Imagine you open your front door and thousands of dollars in cash goes flying out into the street. This is what happens when your home is not energy efficient.
Have you ever wondered how you can take advantage of all of the energy saving services out there? Which rebates are best, and where can you score a discount on your energy use? Are you required to save a certain amount of energy to qualify?
Lowering your electric bill and conserving energy are great goals to have, and it is important to know how to start and complete this process.
Keep reading about the factors to consider when you are choosing energy saving services and rebates.
1. Read the Fine Print
Regardless of whether you are signing a contract with a business that will install energy-saving equipment or trying to understand a Mass Save rebate, it is always a good idea to read the fine print. There may be a minimum amount of energy use or spending on your part that needs to happen in order for you to qualify.
Understanding the Mass Save rebates can be confusing at times. There is typically a window in which they need to be sent in for you to be able to receive the benefit from them. If you miss this deadline, you could end up paying full price for something you purchased with a rebate.
2. Consider Solar
The use of solar energy in the United States has grown over the past few decades. It used to be an extremely expensive investment that only some people could afford.
Now that solar has become more affordable, it is certainly an option to look into when you are looking to save energy. Massachusetts may not receive the same amount of sun as the southwestern region of the United States, but there is still great potential for solar use.
There are tax incentives in most areas that can help offset the cost of the panels and installation to get started. Think of solar panels as an investment into the future energy use of your home for years to come. You will see the benefit continue to grow over time.
3. Testimonials and Reviews
Before choosing any energy savings service, it is important to do your research. A big portion of this research is the testimonials and reviews given by previous customers of the business. These people know what it is like to work with the company and ideally will share honest feedback on their experience.
Consider that everyone has a different perspective and expectations when it comes to this work, so their testimonial or review may reflect that in some way. We like to list our testimonials on our website so that they are easy for you to find. We understand this is an important part of the decision process and don’t want you to feel mislead in any way.
4. Insulation
How does your house contain heat in the winter or cooler air in the summer? Do you feel like your heating and cooling systems are always running? Why is it hard to maintain a consistent temperature within your home?
Insulation is a very important component in energy saving. You can spend thousands of dollars on different practices, but if your home is not properly insulated, you will be losing money.
Keeping an eye on problem areas, such as under doors, can help you retain more of the warm and cool air within the home. Windows are another area where air likes to escape. Looking into new windows that are designed for energy efficiency is an important solution.
5. Don’t Forget About the Water
Have you tried different energy-saving practices in your home? Are you curious why you still use a lot of energy when you rarely have the electricity on?
Water could be the source. Using water throughout the day has an effect on your electric bill. A long shower engages the hot water heater and causes it to work harder to keep up with the demand for hot water. Washing clothes on the hot setting for the washer can have the same effect.
Water is something that you may not immediately associate with electricity or energy but scaling back on your use of it will benefit your electric bill. This can be as simple as turning off the water while you brush your teeth or running your loads of laundry on a cold cycle.
6. Customer Service
The journey of saving energy is a long-term commitment to a greener future and requires a partnership with the businesses that you work with. They are the experts in the field and their availability to answer your questions and provide guidance will be important for years to come.
Evaluating the potential providers that you want to hire on their ability to deliver great customer service is an excellent start. Transparency and communication throughout the process will give you a better idea of whether the relationship could last long-term or you may need to go with another provider in the future.
7. How to Get the Most Out of Energy Saving Services and Rebates
Family and friends are great resources as fellow homeowners when it comes to making decisions on energy savings. They can help you decide if certain services will work better than others based on their previous experience.
Consulting with someone who understands the language of rebates and can help you get the best deal could result in you saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Get Started Today
Now that you have read more about the factors to consider with energy saving services and rebates, you can start saving. We would love to schedule a Mass Save home energy assessment with you today to figure out how much you could be saving. Continue exploring our website to learn more about the variety of services that we offer for your home.