Unitil, a provider of natural gas and electricity to customers in New England, encourages homeowners and renters to take advantage of no-cost energy assessments as rising temperatures impact household energy usage.
“It’s the extremely hot days that not only make day-to-day activities uncomfortable but also can drive up our energy usage powering air conditioners,” said Alec O’Meara, external affairs manager for Unitil. “To better manage this usage, we encourage both homeowners and renters alike to take advantage of these energy efficiency programs.”
Unitil offers a no-cost and no-obligation energy assessment through the Mass Save Home Energy Assessment and Weatherization program. The company said some of the rebates and incentives require the assessment, which is a written report of potential energy savings and cost. Following the audit, the homeowner has final approval on any recommended energy efficiency improvements. An audit can be scheduled through the masssave.com website.
Some of Mass Save’s incentives, such as approved room air conditioners, high-efficiency washers, and other small appliances, do not require an audit. “Many customers have realized meaningful energy savings taking advantage of these programs,” O’Meara said.
For city resident Bianca Taylor, it was Unitil’s no-cost energy audit that identified and provided financial incentives for upgraded insulation, new mini split pumps, which provide efficient heat and cooling, and a natural gas boiler.
“It wasn’t just about saving money, but also on how we could reduce our carbon footprint,” Taylor said. Unitil anticipates that the new equipment will save 1.8 metric tons of greenhouse gases annually, which is equivalent to taking a gasoline-powered vehicle traveling nearly 5,000 miles yearly off the road.
The program also offers no-cost or discounted energy efficiency services to income-eligible customers.
