Trustees buildings and facilities that promise a lower carbon footprint in coming years. In keeping with its new For Everyone, Forever strategic plan, The Trustees has set a goal of reducing its total greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030, bringing its overall operational emissions down by roughly 60%. To meet this goal, the organization plans to complete energy retrofits on roughly 20 buildings per year for the next 5 years—improving insulation and air sealing so buildings are more energy efficient and replacing fossil fuel-reliant HVAC systems with new electrical systems. This will put The Trustees on a path to fully eliminate its carbon emissions by 2050.
Committing to Change
The time for this work has never been more urgent, according to Decarbonization Project Manager Amy Dorfman, “There will be no low-carbon future if we keep relying on high-carbon technologies. It is a fantastic privilege that The Trustees can sequester so much carbon and protect so much ecology and biodiversity through our special places. But this great work is futile if we keep emitting greenhouse gases at the same time.”
Decarbonization work began in earnest at The Trustees in 2024, when consultants visited a representative sample of the organization’s building stock (nearly 350 buildings in total), to create an informed plan to decarbonize HVAC systems. A rough schedule was completed for retrofitting HVAC systems in more than 140 buildings over the following five years, and the position of Decarbonization Project Manager was created and hired.
The work has not been without its challenges—nor without its resources.
“We have been utilizing the many rebates and incentives offered by the Mass Save program to offset the cost of this work,” says Dorfman, “[but] the Mass Save program has a one-size-fits-most approach, and The Trustees is not ‘most’. It has been a challenge bringing these projects to scale across our 148-conditioned-building portfolio within this program, and figuring out how to expedite these projects is one of our biggest challenges to date.”
Nevertheless, in 2025, many energy retrofit projects moved from the planning stage into implementation. To date, The Trustees has initiated retrofits of 18 buildings, and fully completed 6—at Long Hill, Notchview, Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, Moose Hill Farm, and the Doyle Center.
Working in Partnership
This work hasn’t been undertaken alone, but in partnership with other nonprofits working in energy and sustainability spaces.
“We have partnered with the nonprofit PowerOptions—a New England-based nonprofit that assists other nonprofits and municipalities with energy and decarbonization initiatives and energy procurement,” says Dorfman. “The PowerOptions staff are knowledgeable and fantastic and have been instrumental in helping us navigate these complex retrofit projects and maximize project efficiency.”
The Trustees is also working with PowerOptions to create an internal tracking system for its utility bills, with an eye toward establishing a baseline of its energy use, and more accurately measuring emissions for its entire building portfolio over time.
Bringing Decarbonization Home
In addition to supporting climate hope, this work provides more energy efficient—and energizing—spaces for Trustees visitors and staff to enjoy, and positions The Trustees to lead by example.
“Reducing emissions from our own operations makes us part of the global climate solution,” says Dorfman, “and will add our name to the long list of responsible organizations who are doing this work for the betterment of the planet.”
Decarbonization efforts not only bolster climate hope at The Trustees but offer a shared sense of purpose and road for collaboration for employees, Members, and visitors alike. It is work that can and should be shared, and to which everyone can contribute in some measure.
For those looking to reduce their own carbon footprints, Dorfman recommends beginning at home.
“Changing how you travel to our special places (carpooling and non-car transit is preferred!), what, when, and how much you consume, and where your money is invested and spent are all great avenues for reducing personal emissions. Every bit of emissions we can reduce is one step closer to a low carbon future for us all.”