The weather in New England plummeted to bone-chilling temperatures this weekend and it will linger until Tuesday. With the frigid weather, it’s more important than ever that your home is tight and well-insulated. I’m not sure about other states in New England, but I know both Massachusetts and Connecticut offer inexpensive energy audits and subsidized upgrades to accomplish that goal.

Massachusetts actually offers a free energy assessment through the Mass Save program for participating utilities including Bay State Gas Company, The Berkshire Gas Company, Cape Light Compact, National Grid, New England Gas Company, NSTAR, Unitil, and Western Massachusetts Electric Company. In order to qualify for a Mass Save energy assessment, you must be a homeowner or renter and must reside in a service area of one of the above mentioned utilities. If you don’t see the name of your utility above, you should contact them directly because most of the municipal light plants in the state have energy efficiency programs in place.

The Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund has launched the Home Energy Solutions program for homeowners and renters in the United Illuminating (UI) and Connecticut Light & Power (electric utility) service areas. The program offers home energy assessments and weatherization services to Connecticut residents at a co-pay of $75 or less. Please refer to your utility’s website for more specific information on programs.

Not only do many Massachusetts and Connecticut residents qualify for a much discounted home energy assessment, but they also have many opportunities to save money while they make energy improvements. A homeowner can qualify for rebates for insulation, heating and cooling systems, and replacing inefficient appliances. In addition, there are opportunities for zero percent or low interest financing.

Massachusetts’ Mass Save program and Connecticut’s Home Energy Solutions identify cost effective home energy improvements and /or replacement opportunities. Overall, they give you a clear roadmap on how to lower your utility bills and protect and conserve natural resources. Energy efficiency isn’t the only way you can reduce your ongoing energy expenses. They also mention you can take things one step further with deep energy retrofits that include super-insulation, solar thermal, and solar photovoltaic installations. If you do want to move forward with a solar photovoltaic installation in Massachusetts or Connecticut, it is a requirement to complete an energy audit or assessment as part of the state-funded rebate programs. The state wants to make sure that you’re using energy wisely in your home before they give you money in the form of a rebate toward a solar power investment.

As a solar installer, we recommend our customers take measures to improve efficiency before we begin construction of their solar electric system. There are a great number of incentives available for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Brightstar Solar is a licensed solar installer with experience working with the MassCEC and CT Clean Energy Fund rebate programs. We have an in-depth knowledge of all of the incentives available for photovoltaic solar installations and help our customers navigate through this process. Please reach out to us if you’re interested in a complimentary solar evaluation and free estimate for your home or business in Massachusetts or Connecticut.