On April 9, at Bentley College’s MassEnergize Community Climate Leaders Annual Conference, Newton’s Climate Action Coordinator, Caroline Weiss, won the Emerging Climate Leader Award.
In her time with the City of Newton, Caroline has led the development and implementation of the City’s Climate Action Plan 2.0. She also manages the City’s Energy Coach program, coordinates residential outreach and communication, and assists with the administration of City climate policies. With a focus on residential decarbonization and community resilience, Caroline bridges the gap between high-level policy and local climate solutions.
“She is very organized, personable, and really seems to know her stuff,” said longtime Newton energy coach Bob Person. “People at events find her approachable and she connects well with other organizations really well. She has done a couple of cool things. She did a request-for-information from heat pump installers and she has taken over keeping the DOER [Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources] solar installation list which tells Newton residents what to expect when they install solar.” She takes responsibility for making sure all of Newton’s six energy coaches, volunteers who help homeowners navigate energy upgrades, fill out their logs meticulously.
Caroline has degrees in environmental studies and political science from the University of Pittsburgh as well as a
masters in environment and natural resources from the University of Iceland.
“Over the years I’ve worked with a lot of people at Caroline’s stage of professional development. She may have a few competitors, but certainly no one better!” said Ann Berwick, Co-Director of Climate and Sustainability for the City of Newton and Caroline’s supervisor.
As an undergrad, Caroline spent a life-changing six weeks in Iceland studying renewable energy, technology, and resource economics through the School for International Training (SIT). With a couple dozen students from the U.S., Caroline explored the various landscapes of Iceland and types of clean energy utilized by different regions including a district heating plant in Isafjordur, geothermal areas in the Reykjanes peninsula, and the Kárahnjúkar hydropower plant in the southwest.
When not at work, you can find Caroline outside—running, hiking, or kayaking—or playing with her cats. She also plays the french horn. Next time you see her, be sure to ask her for her recipe for Icelandic rye bread.