The residential sector accounts for about 21% of total U.S. energy consumption, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The sponsors of the Mass Save® program are offering no-cost virtual Home Energy Assessments to eligible Massachusetts residents to help them reduce energy and save money. Homeowners and renters can get access to a variety of benefits to help make their homes more energy-efficient and it all starts with an easy Assessment.

A Home Energy Assessment is a way to learn about how your home consumes and loses energy and how you can make your home more energy-efficient. You receive a customized home energy report and personalized recommendations to help you start saving. According to the U.S. DOE, “consumers can save 5-30% on their home energy bills by making home energy upgrades typically identified in a home energy assessment.” With a Mass Save Home Energy Assessment, Massachusetts residents can access generous benefits to assist with making improvements in home energy efficiency.

No-Cost Energy-Saving Items

When you get a Home Energy Assessment performed, you get items like programmable thermostats, LED light bulbs (replacing incandescent bulbs), faucet aerators, energy-saving showerheads, and advanced power strips at no-cost to you! These items are offered by the sponsors of the Mass Save program to help you experience instant savings! Here are some facts about the use of these energy-saving items in your home:

  • Only about 10% of the electricity that incandescent bulbs consume results in light and the rest is turned into heat. Energy-saving LED lightbulbs use 95% of their energy as light and last for 25,000 hours or more.
  • A standard showerhead uses 2.5 gallons/minute while energy-saving showerheads use 1.5 gallons or less/minute. In a home with four people who shower daily, you could save up to 2,000 gallons of water yearly without losing the water pressure you love.
  • A faucet aerator can lower a fixture’s water use by approximately 4% and it could save you more than 500 gallons of water every year by limiting your water flow to about 2 gallons per minute.
  • Heating and cooling your home use more energy and cost more money than any other system in your home—typically making up about 54% of your utility bill, and a programmable thermostat can help you gain control of your home’s temp when you’re home or away. You can also get a rebate for $100 off smart thermostats!
  • A quarter of all residential energy consumption is used on devices in idle power mode. Did you know that leaving one computer on all day can cost you about $75/year? Advanced power strips provide an easy way to target “phantom loads” and save energy and money.

75-100% Off Insulation for Eligible Residents

According to energystar.gov, 9 out of 10 homes in the U.S. are under-insulated. If you live in a single-family home, you could be eligible for 75% off all approved insulation. If you live in a building with 2-4 units, you could be eligible for 100% off if all units participate! During a Home Energy Assessment, energy experts will determine if and where you would benefit from energy-efficient insulation upgrades. At HomeWorks Energy, we use blown-in cellulose, fiberglass batting, spray foam, and polyiso (rigid foam board) to fit attics, walls, ceilings, crawl spaces, hard to reach spots, and small areas.

100% Off Approved Air Sealing

“Increasing a home’s insulation and reducing air leaks is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce energy waste. Proper insulation and air sealing techniques can typically achieve whole-house energy savings of 10-20%,” says the U.S. DOE. If you have rooms in your home that are drafty, that is a clear sign that you would benefit from air sealing upgrades at no-cost. Sealing gaps, cracks, and holes will also improve the effectiveness of your upgraded energy-efficient insulation.

Access to the 0% Financing Mass Save® HEAT Loan

The Mass Save® HEAT Loan provides a 0% financing opportunity (up to $25,000 for 7 years) for energy-efficient home upgrades such as heating and cooling systems, water heating equipment, heat pumps, insulation, and more. You cannot gain access to the Mass Save HEAT Loan without completing a Home Energy Assessment first. Your energy specialist will give you more details about how to apply and what the loan covers after your Assessment.

Rebates on Heating & Cooling Equipment

Of the energy used in U.S. homes in 2015, 55% of it was used for heating and cooling. If your heating and cooling systems are wasting energy and money, and not performing at their peak, an upgrade could give you savings! At HomeWorks Energy, we apply your rebates upfront and we’ll even complete the rebate paperwork for you to make it an easy process! If just 1 in 10 households bought energy-efficient heating and cooling equipment, we would reduce yearly greenhouse gas emissions by 13 billion pounds! Up to $2,750 in available HVAC rebates help Massachusetts residents make the changes they want without breaking the bank.

Home Safety Checks

Home safety checks are one of the lesser known benefits of a Home Energy Assessment, but one of the most important. A Mass Save Home Energy Assessment doesn’t just check for energy efficiency. Your BPI-certified HomeWorks Energy specialist will also do combustion safety testing to screen for carbon monoxide and other issues that could potentially harm you, your home, or your family. You will receive a custom report of all results at the end of your Assessment; there’s no catch!

To schedule a no-cost, no-obligation virtual Home Energy Assessment, go here or call (781) 305-3319 to sign up over the phone. According to the U.S. DOE, “by combining proper equipment upgrades with recommended insulation, air sealing, and thermostat settings, homeowners can save about 30% on their energy bill.” Start saving energy, money, and the planet today!