Insulate and Air Seal Your Home

Summary: Insulation and air-sealing can make a big difference in your heating bill, especially in older homes

Description

Many of us live in underinsulated, leaky homes. There's is a lot of air sweeping into and through our homes, making them uncomfortable and expensive to heat and cool. Addressing this will most likely cost you nothing and save you a lot!

How can you tell if your walls are properly insulated and air sealed?  Easy, start with a no-cost home energy assessment. Through it you can take advantage of:

1. 75% savings on insulation from MassSave, a state sponsored energy efficiency program 
2. Access to a 0% HEAT loan program for up to $25,000 for the installation of insulation (also heat pumps and other energy efficiency measures). The energy efficiency professional can give you more details during the assessment
3. Subisidies on approved air sealing work

If you had an assessment in the last two years and already have a Mass Save insulation recommendation, you can still qualify for the incentives. 

Confused? The company that did, or is doing you assessment will be able to tell you what you qualify for.

Want to go deeper?  There are many more energy efficient improvements you can make beyond insulation and air-sealing, and MassSave has additional incentives for renovations and additions.

Deep Dive

How can you tell if your walls are properly insulated and air sealed? 

You can find out with a no-cost virtual or in-person home energy assessment.

Are there any financial incentives available?

Take advantage of the 75% coverage (you only pay 25%) on insulation and other weatherization! MassSave, a sponsored energy efficiency program, will reimburse all customers for any needed insulation at 75%. If you had an assessment in the last two years and already have a Mass Save insulation recommendation, you can still qualify for the incentive! Check with the company that did that assessment to check if you qualify, and if you do, the incentive will be applied to the existing assessment.

MassSave also subsidizes approved air-sealing work. It also offers a 0% loan program for financing HVAC and energy efficiency measures. The energy efficiency professional can give you more details during the assessment.  

How else can I improve my energy efficiency?

There are many more energy-efficient improvements you can make beyond insulation and air-sealing. MassSave has additional incentives for renovations and additionos, as well as 0% interest loans for greater energy efficiency measures. Here are some ideas for improvements:

1. Convert to an electric heat pump for heating and cooling
2. Convert to an electric heat pump water heater
3. Replace upper-level recessed light fixtures with insulated ones.
4. Install a draft stopper for your chimney
5. Use insulation products not covered by the MassSave program
6. Change to electric induction cooking
7. Carry out advanced air sealing through blower door-directed air sealing
8. Weather strip or replace drafty windows
9. Add heat recovery ventilation to improve air quality and preheat fresh air entering your home

Steps to Take

1. Sign up for a no-cost home energy assessment. Without this assessment, you can't get the insulation incentives. 
2. Following the home energy assessment, take the recommended action and take advantage of the MassSave subsidized air sealing and insulation installation.