Case Study: A Homeowner's Successful Energy Efficiency Journey

Here at Mass Save^®, we do our best to provide you with smart ideas for saving energy and money. One of our goals is to give our readers a better idea about the energy expertise and incentives offered by your local electric or gas utility or energy efficiency service providers. But how do these tips and recommendations translate to real-world benefits? Let’s take a closer look at the case of Hyannis resident, Cynthia Haun, who reduced her annual household electricity use by an impressive 52% over a seven-year period through the implementation of energy efficiency upgrades recommended to her. Plus, Haun is saving approximately $864 every year on her energy costs!

Haun began her energy efficiency journey in 2002, participating in many of the available programs offered by Cape Light Compact (as a sponsor of Mass Save), including rebates, a home energy assessment, and the Mass Save HEAT Loan. Some of Haun’s energy efficiency recommendations included the following:

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)

We don’t mean to sound like a broken record, but we’ve mentioned before that one of the easiest ways to start saving energy and money involves simply switching out your home’s light bulbs. Haun took our word for it and discovered the impressive results. Each ENERGY STAR^® certified CFL bulb replacement is saving Haun about $30 over its lifetime and the beauty of it all is that they basically paid for themselves in about 6 months – all while providing the same amount of brightness as standard bulbs. Imagine if you followed Haun’s footsteps and replaced all your light bulbs! Lucky for you, Mass Save offers instant price discounts when you buy from a participating retailer or through our online catalog. We also offer discounts on ENERGY STAR certified light emitting diode (LED) bulbs.

Home Energy Assessment

One of the most important steps that Haun took was to follow our advice and schedule a Mass Save Home Energy Assessment with a trained Energy Specialist. The Energy Specialist assessed her home’s energy use and identified energy efficient upgrades that would help Haun reduce her energy bills, increase her comfort, and create a healthier environment. In 2009, Cynthia Haun moved forward with air sealing, duct sealing, and added insulation in her attic and basement, based on the findings of her home assessment.

This no-cost assessment is also available to you and it includes on-the-spot installation of instant savings products such as light emitting diode (LED) light bulbs and water saving devices (as needed), all at no cost to you. Plus, based on the Energy Specialist's recommendations, you may be eligible to:

• Redeem generous rebates on qualifying energy-efficient heating, cooling, and water heating equipment
• Save 75% off recommended insulation improvements (up to $2,000)
• Receive no-cost targeted air sealing of leaks in your home's outer walls, windows, and doors
• Apply for 0% financing for eligible upgrades through the HEAT Loan program

Mass Save HEAT Loan

Through Mass Save’s HEAT Loan Program, you have the opportunity to apply for a 0% loan from participating lenders to assist with the installation of qualified energy efficient improvements in your home. You could qualify for a loan of up to $25,000 with terms up to 7 years. Be sure to check out the program details for eligibility requirements.

These are just a few of the steps Haun took in her journey to energy efficiency, ultimately resulting in a dramatic increase in her energy savings and transformation of her home into a more comfortable residence that is friendlier to the environment. If Haun was able to decrease her energy usage and costs over time, you can too.

Be sure to check out other articles on Mass Saver to discover even more great ways to save on energy and how you too can drastically reduce energy use and save money.