Rhode Islanders Take Control of Energy Bills with No Cost Home Energy Assessments

submitted article by Rhode Island Energy:

Thousands of Rhode Islanders are taking control of their energy bills by making energy efficiency improvements in their homes. In 2025, nearly 12,000 of your neighbors completed a no cost Home Energy Assessment.

Joseph and Beatriz, for example, who purchased a raised ranch home in Pawtucket in January 2025, contacted Rhode Island Energy and requested a no cost Home Energy Assessment after noticing their home felt unusually chilly and drafty during the winter months.

An Energy Specialist came to their home and thoroughly explored a wide variety of ways they could improve energy efficiency. The Energy Specialist walked through every part of the home, even into crawl spaces and the attic, identifying opportunities for energy savings.

Because every house is different, Joseph and Beatriz’s assessment included specific recommendations for their home including:

• Air sealing of leaks throughout the home, including along the chimney
• Door weatherstripping
• Blown-in insulation in the attic walls, doors, and crawl space areas
• Installation of a turbine fan on the roof for improved attic ventilation

The recommended energy efficiency upgrades totaled $6,800. With incentives worth $5,530 from Rhode Island Energy, Joseph and Beatriz just paid $1,270 – less than 20% of the total project cost. Not only that, they are saving approximately $677 annually on energy costs, with an estimated payback period of less than two years.

As part of the no cost Home Energy Assessment, the Energy Specialist installs no cost products like low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators, advanced power strips, and programmable thermostats. These instant energy savers alone can stack up to significant savings on monthly energy bills.

Another customer, Kaitlyn in Providence, had a heating system break in the middle of winter. The estimated cost to replace the equipment was more than $10,000. Through Rhode Island Energy’s Income Eligible Energy Savings Program, a heat pump was installed for no cost after the customer received a Home Energy Assessment. No cost upgrades are often available for customers on Rhode Island Energy’s discount rate.

Rhode Island Energy’s Home Energy Assessment program helps homeowners, landlords, and renters of 1-4 unit homes across the Ocean State make informed choices to take control of their energy bills. To request your no cost Home Energy Assessment, please call 1-888-633-7947 or visit www.rienergy.com/hea.