Luis Navarro is on a mission to help people in Methuen enjoy energy efficiency and pay lower utility bills. He’s an energy advocate — educating property owners and renters in Methuen and Andover about Mass Save programs to help them achieve energy savings.
“He’s very energetic, very personable,” said Joe Cosgrove, Methuen’s environmental planner/energy manager, who hired him.
Since starting his job in December, Navarro has been spreading the word about Mass Save, stationing himself at the senior center and Nevins Library several times to educate people about the benefits of Mass Save and answer their questions. Mass Save is a collaborative of several Massachusetts electric and natural gas utilities and energy-efficiency service providers. Its programs delivered $3.6 billion in benefits to state residents and businesses in 2025, according to its website. Mass Save incentives are funded primarily by customers through energy efficiency charges on their bills.
The two communities are participating in what’s known as the Mass Save Community First Partnership, in collaboration with Eversource and National Grid, to provide energy-efficient solutions to residents, small-business owners and local non-profit organizations.
According to the program:
• Owners and renters of buildings with one to four units can obtain a no-cost home-energy assessment and learn how upgrades can help reduce energy and maintenance costs and increase comfort. Small businesses, non-profits and churches can get no-cost energy assessments.
• Recommended upgrades may include no-cost insulation and air sealing, efficient heating and cooling systems, and more.
• Owners of single-family homes, apartments and condos in one to four unit buildings may be eligible for rebates to upgrade to high-efficiency heat pumps along with the opportunity to apply for zero percent financing.
• Owners of five-plus buildings can increase property value and reduce operating costs year-round by leveraging Mass Save rebates, incentives, energy-efficient products and upgrades.
• Upgrading weatherization can lower energy bills and improve home comfort year-round. Heat pumps are a safe, clean and efficient way to heat and cool homes.
According to Navarro, 921 home energy assessments were conducted in Methuen in 2025. In the first quarter of 2026, 250 were done in the city.
A native of Venezuela, Navarro speaks fluent Spanish – an effective way to communicate with many residents in a city where, according to Cosgrove, a quarter of the population are native Spanish-speaking people.
His position is funded through a $240,000 three-year Mass Save Community grant awarded to the two communities. Navarro splits his time between Methuen and Andover.
Navarro, 25, attended North Shore Community College and Suffolk University. He studied political science, economics and philosophy. He has a background in marketing and community engagement at several organizations, including All In Energy Inc., a nonprofit that works to advance an inclusive clean-energy economy, according to Cosgrove.
Susan Riccio, executive director of the Methuen Senior Activity Center, is one of the local officials who has expressed appreciation for Navarro’s efforts. He has spent time talking to seniors in the center’s lobby.
“We look forward to having Luis back multiple times to keep the community educated about different programs and to help and assist our residents,” she said.
According to census data from Cosgrove’s office, approximately 14 percent of Methuen households are heated by electricity, while 62 percent are on utility gas.
Approximately a quarter of the households in the city were built prior to 1939, and roughly 38 percent were built between 1940 and 1979, according to housing stock data.
In addition to bringing Navarro on board, the city has informed residents about Mass Save programs through mailings. In a letter mailed to residents, advocates of the program, including Cosgrove, wrote that property owners having a home energy assessment done may be eligible for 75 to 100 percent off approved insulation upgrades and air sealing.
These upgrades, they wrote, can save an average of 15 percent on heating and cooling costs according to the Environmental Protection Agency, reduce allergens and pests from entering the home, and reduce drafts to improve comfort and humidity year-long. The letter also informed people that they may be eligible for up to $10,000 in available heat pump rebates. Modern cold-climate heat pumps are efficient and environmentally friendly with no need for fuel storage and no carbon monoxide produced. People may be eligible for zero percent financing for energy-efficient upgrades including heat pumps. No-cost energy and water-saving products are available, and there are increased incentives available for income-qualified renters and owners, they wrote.
“Together we can save energy, make our buildings more comfortable, and advance sustainability in our community,” they concluded in the letter.
Methuen’s Energy Advocate Luis Navarro has been speaking with residents about ways to save money on utility bills. ML photo by Darrell Halen
