Energy Efficiency for Home
Energy efficiency is a great investment, whether you rent or own your home. The Cape Light Compact offers several programs designed to help you save while making your home more comfortable all year round.
Steps toward Savings
“The installers were professional, on time, thorough, … it worked the way it was supposed to work.” Paul Schrader, Sandwich resident.
1. Call 1-800-797-6699 for a FREE home energy assessment
2. Our vendor will conduct an energy assessment in your home and recommend improvements to save you energy and money
3. Benefit from rebates and incentives for recommended energy improvements you select
*Please note that there is no additional charge for the energy assessment as you already pay into the Energy Efficiency Fund (which primarily funds these programs), through your electric bill.*
Learn more about our programs and how they can work for you:
Energy Services Available for your Existing Home or Rental Property
“I sincerely appreciate this service and wish I had taken advantage of this a long time ago! The energy specialists and installers were efficient, courteous and helpful.” Karl Fehrle, Chatham Resident.
Whether you rent or own your single-family home you are eligible for:
- FREE home energy assessment, with FREE energy efficient light bulbs, and FREE air sealing
- Generous incentives and resources to make weatherizing your home and installing energy efficient upgrades affordable
- Rebates on energy efficient products – check out our Residential Rebate Finder to see current rebate offers
- Enhanced incentives for income eligible residents
- Special programs for new construction and rental properties
- Innovative pilot programs that can substantially increase your money and energy savings
- Zero/low-interest HEAT Loan through Mass Save® to help install energy efficient home improvements
Call 1-800-797-6699 to schedule a FREE home energy assessment and start on your way to savings!
For a list of participating independent installation contractors and home performance contractors, click here.
Financing Options
Visit the Residential Rebate Finder to see available energy efficiency rebates and incentives.
Visit the Mass Save® HEAT Loan page to see if you may qualify for a zero percent interest loan for eligible energy efficient home improvements. A home energy assessment is required before paying for or installing new equipment.
If you purchase energy efficient products or renewable energy systems for your home, you may be eligible for federal renewable energy tax credits.
If you are the owner or operator of a residential multi-family property with 5 or more units, energy efficiency should be a key part of your business plan. Regardless of your income, rate code, or whether the building currently exists or is scheduled for construction, you may be eligible for programs for reducing your building’s energy usage.
Mass Save® offers Multi-Family Energy Assessments that identify cost-effective energy efficiency improvement or replacement opportunities. Utilizing a “whole building” approach, we focus on your building’s thermal envelope (shell insulation and air leakage conditions for units heated by natural gas or electricity) as well as lighting and mechanical systems. We will also assess in-unit savings potential for your tenants. This program is not available for oil or propane heated units.
Eligibility
Eligible multi-family facilities are defined as: Residential facilities with five or more dwelling units on the property, OR Buildings with income-eligible residents living in non-institutional multi-family facilities with five or more units owned or operated by a non-profit entity or a public housing authority. These facilities would qualify under the Mass Save® Low Income Multi-Family Program.
Program Incentives
The following improvements may be eligible for Mass Save® incentives:
- Energy efficient lighting upgrades & controls
- Occupancy sensors
- Water Heating equipment
- Domestic hot water measures: low-flow showerheads, aerators, and pipe wrap
- Programmable thermostats
- Insulation
- Air sealing
- High-efficiency heating and cooling equipment upgrades and controls
- ENERGY STAR® qualified refrigerators and other eligible appliances
- Variable speed drives
- Motors
- Chillers
- Energy Management Systems (EMS)
- Air compressors
- Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRV)/Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV)
- Custom technologies
Properties with 1-4 units per property are served under the Mass Save® Residential program and are not eligible for multi-family energy assessments. Please see the Renters/Landlords tab above. For questions regarding the Mass Save® Multi-Family Program, please call (800) 594-7277. For information about the Mass Save® Low Income Multi-Family Program, visit www.leanmultifamily.org or call (617) 348-6425.
Other Resources for Multi-family Properties
The EPA has developed Portfolio Manager, an interactive energy management tool that allows you to track and assess energy and water consumption across your entire portfolio of buildings in a secure online environment. Whether you own, manage, or hold properties for investment, Portfolio Manager can help you set investment priorities, identify under-performing buildings, verify efficiency improvements, and receive EPA recognition for superior energy performance. Visit the EPA’s Portfolio Manager Benchmarking Tool to learn more.
The process starts with a phone call (800-797-6699) to Cape Light Compact. After verifying income eligibility, an energy specialist will conduct a FREE home energy assessment.
