Renters: Save $$

Summary: Are you a renter? Would you like to save a few dollars on your electricity bill? Are you willing to spend just a few minutes to get there?

Description

If you are you a renter, you can save save money on your home energy bill. Start here with Free Home Energy Audit.  You already pay for energy efficiency programs on every electricity bill — claim your share of the savings now. 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 saving opportunities including appliances, windows and doors, heating & cooling, lighting, insulation and weatherstripping. 

If you are using Natural Gas from National Grid, you can also avail MassSave's programs for renters.

Through Mass Save you may also receive these money-saving devices at no cost:

• LED lightbulbs
• smart powerstrips
• thermostats
• showerheads and faucet aerators

Note that Mass Save also offers additional savings for low-income households.

As a National Grid customer you may start by completing the online energy assessment. You will need to know what kind of fuel is used for your heat and hot water. MassSave will ask several questions to get to know your energy efficiency needs, including the type of fuel for heating your home, the approximate year your home/building was built, where your windows face, and more — answer what you can. Be sure to click in response to the prompt to schedule a Home Energy Assessment and check out your custom energy-savings kit.

Hoping to Save on Heating?

If you are looking to save more on your heating bill, here are your options. Your landlord will need to be the one to approve any changes to the building, such as insulation. Here is how you can help:

Let the landlord know that the building might be eligible for free insulation. 

For renters: according to MassSave, you may be eligible to receive insulation, heating, and other services at no or low cost through the Income Eligible programs if your household income qualifies (see this webpage). (For landlords: if 50% or more of the tenants in your building fall below those income levels, the entire property may be eligible to receive those services at no or low cost through the Income Eligible Multi-Family Retrofit Program.) Details and restrictions may vary, so renters can contact the building/unit manager and encourage them to check eligibility and apply.

You may also consider contacting the Community Action Program to find out whether you may qualify for income-eligible programs and services.  South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Inc. (SMOC), 7 Bishop Street, Framingham, MA 01702, 1.508.620.1230 also offer programs and services for low income families.

If you need support in working with your landlord on reducing your energy use and costs, please contact Boxborough Sustainability Committee at sustainabilitycommittee@boxborough-ma.gov.

Find more information under the Steps tab.
 

Deep Dive

Steps to Take

1. Start here with Free Home Energy Audit.

2. If your household income is eligible (see the chart on this webpage), contact Community Action Program to ask how they can help with your energy costs.  South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Inc. (SMOC), 7 Bishop Street, Framingham, MA 01702, 1.508.620.1230, also offer programs and services for low income families.

3. Swap out your incandescent or compact fluorescent lightbulbs for highly efficient LED bulbs; to save the most electricity (and money), starting with the ones that you use most frequently.

4. Set up your TV or entertainment system on a smart powerstrip. The "control outlet" is what turns on the "switched" outlets. Typically, you would plug into the control outlet a device that has a remote, such as your cable box or a gaming system, so that when you hit your remote, your system is ready to go. Amplifiers and receivers, for example, do not need to be on all the time, so they can be plugged into the switched outlets.  

5. Add faucet aerators to your kitchen and bathroom sinks. These will cut your hot water use and costs.

6. Your showerhead may also need replacement to cut your hot water use. For maximum water efficiency, select a WaterSense labeled shower head with a flow rate of less than 2.0 gpm. There are two basic types of low-flow showerheads: aerating and laminar-flow. Aerating showerheads mix air with water, forming a misty spray. Laminar-flow showerheads form individual streams of water. A modern showerhead will cut your hot water use and costs.