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Take control of energy bills with a no cost Home Energy Assessment
By: Angela Li, Residential Manager, Rhode Island Energy
Many Rhode Islanders have taken control of their energy bill through energy efficiency in their homes. Last year alone, more than 12,000 of your neighbors completed a no cost Home Energy Assessment.
Take Anthony and Trish, for example, who own a tri-level home in Providence. They contacted Rhode Island Energy and requested a no cost Home Energy Assessment.
An Energy Specialist came to their home and thoroughly explored a wide variety of ways they could improve energy efficiency. The Energy Specialist provided a report offering energy saving tips, from tuning up heating and air conditioning systems to installing air conditioner duct register covers and keeping refrigerator coils clean.
Because no two houses are the same, Anthony and Trish received specific recommendations for their home including:
* Air leak sealing
* Duct sealing
* Door weatherstripping
* Insulation damming in the attic
* Attic, kneewall and garage ceiling insulation
* Installation of an insulating cover over the attic access stairs
* Recessed light covers
* Proper exhaust fan ventilation
The cost of the energy efficiency recommendations was $4,909, but because Rhode Island Energy offers programs and incentives tailored to fit any customer need and situation, Anthony and Trish received incentives worth $4,216. For all the updates recommended, they only had to pay $693. That’s less than 15% of the cost of the home improvement project.
Not only that, the home owners are saving approximately 168 therms of natural gas and $365 annually on energy costs.
“I’m so glad we decided to call Rhode Island Energy for a no cost Home Energy Assessment,” Anthony said. “The Energy Specialist who came to our home was professional and knowledgeable. They really opened my eyes to the many ways we could be saving. In the end, our total cost for completing the energy efficiency recommendations was far less than I expected to have to pay. And now we’re seeing a nice difference in our energy bill also. We’re very pleased.”
Trish added: “I was amazed that they were able to add insulation to the side walls. Our home is now quieter, and the cold spots in the winter are gone.”
Even if the homeowners in Providence didn’t complete the follow-up work, they would have seen immediate savings. 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 can stack up to significant savings in monthly energy bills.
Another customer in Providence, RI had a heat pump break in the middle of winter. The estimated cost to replace the heating and cooling system was more than $10,000. Through
Rhode Island Energy’s Income Eligible Energy Savings Program, the heat pump was installed for no cost after the customer received a Home Energy Assessment.
Rhode Island Energy’s Home Energy Assessment program helps homeowners and renters 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.