Keeping Money In Your Pocket
As new homes are built, they are beneficiaries of the latest materials and systems for creating energy efficient homes and decreasing the impact on the environment than previously built homes. For those of us having an existing home, it’s easy to have the feeling, ‘Gee that’s great, but the house I’m living in now is where I’ll be for the foreseeable future. I’ll remember these new building techniques when I build my next new house (whenever that is)’. If you think this….chances are you are spending more money than you have to in order to run your household.
A Valuable Resource— Focus on Energy
Focus on Energy works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The organization’s information, resources and financial incentives are designed to help implement projects that otherwise would not be completed, or to complete projects sooner than scheduled. Its efforts help Wisconsin residents and businesses manage rising energy costs, promote in-state economic development, protect our environment and control the state’s growing demand for electricity and natural gas.
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR is one of the Focus on Energy Residential Programs. It is designed to provide owners of existingWisconsin homes a cost effective way to reduce their energy bills and enhance the safety and comfort of their homes. To participate, a homeowner must have a comprehensive home evaluation and work completed by consultants and contractors partnering with the program. To date more than 4,500 whole house projects have been completed under the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program.
Home Evaluation—Testing Energy Efficiency
Once you’ve chosen a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR professional, they will arrange a time with you to go through a comprehensive evaluation of your home.This evaluation consists of an inspection of all systems in your home including ventilation, heating and cooling equipment, air infiltration and insulation levels.Once the evaluation is complete, you will receive a home evaluation report that identifies problems and recommends solutions.
Home Evaluation Report
The home evaluation report will provide information on how your home uses energy and can include information on the insulation level in your attic,walls and basement, the air leakage of your home and the lighting and appliance energy use. In addition, the report will list a number of home improvements that can be done to make your home more comfortable, safe, durable and energy efficient. Improvements may include replacing a furnace, adding insulation or sealing air leaks.
Financing Home Improvements
The Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program offers technical expertise, as well as Cash-Back Rewards and new financing options to consumers who improve the energy efficiency of their homes. To be eligible,Wisconsin residents must meet two criteria: their electric and/or natural gas utility or cooperative must make the program available; and the dwelling must be either a house or a one- to three-unit building. If the home energy evaluation indicates the need to upgrade the heating and cooling systems, homeowners can turn to the Efficient Heating & Cooling Program.The Efficient Heating & Cooling Program, a sister program of Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, helps residents make upgrades to furnaces, central air conditioners and boilers economically with Cash-Back Rewards.
