The mission of the Office of Sustainability & Environment (OSE) is to implement strategies that continually improve the environmental performance of Somerville city government and the community. OSE's objective is to make Somerville a leader in reducing energy usage and costs, minimizing environmental impacts and waste, and addressing global climate change, resulting in a healthy and enjoyable environment for the residents of Somerville.
SustainaVille
- Learn about the City’s sustainability and climate change programs
- Learn about Somerville GreenTech pilot programs
- View our Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Plan
- Find out about the Solarize Somerville program
- And more
SomervilleMA.gov/SustainaVille
Somerville Waste Wizard
- Find out how to recycle waste in Somerville
- Look up your trash, recycling, and yard waste schedule
- Get tips on safely disposing of hazardous waste
- And more
SomervilleMA.gov/Wizard
Past Projects
Solarize Somerville
Solarize Somerville was a City, State, and volunteer campaign to bring reduced cost solar electricity to Somerville residents. In just five months in 2016, we exceeded our goals, and community members signed up for over half a megawatt of rooftop solar panels.
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory
This report presents an inventory of GHG emissions for all of Somerville as well as an inventory of the subset of emissions that are from city government operations. The inventories of 2014 emissions provide a baseline for planning emissions reductions and measuring progress in future years. This report identifies the leading sources of climate change-causing emissions in our community.
Carbon Neutral Pathway Assessment
Somerville has set an ambitious goal to be carbon neutral by 2050. This report defines carbon neutrality and analyzes the technological transformations necessary to achieve this emissions reduction target, through the implementation of policies and programs. This report presents a possible pathway to reduce emissions but does not encompass all of the ways the city can reduce emissions and is not intended to be a prescription for how the city should reach its goal. The report is an exercise in understanding what it will take to become carbon neutral and will serve as a baseline resource for the strategies for Somerville that will be developed in the city’s Climate Change Plan
Stormwater Asset Management
In order to implement a successful stormwater management plan and to eliminate (or reduce) non-point source pollution from Somerville, the City developed an in-house asset management and environmental accounting system for storm water utilities. This system developed a Geographic Information System (GIS) layer of stormwater utilities and Best Management Practices to track problems, solutions, implementations, and corrective actions. Special consideration was given to trees and greenery in the City to analyze and understand their utility as Best Management Practice (BMP) to reduce stormwater and pollution in general. Public educational material was developed and mailed to all residents and provided on the City's website.
The City offers free mattress and box spring recycling to residents who receive City trash services. You just need to schedule a pickup.
The City has prepared an updated Hazard Mitigation Plan to reduce its vulnerability to natural hazards such as flooding,
SustainaVille is a call to come together to develop the most ambitious, creative, effective plan for both reducing our carbon output and preparing...
The goal is to increase the Somerville community's capacity to engage in climate action.
Somerville Climate Forward is a set of implementable actions that will reduce Somerville’s contribution to climate change and prepare the City for...
An easy, convenient, and free way to recycle pre-loved clothing, shoes, and accessories.
See how you can replace your old fossil fuel-burning heating and cooling units with a green and efficient heat pump.
