Honeywell Helps Boost Boston Subcontractors for Energy-Saving Work
Bosch’s Florida Heat Pump series will use Honeywell Solstice R-454B refrigerant, designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in residential and light commercial heating and air conditioning by 78% compared to traditional refrigerants.
Image courtesy of Honeywell International Inc.
ATLANTA — Honeywell has entered into a partnership with Interise, a not-for-profit with award-winning small business programs, to create a pipeline of minority- and women-owned business enterprise (MWBE) subcontractors for Honeywell and others in and around Boston.
The program, called Interise Equity Contractor Training Sponsored by Honeywell, is accepting applications for the 2023 inaugural year.
The initiative will also support Honeywell Energy Solutions Group’s existing multi-phase Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) program with Boston as part of the Renew Boston Trust program to help achieve energy and carbon reductions in city-owned historic buildings. Honeywell was recently awarded one phase of the project, in part due to its collaboration with Interise, which enables the company to significantly exceed the city’s minimum MWBE requirements, with 85% of the contract value going to MWBE contractors.
“Older buildings mean older systems, which is why we set out to help the city of Boston achieve its sustainability and infrastructure goals. Along the way, we found an opportunity to also complement the city’s diversity and inclusion activities by starting at the foundation — its inspiring workforce,” said Stefano D’Agostino, vice president and general manager of Sustainable Buildings Honeywell. “By collaborating with Interise, we are supporting inclusive economic development and job-creation for established small businesses while also helping the city of Boston work towards its inclusivity and sustainability goals.”
In 2021, a report commissioned by the city found that just 11% of city contracts went to businesses owned by women or people of color, with only 1.2% being awarded specifically to Black- or Hispanic-owned businesses.
To combat this disparity and create a competitive MWBE contractor pool in the Boston area, Honeywell and Interise are working to provide the owners of small businesses with the knowledge and networks needed to grow their businesses. Using Interise’s StreetWise MBA curriculum, contractors can gain a strong focus on business management and procurement expertise.
“Interise is thrilled to work with Honeywell to bring much-needed assistance to minority- and women-owned businesses in Boston,” said Darrell Byers, CEO, Interise. “These small business owners face challenges on a daily basis, and our programs aim to provide them with practical knowledge and practices they can use to thrive, as well as support the small business ecosystem in making system changes for better outcomes.”
Looking for quick answers on air conditioning, heating and refrigeration topics? Try Ask ACHR NEWS, our new smart AI search tool. Ask ACHR NEWS
The Interise Equity Contractor Training Sponsored by Honeywell program is free and consists of 13 sessions that will meet for three hours every other week, subject to availability and eligibility requirements.
Honeywell since 2019 has supported upgrades to municipal buildings around Boston, including schools, fire stations, police stations, and libraries. Honeywell leads planning, design, construction, and support services while working with local contractors to execute projects, which include upgrades to HVAC systems and lighting, water conservation, building weatherization, solar power, and more.
Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!
