ZeroCarbonMA

What ZeroCarbonMA does

ZeroCarbonMA is a Massachusetts-based non-profit climate advocacy organization founded in 2019 (incorporated in 2022) by Lisa Cunningham and Jesse Gray, the co-petitioners of Brookline's pioneering fossil fuel prohibition bylaw. The organization designs and disseminates model building-electrification legislation and provides coaching, technical resources, and a municipal listserv to help cities and towns across Massachusetts adopt the Opt-in Specialized Energy Code and the Fossil Fuel Free Demonstration Program. Its core intellectual output is policy and legislative templates — including requirements for Passive House construction in multi-family buildings over 12,000 SF — rather than any commercial product; supplementary outputs include commissioned research studies (most notably the Home Methane Gas Study of 195 homes published in PLOS One), fact sheets, webinars, and an induction cooktop lending program template for public libraries.

The organization's go-to-market is community-led: ZeroCarbonMA engages Massachusetts municipalities through direct coaching of climate leaders, public comment campaigns at town meetings and city councils, legislative advocacy at the State House, and earned media coverage in outlets such as The Boston Globe, Washington Post, WBUR, and Canary Media. As a 501(c)-style non-profit, it has no paid products or services; all operations are funded by individual donations channeled via ActBlue and by organizational grants. It does not charge municipalities for coaching, model legislation, or technical assistance. Primary "customers" are municipal governments (60 communities have adopted the Specialized Code, representing 33% of the state's population), with a secondary segment of individual Massachusetts residents using educational resources and appliance-transition guides.

ZeroCarbonMA operates within an ecosystem of climate and energy-efficiency partners, including co-founded coalitions such as the Building Electrification Accelerator (with RMI, 2020) and the Massachusetts Coalition for Affordable Energy (2026), along with relationships to Built Environment Plus, MassCEC, Passive House MA, LISC Massachusetts, 350Mass, Green Energy Consumers Alliance, Mothers Out Front, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, and Mass Save. The organization is lean (1–10 employees, supported by a broad volunteer/stakeholder network) and headquartered in Brookline, Massachusetts, with operating geography strictly limited to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Name

ZeroCarbonMA

Legal name

ZeroCarbonMA

Website

https://zerocarbonma.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ZeroCarbonMA is a Massachusetts non-profit climate advocacy organization that designs model building-electrification legislation and coaches 60+ municipalities (covering 33% of the state's population) on adopting the Opt-in Specialized Energy Code and related decarbonization policies, funded entirely by donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Policy Advocacy Services

akta.pro primary industry

Decarbonization Strategy & Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC) Advisory (EUABAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sector-Specific Net-Zero Pathways & Benchmarking (hard-to-abate methodologies) (EUABAKAI), Net-Zero Target Setting & SBTi/Net-Zero Standard Support (EUABAKAA)

Keywords

• Climate advocacy services
• Building electrification policy
• Municipal coaching programs
• Fossil fuel legislation
• Nonprofit decarbonization advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Brookline

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: ZeroCarbonMA is a non-profit organization that relies entirely on donations from individuals and organizations to fund its advocacy work, legislative campaigns, research studies, and community organizing activities. No paid products or services are offered.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ZeroCarbonMA is a Massachusetts non-profit that designs and disseminates model building electrification legislation and provides direct coaching, technical resources, and research to help municipalities adopt fossil-fuel-free construction codes and climate action plans. It also produces educational resources, community lending programs, and commissioned research (e.g., Home Methane Gas Study) to support individual residents transitioning away from gas appliances. All services are provided free of charge and funded by donations.

