What Are Energy
Savings Programs?

Energy savings programs are business and government sponsored ways for a home owner on Cape Cod to reduce the cost of home improvement but more importantly, to save on energy.  

Take for instance, you have five children and your washing machine breaks down.  

Now you could go out and pickup a used older model for a couple hundred dollars, but that particular machine, based on doing wash for your five children plus yourself and spouse could in fact be costing you a couple hundred dollars a quarter in the energy it takes to operate it plus, add the cost of heating hot water on a monthly basis and on top of that the cost of water consumed.

The energy savings programs offered by businesses and government provide rebates on certain Energy Star models of home appliances, and in this case a washing machine.  

In the short term, a couple hundred dollars seems inexpensive enough, but over the long haul, it becomes a money waster.  By purchasing a new Energy Star washing machine approved by the savings programs your total cost of ownership becomes less through use, i.e. using less electricity to operate the machine, less gas to heat the water, and less water consumption.

Cape Cod Home Energy Assessments

Usually prior to home improvements we get all excited about the new look and feel, especially when windows and doors are part of the improvement.  

What you don't want to forget is to have a home energy assessment.

This is where you will discover energy efficiency improvements you can take that affect immediate savings measures by using such devices such as compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), programmable thermostats, and water saving devices.

In addition, you will learn about heating and cooling as well and Learn what the energy specialists are doing for others, get ideas on how to make the most of saving your money, and find resources that minimize the time it takes to find quality contractors and products.

Getting the most from the savings programs

We live on Cape Cod.  Besides oil and electricity, we use natural gas.

GasNetworks offers a variety of energy efficiency programs and incentives for residential and small commercial customers in Massachusetts. 

The GasNetworks also sponsors and supports many energy-saving initiatives and programs, in particular, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star® program that certifies products for energy efficiency and use.

At the GasNetworks you can find programs and rebates plus a plethora of other useful information.  

In addition, if you are looking for the types of products that garner the Energy Star label you can find them on the Energy Star website. 

In addition, if you are in a budget crunch, Mass Save may be able to help you through the process by advising you what actions to implement should you qualify for a home heating loan using energy efficient heating equipment.

Getting the most from these programs will help us all do our part so I hope this helps you get started in your quest to do home improvements while saving you time and money in the process.

Please, let me know if I can help you with your plumbing and heating needs.

Dave