Interesting idea. Offer owners the chance to lower their energy bills, paid for through interest-only loans, ending up not costing the city a dime.

… Cambridge today will launch a sweeping $70 million energy efficiency program to conserve energy in virtually every building within city boundaries …

Property owners will … be offered low- or zero-interest loans to undertake remediation efforts …

Most of Cambridge’s buildings are residential, with around 2,400 others owned by universities and other nonprofits, commercial and industrial landlords, and governments.

… officials expect the greatest and quickest savings will come from working with universities and large commercial and industrial properties, which collectively account for 69 percent of the city’s energy consumption …

*** Shout out to Mathias for the tip ***

Source: Cambridge sets $70m energy initiative - By Thomas C. Palmer Jr., The Boston Globe