Product overview

ZeroCarbonMA is a non-profit advocacy organization that provides educational resources, coaching programs, and policy advocacy services to municipalities and individuals in Massachusetts. The organization does not offer a commercial software product but instead provides community organizing support, legislative resources, and technical guidance for building electrification. Their core offerings include the Opt-in Specialized Code adoption program, Climate Action Plan implementation support, the Fossil Fuel Free Demonstration Program expansion initiative, home appliance transition resources, weatherization assistance, and an induction cookplate lending program. These services are provided free of charge to communities and individuals as part of the organization's nonprofit mission to accelerate Massachusetts' path to net-zero through building electrification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Opt-in Specialized Code Adoption Program A coaching and resource program that helps Massachusetts municipalities adopt the Specialized Energy Code, which facilitates clean energy transition through requirements for pre-wiring for future electrification and PV solar panel installation, and Passive House standards for qualifying multi-family buildings.
• Fossil Fuel Free Demonstration Program Expansion Legislation advocacy campaign to expand the Massachusetts 10 Community Fossil Fuel Free Demonstration Program, enabling more municipalities to require all-electric construction for new buildings and major renovations.
• Climate Action Plan Implementation Support Resources and guidance for municipalities to develop and implement climate action plans that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build community resilience to climate change impacts.
• Local Legislation Advocacy Resources Comprehensive resources and technical assistance for communities pursuing local legislation including Community Choice Electricity programs, EV fleet requirements, low-carbon concrete, net-zero municipal buildings, and heat pump setbacks.
• Induction Cookplate Lending Program A program template and resources for libraries to establish lending programs for portable induction cooktops, enabling community members to test electric cooking appliances and reduce gas stove usage.
• Home Appliance Transition Resources Guidance and planning resources for individuals to transition home appliances from fossil fuel-based systems to clean electric alternatives including heat pumps, induction cooking, and efficient hot water heaters.
• Weatherization Assistance Resources Resources helping homeowners improve home energy efficiency through insulation, sealing, and energy assessments to reduce energy use and carbon emissions.
• Research Reports and Publications Commissioned research studies and reports including the Home Methane Gas Study, Heat Pump Rates analysis, and Future of Gas in Massachusetts report that provide data supporting building electrification policies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60 communities representing 33% of Massachusetts' population have adopted the Opt-in Specialized Code
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Massachusetts Coalition for Affordable Energy (MCAE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026ZeroCarbonMA co-founded the Massachusetts Coalition for Affordable Energy (MCAE), a coalition of organizations working to protect Mass Save and Alternative Compliance Payment (ACP) funded programs. The MCAE Steering Committee includes 350Mass, Green Energy Consumers Alliance, LISC Massachusetts, Mothers Out Front Massachusetts, Northeast Energy Efficiency and Electrification Council, Passive House Massachusetts, Sierra Club Massachusetts, and ZeroCarbonMA. The coalition is supported by 300+ organizations.
• Gas Safety Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ZeroCarbonMA commissioned and funded Gas Safety Inc. to conduct the Home Methane Gas Study measuring methane levels in 195 homes across Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Gas Safety Inc. co-authored peer-reviewed papers on natural gas leaks with Dr. Nathan Phillips of Boston University.
• Dr. Nathan Phillips, Boston UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Dr. Nathan Phillips, Professor at Boston University's Department of Earth and Environment, collaborated with Gas Safety Inc. on the ZeroCarbonMA-funded Home Methane Gas Study. He has co-authored multiple peer-reviewed papers on natural gas leaks including 'Home is Where the Pipeline Ends.'
• Building Electrification Accelerator (MA BEA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021ZeroCarbonMA co-founded the Building Electrification Accelerator in partnership with RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute) and local partners including Cora Weissboard and Anne Wright. The MA BEA launched in 2020 with 17 towns and cities, aiming to replicate Brookline's fossil fuel prohibition legislation across Massachusetts through coordinated legal strategies, Home Rule Petitions, and advocacy.
• Groundwork DatacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZeroCarbonMA commissioned Groundwork Data to produce the 'Future of Gas in Massachusetts' report, which warned that Massachusetts gas heating bills are set to double and triple in coming years. The report's author, Michael Walsh, Ph.D., is Founding Partner of Groundwork Data.
• Mothers Out Front BrooklineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMothers Out Front Brookline partnered with ZeroCarbonMA to set up the first induction cook-plate loan program at Brookline libraries, enabling community members to check out and test induction cooktops. This inspired similar programs at other Massachusetts libraries.
• LISC MassachusettscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLISC Massachusetts is a core member of the Massachusetts Coalition for Affordable Energy co-founded by ZeroCarbonMA. LISC leads coordination of the coalition and has published district-by-district fact sheets showing Mass Save funding by legislative district.
