Keep your home at a comfortable temperature all year long! +Save money & energy

Stephen from Home Energy Works shared some enticing information about what MassSave can do for Wellesley residents who heat with natural gas. You can watch the event here and learn all that the Mass Save program offers:

• Home Energy Assessments- The assessment can be done in person with COVID safety precautions, or virtual.  It includes looking at your home’s HVAC systems, health & safety issues, insulation, sealing, weatherstripping of windows & doors, etc. Then they provide a detailed report of what efficiency improvements you can make, how much they’ll cost and how fast they’ll pay back.  You also get freebies on the spot, like lightbulbs, power strips and weatherstripping - which they install!
• After the assessment, MassSave provides no-cost sealing and 75-100% off recommended insulation scheduled at your convenience.  They also give great rebates on energy efficient appliances, and even offer 0% HEAT loans for major weatherization projects like windows.

It surprised some of us to learn that even if you live in an older home, you can really take advantage of this program on a variety of fronts: 

• Save Money
• Comfort
• Lower greenhouse gas emissions
• Health/Safety
• Preservation

Beyond comfort and cost savings, there really is an increase in energy efficiency through weatherization efforts after the assessment.

Since you have already paid into this program for years in your National Grid gas bill, why not have an energy specialist offer you a personalized report, instant savings and lots of free things? 
  
Steven also spoke about the improved technology of  air-source heat pumps (“mini splits”)” that are used for cooling and heating. These alternatives to ducted systems and window A/Cs are flexible, meaning they can be installed in specific rooms, or cover the entire home. 

These heat pumps, whether they are “mini-splits” or part of a ducted system, are a much more efficient way to heat your home than any other HVAC system, so their greenhouse gas emissions are markedly lower.  Heat pumps also cost 3-4 times less to operate than delivered fuel systems such as oil or propane.  Plus, heat pumps cool your home in the summer!  This is one reason why heat pumps can add 4.3 -7.1% to the resale value of a home.   

SPOILER ALERT: Starting April 1, the Wellesley MLP will be offering rebates up to $2000 for the installation of air-source heat pumps, so you can heat AND cool in one. In addition to providing these rebates, the MLP’s program, called CLEAN COMFORT, will provide knowledgeable advice to homeowners from third-party energy experts to help you find the best heat pump option for your home. This program  also provides a list of TRAINED and CERTIFIED INSTALLERS to ensure satisfaction.

Believe it or not, Wellesley buildings make up 53% of our greenhouse gas emissions. Good news is that with energy efficiency efforts and the installation of heat pumps, we can change that and help the communal effort to reach net-zero by 2050. 

You can watch Stephen’s presentation at approximately the 30 minute mark here. Sustainable Wellesley is a community partner of Home Energy Works and for every Home Energy Assessment, they will make a$25 donation to Sustainable Wellesley.

Go to www.homeworks.works/Wellesley or call Steven at 781-492-0692 to learn more.

Also, if you heat with oil, propane or electricity, you can still get a free home energy audit.  Just call the Wellesley MLP at 781-235-7600, ext. 3380.