October in New England usually brings cool, crisp days, colorful fall foliage, and celebrations involving carved pumpkins, ghosts and goblins! It also often means the beginning of the winter heating season.

 

Many of us live in older, under-insulated, leaky homes. There’s a lot of air blowing into and through our homes, making them uncomfortable and expensive to heat and cool! (For perspective, an older home probably has at least 250% more air infiltration than a new construction home today.) Many of us feel the financial pinch of this, especially in the winter.

How can you tell if your walls and ceilings are properly insulated and air-sealed? Start with a no-cost home energy assessment using a Mass Save contractor. 

Take advantage of available reimbursements. Mass Save, a state sponsored energy efficiency program, will reimburse all customers for any needed insulation at 75%. There are also significant federal tax credits for 30% off the costs of heat pumps, heat pump hot water heaters, insulation, solar, windows, and more. You can find more details and information from the United States Department of Energy and the IRS.

There are other simple and inexpensive changes which homeowners and renters can make to save money while saving energy:

• Install temporary insulation measures: Clear plastic window treatments can cover windows in the winter and help keep your heat in and make your home more comfortable and energy-efficient. Flexible gap-fillers can be used to reduce leaks around windows. Simple draft stoppers can be placed on the floor in front of old drafty doors. Install electrical outlet and switchplate insulators on exterior walls. Place covers over drafty A/C vents. Close fireplace dampers when not in use.

• Wash your laundry with cold water. This will save energy on heating, and most detergents are designed to clean just as well with cold water as with hot water. It will also help expand the lifespan of your clothes. If possible, use a longer spin cycle to cut down on drying time. Alternatively, air dry your clothes!

• If you have a dishwasher, stop it after the wash cycle and let the dishes air dry. Your dishwasher may have a feature that allows you to turn off heated drying.

• Change your light bulbs to LEDs. Even if you just pick the bulbs that are on more than an hour a day, it will help cut down on your energy use. You can even take the bulbs with you when you move to save money. 

• Avoid overfilling your refrigerator, as blocked airflow decreases the unit’s efficiency and uses more energy.

Visit the Energize Franklin website, www.energizefranklin.org, to find inspiration and see what others in their community are doing. Having a free account also allows you to track your carbon reductions and leave a testimonial. For easy access or more information, use the QR code here!