• 350MasscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner350Mass is a member of the MCAE coalition co-founded by ZeroCarbonMA and contributes to advocacy against Mass Save funding cuts.
• Green Energy Consumers AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Energy Consumers Alliance convened a group of 10 statewide organizations, including ZeroCarbonMA, to recommend and support a 'Clean Heat Platform' of Massachusetts climate legislation. The alliance also provides energy efficiency resources referenced by ZeroCarbonMA.
• Passive House MassachusettscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPassive House Massachusetts is a member of the MCAE coalition and provides technical expertise on Passive House construction standards, which are mandated by the Specialized Code for multi-family buildings over 12,000 SF. Passive House MA's Executive Director Alexander Gard-Murray co-presents ZeroCarbonMA's Specialized Code webinars.
• Built Environment Plus (BE+)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilt Environment Plus (BE+) co-sponsored workshops with ZeroCarbonMA on understanding incentives for net-zero construction, including updated Mass Save offerings and IRA tax credits. BE+ has documented that 81% of surveyed net-zero construction projects reported less than 1% construction cost premium.
• Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMassCEC co-sponsored the 'Making Cents of Incentives' workshop with ZeroCarbonMA and Built Environment Plus. MassCEC produces the annual Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report referenced by ZeroCarbonMA for data on the state's clean energy economy.
• Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOER administers the Opt-in Specialized Code and the Fossil Fuel Free Demonstration Program, both of which ZeroCarbonMA helped design and advocates to expand. DOER staff (Paul Ormond, Ian Finlayson) present regularly at ZeroCarbonMA-sponsored webinars on building energy codes.
• MassSavecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMass Save is the primary energy efficiency program providing rebates and incentives for building electrification in Massachusetts. ZeroCarbonMA advocates for protecting Mass Save funding and educates municipalities about available incentives. Mass Save's multi-family incentives support Passive House construction required by the Specialized Code.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Built Environment Plus: Built Environment Plus is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit promoting high-performance, carbon-neutral building practices. It co-sponsors ZeroCarbonMA's workshops and webinars on net-zero construction incentives and operates as a direct peer in the MA building decarbonization education and advocacy space.
• RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute): RMI is a clean energy research and advocacy organization that co-founded the Building Electrification Accelerator (MA BEA) with ZeroCarbonMA in 2020. RMI operates a parallel building electrification policy program nationally and is ZeroCarbonMA's closest institutional collaborator on the Specialized Code and fossil fuel prohibition strategy.
• Green Energy Consumers Alliance: Green Energy Consumers Alliance is a Massachusetts clean energy nonprofit that convened the Clean Heat Platform coalition of 10 statewide organizations including ZeroCarbonMA. It is a direct peer operating in the same MA clean energy advocacy space, with overlapping donor and policy networks.
• Rewiring America: Rewiring America is a national building electrification advocacy nonprofit focused on electrifying homes and accelerating consumer adoption of heat pumps, induction, and EV infrastructure. It is the leading national counterpart to ZeroCarbonMA's state-level building electrification advocacy.
• Passive House Massachusetts: Passive House Massachusetts is the local chapter of Passive House US focused on promoting Passive House construction standards. Its Executive Director co-presents ZeroCarbonMA's Specialized Code webinars and it is a direct technical peer given that the Specialized Code mandates Passive House construction for multi-family buildings over 12,000 SF.
• Mass Climate Action Network: Mass Climate Action Network is a Massachusetts-based coalition of climate advocacy organizations coordinating statewide climate policy campaigns. It operates in the same MA climate advocacy ecosystem as ZeroCarbonMA, with overlapping member organizations and policy priorities.
• Sierra Club Massachusetts: Sierra Club Massachusetts is the state chapter of the Sierra Club focused on climate, energy, and environmental advocacy. It is a core member of the Massachusetts Coalition for Affordable Energy co-founded by ZeroCarbonMA and a direct peer in MA fossil fuel and clean energy policy work.
• 350 Mass: 350 Mass is the Massachusetts chapter of 350.org focused on grassroots climate advocacy and fossil fuel infrastructure opposition. It is a steering committee member of the Massachusetts Coalition for Affordable Energy co-founded by ZeroCarbonMA and a direct peer in MA climate advocacy.
• Mothers Out Front: Mothers Out Front is a grassroots climate advocacy organization that co-founded the Massachusetts Coalition for Affordable Energy with ZeroCarbonMA and partnered with ZeroCarbonMA to launch the first Brookline induction cookplate lending program. It operates on a similar community-led, volunteer-driven advocacy model targeting local fossil fuel infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships: Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) is a regional nonprofit that drives energy efficiency and building electrification policy across the Northeast U.S. It is a steering committee member of the Massachusetts Coalition for Affordable Energy co-founded by ZeroCarbonMA and serves as a broader regional incumbent in building decarbonization advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EVs_Brookline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zerocarbonma

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ZeroCarbonMA