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Insulate & Weatherize to the Max

Category

Home Energy

Impact

Cost

High

Most households in Boxborough have some insulation, but many need more to save energy (and money on their utility bill) — and to prepare their homes/buildings for installation of efficient, electric heat pump systems for heating and cooling. If you live in an older home, the insulation in your walls may not meet modern energy efficiency standards, and nearly every home in Boxborough could use “air sealing” to reduce gaps that allow in cold air. For perspective, an older home may have 250% greater air infiltration than a newly constructed one; that is a lot of cold air entering a home, making heating it inefficient and expensive.

On average in Boxborough, insulating and air sealing a home (sometimes called weatherization) can be expected to reduce annual emissions by 1.5 tons, as explained under the “Deep Dive” tab. Only a few Actions (including EVs and the transition to heat pump technology) can reduce emissions by this much.

How to tell if walls are properly insulated and air sealed? Start with a Free Home Energy Audit.

There are two options for Boxborough residents:

In either case, a professional Energy Specialist will conduct a free inspection of your home, whether you own or rent, and provide a detailed report of its energy usage, potential energy efficiency improvements and achievable energy savings. The assessment (about 1.5 hours) will evaluate a broad range of energy savings opportunities including appliances, windows and doors, heating & cooling, lighting, insulation and weatherstripping.

LELWD’s Green Rewards program offers financial support for a range of actions that are identified in the Home Energy Assessment report, including energy-saving appliances, windows and doors, lighting, insulation, heating and cooling systems.

The assessment is a required first step in accessing many of the rebates and incentives offered by the Green Rewards program.  Rebates are available with a maximum of $500 per year to eligible households.  LELWD offers a $1,000 incentive for removing fossil fuel systems and converting to all electric.  Green Rewards includes a range of program elements – check them out.

LELWD contracts with  Energy New England to perform the assessments. To schedule your assessment contact Energy New England, by phone (888) 772-4242, or email solutions@ene.org or visit their website here.

MassSave Home Energy Assement program offers a rebate that covers at least 75% of the cost of insulation upgrades, with no-cost air sealing, and a 0% loan program for financing energy efficiency and heating system updates. If you live in a condo or apartment, the MassSave organization who assigns condo assessments is Multifamily Market Integrator. Call 1-866-527-SAVE (7283) or go to the MassSave website for more information.

Due to COVID-19, both LELD and Mass Save may offer Virtual Home Energy Assessments as well as in-home assessments.   Regardless of which program you use, the Energy Specialist can give you details during the assessment and in their report. Be sure to follow up on the recommendations to take advantage of the many incentives to make your home more comfortable and energy efficient.

State and Federal Incentives 2023

Starting in 2023, you will be eligible for a 30% federal tax credit up to $1,200 per year for insulation and air sealing from the Inflation Reduction Act. Estimate our savings via this calculator from Rewiring America.

Incentives from $250 for ventilation issues to $7000 for knob and tube mitigation may be available from Mass Save. You may also be eligible for a 0% Mass Save Heat Loan

Maximizing insulation and weatherization is an easy and affordable way to make progress in your emissions-reduction journey. This action provides the best carbon-reduction return on your investment. If you’re considering switching to heat pump technology for heating and cooling (and/or hot water), insulation and weatherization will also cut that installation cost by reducing the overall heating and cooling load (which reduces the size of the heat pump required; for example, moving from a 4-ton to a 3-ton capacity system can mean a system cost reduction of $1,000–$3,000).

Residents of Boxborough have spoken clearly in both the recent Climate Change Survey and at 2021 Town Meeting, about the need for immediate action to curb the impacts of climate change.  Homeowners, with support from the town, state, and federal governments, will need to assess not only maximizing insulation and energy efficiency but also taking other Actions, as well, for exaple installing heat pumps, going 100% renewable for household electricity and switching to EV driving.

 

Steps to Take

Take the following steps for LELD’s Green Rewards Program:

Preparation

Fill out the online intake form or call Energy New England at 888-772-4242 to schedule an appointment. When the Energy Advisor visits your home, please provide him/her with:

  • A list of your concerns (drafty rooms, high bills, old appliances and heating/cooling equipment).
  • A 12-month heating fuel usage history from your gas, oil, propane or wood supply company. If you don’t have fuel usage information, please let your Energy Advisor know.
  • Full access to your home, including the attic and basement.
  • A stable ladder (if possible).

Home Visit

The Energy Advisor will conduct a walk-through of your home, inputting information into their energy-efficiency software (SnuggPro) and snapping pictures with a thermo-imaging camera (Flir) to identify air leaks. Your Energy Advisor will assess and discuss potential energy savings linked to:

  • Insulation
  • Appliances
  • Heating/cooling
  • Water heating
  • Efficient lighting
  • Windows and door weather-stripping
  • Window and door replacement

Post Visit

You’ll receive a Home Energy Assessment Report that analyzes your home’s energy usage, identifies home improvement projects that can lower your energy costs, and links to LELWD’s rebates and incentives. Energy New England also provides several other resources for your energy usage questions:

  • Call Energy New England at 888-772-4242 or email them at solutions@ene.org
  • Energy New England’s recommendations page provides industry expert information about home improvement and weatherization projects.
  • Energy New England’s products page provides buying guides for lighting, thermostat controls, and weatherization. (Energy New England is neither compensated by nor endorses the brands and retailers listed on their products pages.)

