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Photo inset of Westwood Town Hall by John Phelan via Wikimedia Commons (background has been edited).
The Town of Westwood is one of 17 recipients of the 2026 Mass Save Impact Award, announced Mass Save at the end of September, in recognition for the town's leadership in demonstrating how energy efficiency investments can create lasting environmental, economic, and community benefits, while helping to create a more sustainable and resilient Commonwealth.
Mass Save said the Town of Westwood has made strategic investments in energy-saving technologies, made building improvements, and undertaken other sustainability initiatives to reduce energy use, improve operations, and support a clean energy future.
Westwood’s Town Administrator, Connor Read, expressed gratitude for receiving the honor, while also highlighting the role of Tom Philbin, Westwood’s Energy Manager. For more than 12 years, Mr. Philbin has provided leadership in Westwood’s conservation and solar initiatives.
Town Administrator Read also recognized the Westwood School Committee for its strategic vision, which he said made possible the recently opened Pine Hill Elementary School. According to the Town of Westwood, Pine Hill has helped to deliver energy savings and advance the town’s log-term energy efficiency goals.
Initially designed to earn LEED silver certification, Pine Hill School earned Gold certification in the first quarter of 2025. The school was built with solar panels for power and geothermal wells for heating and cooling.
Additionally, in the summer of 2025, solar panels were installed at Westwood High School’s parking lot, with the expectation that they would contribute to the Town of Westwood being able to generate about 80 percent of its energy from renewable energy.
Mr. Philbin said at the time that the solar arrays at both Pine Hill and the high school would significantly impact the town’s electricity use and costs, and would save the town tens of thousands of dollars in electricity bills annually.
The 17 recipients of the Mass Save Impact Award will be recognized at a ceremony at the Massachusetts State House on October 27, 2026. They are:
- Agri-Mark
- Bay State Linen
- Big Y Foods, Inc.
- Camp Jabberwocky
- Christian Union Church of North Truro, Inc.
- City of Cambridge
- City of Fall River
- City of Quincy
- City of Springfield
- Gordon College
- Lowell General Hospital
- MASS MoCA
- Peter Condakes Company
- Town of Athol
- Town of Townsend
- Town of Westwood
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
"The organizations recognized through the 2026 Mass Save Impact Awards are helping advance Massachusetts' clean energy goals while showcasing the long-term value of energy efficiency investments," said Tilak Subrahmanian, Vice President of Energy Efficiency and Electric Mobility, Eversource. "Their commitment to implementing innovative energy-saving solutions is helping improve performance, manage costs and build stronger organizations. We congratulate this year's honorees and look forward to supporting continued progress across the Commonwealth."
“Congratulations to the 2026 Impact Award winners,” said Energy Resources Commissioner Elizabeth Mahony. “These organizations and municipalities made smart energy investments that lower their bottom lines through energy bill savings and create healthier buildings and communities. When Massachusetts residents, organizations, and cities and towns make energy efficient upgrades to buildings and building systems, it can lower their ongoing energy costs and importantly, also reduce strain on our electric grid and save all ratepayers money.”
Mass Save is a Massachusetts statewide energy efficiency and electrification initiative, led by a collaborative of electric and natural gas utilities and energy efficiency service providers, including Eversource, National Grid, Berkshire Gas, Cape Light Compact, Liberty, and Unitil.
