Air Conditioning Distribution Pilot Program

The Cooling East Somerville AC Program provided 100 EnergyStar AC units to qualifying households in May/June 2026. Learn more about cooling resources, how to get the most out of your AC, and other parts of the Cooling East Somerville project on this page.

Cooling Resources

MAMAS (Mutual Aid for Medford & Somerville) connects people who need an AC to people with an extra working AC. Contact MAMAS at (339) 545-1315 or askyourMAMAS@gmail.com and see the flyers here.
Heat Safety & Energy Saving Tips. Learn about how to protect yourself from extreme heat and lower your summer utility costs. Check out our pamphlets here.
Unhealthy Heat Forecast and Resources. Get local forecast information and guidance from the MA Department of Public Health here.

Get The Most Out of Your AC

Set Your AC Temperature Wisely

Set your AC temperature as high as comfortable. Try 75-78°F during the day.
Raise the temperature by 7°F when no one is home.
During a heat wave, set your AC temperature to 78°F to balance cost savings, comfort, and safety.
For more info, visit ENERGY STAR

Use a Fan and Your AC Together

Turn on a fan and your AC! It’s smarter and more cost effective than lowering the AC temperature, as fans create a breeze and help circulate the cool air.
If you have a ceiling fan, make sure it’s spinning counter-clockwise to push cool air down.
If you have a window fan, point it outwards during the day and inwards during the night. Create a cross-breeze with one window fan facing inwards on one side of your home, and one facing outwards on the other side.
Remember: Only use a fan if the indoor temperature is less than 90°F. Fans can increase body temperature when it’s above 90°F.
When it is very hot and humid, use your AC, as fans are not as effective at removing moisture from the air.

Maintain Your AC

Your AC should be level or tilting slightly to the outside to prevent water from pooling in the unit or dripping into your home.
Clean or replace air conditioner filters once a month. For ACs distributed through Cooling East Somerville, check the manual here for details (English/Spanish pg 21).

Cleaning Your AC Filter:

1. Remove the air filter from the front grill of the air conditioner.
2. Wash with lukewarm water.
3. Shake off excess water and replace.

Manage Window Coverings

Keep drapes or shades closed during the day to block the sun’s heat.
Reflect heat by installing temporary window reflectors, like cardboard covered in aluminum foil (shiny side to the sun).

Adapted from Department of Energy (DOE) Cooling Tips.

More from the Cooling East Somerville Project

Depaving

The City of Somerville’s Sustainability and Environment Division is offering up to $5,000 for residents of East Somerville to remove pavement from your property and landscape the area with shade trees and plants.

Visit this webpage to learn more about eligibility and express your interest.

Mobile Cooling e-Bike

Keep an eye out for CultureHouse's Cooling Bike! This mobile cooling station transforms into a temporary shade structure and will be traveling around East Somerville on and ahead of extreme heat days, delivering cooling supplies like ice water, cool packs, and reflective window covers to different corners of the neighborhood. CultureHouse plans to bring the bike to local events to teach residents more about heat resilience and best practices during the summer. You can stay up to date on CultureHouse's Instagram.

Information for Cooling East Somerville AC Applicants

If you applied for an AC and did not hear from us by Friday, June 12, it means we unfortunately are not be able to provide you with an AC this summer.
We used multiple criteria to determine who receives an AC based on the information you provided in your application – including self-attested financial need, risk factors for heat-related illness (e.g. health conditions, age, pregnancy), living in East Somerville, and having a referral from a medical provider.
We received more than 300 applications for an AC, but the pilot program only had resources to provide 100. Thank you for your understanding of the need to make these difficult decisions.

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