 Let us know how it went! Please write a Testimonial on the Energize Boxborough website.

 

Take the following steps for the Mass Save Program:

Virtual assessments (during COVID):

  • Sign up for a no-cost home energy assessment  or call 1-866-527-SAVE (7283) to schedule your VIRTUAL Home Energy Assessment with a Mass Save Energy Specialist. Have your electric and natural gas bill account number ready. 
  • You will be asked to provide specific photos or pieces of information shortly before the virtual home energy assessment.
  • During the virtual home energy assessment, you will likely be asked to show the heating and cooling systems, the attic, exterior walls and basement to determine if any areas need insulation, lights, and thermostats.
  • At the end of the virtual home energy assessment, you will receive recommended actions for property improvements. 
  • You will then schedule a tentative date for any recommended insulation and air sealing. These in-home improvements will only be completed upon your approval and once the state, the Mass Save program, and the vendor are confident that they can do the work safely.
  • Receive recommended no-cost energy saving products that will instantly save you money (including LED light bulbs, smart thermostats, and smart powerstrips), shipped directly to your door for you to install.
  •  Access generous Mass Save rebates and incentives to make recommended long-term energy-saving upgrades to your home. 

 Let us know how it went! Please write a Testimonial on the Energize Boxborough website.

If you live in a condo, the organization that assigns condo assessments is Multifamily Market Integrator .

  • Call them at 1-800-594-7277, or
  • Online sign-up is here .

Let us know how it went! Please write a Testimonial on the Energize Boxborough website.

Deep Dive

To help “bring net carbon emissions to zero as quickly as possible,” what questions should I ask?

First ask your Energy Specialist for quotes to maximize your insulation. Add the amounts (and types) of insulation that would be required for a new home or recommended for a “super-insulated” home (for example, R-65 in an attic), which will usually be more than either program suggests (for example, R-50). Ask about insulating walls as well as attics, and whether there are insulation options for your home even if not offered by the program such as insulation for flat roofs or cathedral ceilings, or in finished attic spaces. Ask how you could address those limitations (for example, with a separate insulation contractor or during re-roofing).

If your Home Assessment does not include a “blower door” test or the use of a blower door for an “advanced” air sealing process, ask for suggestions for how to contract someone who can provide this approach. Such a test can confirm that your air sealing will really reduce your home’s air leakage as much as it should.  Make sure the final work is examined by a program inspector, and if needed, by local (municipal) building or electrical inspectors.

Ask your Energy Specialist about rebates for additional energy efficiency measures beyond insulation and air-sealing, including opportunities to install climate-friendly heat pump systems for heating and cooling. There are also technologies that the Home Energy Assessment and rebates do not address, including on-site solar (roof or ground mount), and electric vehicles with home charging. Make sure to ask for suggestions in these areas, as well. Check out the relevant Energize Boxborough Actions for detailed information on these and other measures.

How important are insulation and air sealing for meeting Boxborough’s goals?

“Insulation to the Max” is a very effective step in cutting carbon emissions at home, as shown in the following table. These data are estimates by MassEnergize and Energize Boxborough of the number of metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2) the average household could stop emitting each year from these five emissions-reducing Actions.

The Top 5 Actions for Cutting Household Carbon Emissions

Action

Average Tons /Action/year

1. Switch to Green Heating & Cooling (Air Source Heat Pump)

3.2

2. Drive Electric (1 car)

2.6 (up to 4.0 if renewable source of electricity is used to charge the EV)

3. Install On-site Solar (for household usage including EV charging)

2.5

4. Insulate & Weatherize to the Max

1.5

5. Eat More Plant-Based Meals

0.6

Sources: MassEnergize Carbon Calculator Methodology, Energize Boxborough conversions to metric tons based on 2,204.62 pounds/metric ton. 

Although “max” insulation can yield estimated emissions savings of 1.5 tons/year, even bigger reductions can be realized with heat pumps, EVs, and on-site solar. Reductions will vary from one household to the next, but if a household does all five Actions in this table, the carbon savings would be approximately 10.4 tons of carbon annually.  Note: To keep the calculations simple additional savings for EV due to renewable source of electricity for charging the EV was omitted from the 10.4-ton total.) 

Here are additional measures Energize Boxborough recommends beyond basic insulation and air sealing:

  • Convert to an electric heat pump for heating and cooling (see Heat & Cool: Heat Pumps)
  • Convert to an electric heat pump water heater 
  • Switch to (Electric) Induction Cooking
  • Replace upper-level recessed light fixtures with insulated LED ones
  • Install a draft stopper for your chimney
  • Install storm windows or air seal your windows with caulk; you can consider completely replacing your windows, although the energy savings may not justify the expense of new windows 
  • If you need to improve air quality and preheat fresh air entering your home, especially after thorough air sealing, consider heat recovery ventilation.

Many of these improvements are better done in conjunction with others. It may be a good idea to speak with multiple contractors if you are interested in one or more of the above.

What is the basis for the estimate of 1.5 tons/year emissions reduction?

This estimate of emissions reduction is an approximation of typical/average results, used to convey relative magnitudes of various Actions, not predictions of actual results of a household’s insulation and weatherization. Please see MassEnergize Carbon Calculator Methodology for more details. Homeowners who maximize the insulation they install through Mass Save and/or other contractors may save more than the above estimates, which are for the traditional Mass Save residential program.

Other useful links

consumer guide inflation reduction act

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