HOME EFFICIENCY UPGRADE COSTS PLUMMET!
HOME EFFICIENCY UPGRADE COSTS PLUMMET! ELDERLY CT RESIDENT GETS $9,000+ BENEFIT Connecticut – For many Connecticut residents, upgrading their home’s energy efficiency seems completely out of reach. The thought of assessing what is needed and all the costs associated with energy efficiency would send shivers down the spine of any homeowner. What most Nutmeggers don’t know is that there is a program that can not only make it easy to assess your home’s needs, but could also put the costs well within reach, and may even eliminate the cost all together. Case in point, 92 year old Connecticut resident, Mary Osborne, was faced with a dilemma. Mary’s Cape Cod-style home was in need of some help – big time help. Built in 1940, Mary’s home has been difficult and costly to keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer. According to Mary, “This house was built almost 80 years ago and the furnace would often go ‘clunk.’ I knew something had to be done.” However, being that Mary is on a knowing her options. With each passing month her rising energy costs were forcing her to make some tough decisions. So, before last winter, she finally turned to Wesson Energy for help. As an authorized contractor for the Home Energy Solutions (HES) program, Wesson Energy was able to complete a HES energy assessment of Mary’s home within days. The HES audit carries the nominal fee of $124 and consists of a thorough efficiency examination of the home –including checking HVAC systems, air flow/leak detection and insulation depth. The result of Mary’s audit was her home’s unique energy rating along with a categorized report outlining her home’s performance. She also received a detailed recommendation of what was needed to achieve peak energy efficiency. As an added benefit, the HES program also provided on-the-spot solutions like air sealing, replacing old incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient LED bulbs in areas with high foot traffic, and even installing water-saving devices. All in all, the HES audit alone can carry a $1,200 value, which is not a bad return on a $124 investment.
Mary’s HES energy efficiency audit revealed that her home needed a significant upgrade to keep her home comfortable all year long and lessen the impact on her monthly bills. However, the cost of the needed upgrades was well outside Mary’s budget. The total cost to upgrade her furnace and insulation was over $9,000. When asked what Mary’s home needed Wesson Energy’s HPCHome Performance Contracting Division Manager, Jane Bourdeau, stated, “Through the audit of the 1,040 square foot, 3 bedroom single-family house, we determined that in addition to replacing the outdated boiler, insulation was also needed to keep the house comfortable year-round.” This is when Mary learned about a little known program - the HES IE. The “IE” is a short acronym for Income Eligible. The HES IE program exists to help homeowners who earn an annual income below the state’s 60% income median. This means if you qualify, the cost for the audit and any efficiency upgrades may be available at little or no cost! This incomes or have fallen on difficult times. In Mary’s case, because she fell within the HES IE guidelines, not only was her audit completely covered, 100% of the recommended upgrades were also covered. That’s paid…wait for it…nothing! Here is a breakdown of what Mary’s $9,000+ upgrade included: • Air sealing to eliminate drafts and areas where heated and cooled air could escape. • Installation of energy-efficient LED bulbs in high-use areas. • Brand new, 85% efficient cast iron Burnham boiler. • Basement and knee wall insulation.
Since the HES energy audit was completed, Mary has reported, “This past winter my house was much warmer after Wesson did such wonderful work that I appreciated so much. I can really see the difference in my energy costs every month as I pay the bills. I also have more money to do more of the things I really enjoy.”■
HOW CAN YOU QUALIFY FOR HES-IE? For more information on how to apply for the Home Energy Solutions (HES) Income Eligible (IE) Program, or Home Energy Solutions (HES) assessment for a house or apartment, please feel free to contact Jane Bourdeau directly at (203) 706-1425.
• Roof vents for proper ventilation. According to Mrs. Bourdeau, “in a typical home, we insulate the attic and basement [because] that’s where 90% of insulation Mary’s house did not have an attic, we insulated the short walls below the ceiling and added roof vents for effective ventilation.”
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Mary’s HES energy efficiency audit revealed that her home needed a significant upgrade to keep her home comfortable all year long and lessen the impact on her monthly bills. However, the cost of the needed upgrades was well outside Mary’s budget. The total cost to upgrade her furnace and insulation was over $9,000. When asked what Mary’s home needed Wesson Energy’s HPCHome Performance Contracting Division Manager, Jane Bourdeau, stated, “Through the audit of the 1,040 square foot, 3 bedroom single-family house, we determined that in addition to replacing the outdated boiler, insulation was also needed to keep the house comfortable year-round.” This is when Mary learned about a little known program - the HES IE. The “IE” is a short acronym for Income Eligible. The HES IE program exists to help homeowners who earn an annual income below the state’s 60% income median. This means if you qualify, the cost for the audit and any efficiency upgrades may be available at little or no cost! This incomes or have fallen on difficult times. In Mary’s case, because she fell within the HES IE guidelines, not only was her audit completely covered, 100% of the recommended upgrades were also covered. That’s paid…wait for it…nothing! Here is a breakdown of what Mary’s $9,000+ upgrade included: • Air sealing to eliminate drafts and areas where heated and cooled air could escape. • Installation of energy-efficient LED bulbs in high-use areas. • Brand new, 85% efficient cast iron Burnham boiler. • Basement and knee wall insulation.
Since the HES energy audit was completed, Mary has reported, “This past winter my house was much warmer after Wesson did such wonderful work that I appreciated so much. I can really see the difference in my energy costs every month as I pay the bills. I also have more money to do more of the things I really enjoy.”■
HOW CAN YOU QUALIFY FOR HES-IE? For more information on how to apply for the Home Energy Solutions (HES) Income Eligible (IE) Program, or Home Energy Solutions (HES) assessment for a house or apartment, please feel free to contact Jane Bourdeau directly at (203) 706-1425.
• Roof vents for proper ventilation. According to Mrs. Bourdeau, “in a typical home, we insulate the attic and basement [because] that’s where 90% of insulation Mary’s house did not have an attic, we insulated the short walls below the ceiling and added roof vents for effective ventilation.”
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