Pete Cricones’ first go at single-family homeownership — a 1966 Cape-style house in Ipswich — featured oil heat and was lacking in quality insulation.
A 31-year-old working in software sales, Cricones had an appetite for clean energy improvements to the 1,800-square-foot home, but struggled to justify the tens of thousands in upfront costs.
But in the summer of 2023, Cricones’ house was one of six properties in Ipswich selected to receive a heat pump and other weatherization measures through participation in a new pilot program — and one of three in which they were successfully installed. If replicated, the program could unlock a new solution in the state for more accessible home electrification, according to clean energy players.