All qualifying homes are eligible for:
- FREE high efficiency lighting
- FREE insulation and air sealing, and other weatherization (up to $4,000 in value)
- FREE refrigerator replacement (if existing model is inefficient)
- Potential heating system upgrade (if existing system is determined to be highly inefficient)
Additional Income-Eligible Energy Services
Your income level and household size may qualify you for a variety of additional programs including:
- Fuel assistance
- Reduced utility rates
- Free weatherization and energy efficiency services
To apply for fuel assistance: South Shore Community Action Council Call (508) 778-0870, Hyannis office only during the winter months Call (877) 383-5243, year round office in Plymouth
To inquire about electric discount rates: Call Eversource at (800) 566-2080
For help managing past due electric bills: Call Eversource at (866) 315-2496 and ask about their new Arrearage Forgiveness Program
To inquire about gas discount rates: Call National Grid at (800) 532-9600
For more information about energy assistance programs available to Massachusetts residents: Visit Citizens Energy
Energy Services Available for New Construction
The Mass Save Residential New Construction Program provides incentives to make newly constructed homes more energy efficient than typical code-built, homes.
New homes built on Cape Cod or Martha’s Vineyard are eligible to apply for incentives. Incentives for energy-efficient new construction range from $350 – $7,000 per unit. Additional incentives such as FREE compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light emitting diodes (LEDs), gas heating and hot water systems, central air conditioning and lighting are also available through this program.
Required Steps
- Call 800-628-8413 for pre-qualifying information.
- Select a Home Energy Rating System rating company from the LIST. You will work with your rater to schedule your inspection appointments.
- The rater will work with you to confirm which incentives will be submitted to the Program on your behalf. You will receive an award letter from the program, via email, confirming the incentives your rater requested for you. Your incentive check will be processed once your rater has verified you meet the qualifications after final inspection of the completed home.
- To leverage ENERGY STAR branded material including logos to market your new home as ENERGY STAR qualified, please visit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website at www.energystar.gov/homespa.
What to expect during a Home Energy Assessment
Overview of Home Energy Assessment
What to Expect from Your Home Energy Assessment
What to Expect from Your Insulation Installation After Your Assessment
Cape Light Compact’s Home Energy Assessment utilizes a “whole house” approach to help identify energy efficient upgrades that will reduce energy bills, increase year-round comfort, and create a healthier environment.
To qualify for a FREE home energy assessment you must have an active Eversource electric account on Cape Cod or Martha’s Vineyard. These assessments are available for existing residences, and not applicable to new construction projects. Call (800) 797-6699 to schedule your free home energy assessment today!
For a list of participating independent installation contractors and home performance contractors, click here.
For elderly customers, the Compact has teamed with Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands to offer the Home Energy Assessment Buddy Program. The program provides a trained volunteer from Elder Services to be present during the home energy assessment. To learn more please call 800-244-4630 x524.
The home energy assessment includes installation of instant savings measures at no additional cost:
- FREE Compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs
- FREE Light emitting diode (LED) bulbs (limits may apply)
- FREE Low-flow shower head and faucet aerators
- FREE Air sealing
Additional energy efficiency measures available from Cape Light Compact include:
A blower door test is performed to de-pressurize the house to help determine air leaks.
- Duct Sealing
- Insulation
- Refrigerator Replacement
- Combustion Safety and Knob and Tube Inspections
To view more detailed info regarding these measures, please view our information sheet.
More Resources
Case Studies
The following case studies describe residential energy efficiency projects on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard that were funded by Cape Light Compact. Each case study contains a detailed description of the project, as well as data concerning the energy and monetary savings made possible by the improvements. Click an image to view the case study.
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- Sandwich Resident
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- Gull’s Nest Condominium, Provincetown
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- Cynthia H., Hyannis
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- Efficient Neighborhoods
Brochures, Tips, FAQs, etc.
2017 Residential Rebate Brochure – click image for pdf
Chill Your Bill Winter Home Energy Tips Brochure
Chill Your Bill Winter Home Energy Tips Poster
Click to enlarge these images with more energy saving tips:
Frequently Asked Questions about the Compact’s Energy Efficiency Programs
Home Energy Detective Kit
If the answer is yes, go to your local library and take out a Home Energy Detective Kit. The kit includes a Kill-a-watt meter, an instructional booklet and appliance usage card for reference.
DOWNLOAD Home Energy Detective Kit Booklet
DOWNLOAD Typical Residential Appliance Usage Card
The Home Energy Detective Kit is available at the following public libraries: Barnstable (Sturgis) Library, Bourne Library, Brewster Library, Brooks (Harwich) Library, Centerville Library, Chatham Library, Dennis Memorial Library, Dennis Public Library, East Dennis (Sears) Library, Eastham Library, Edgartown Library, Falmouth Library, Hyannis Library, Marstons Mills Library, Oak Bluffs Library, Orleans Library, Osterville Library, Provincetown Library, Sandwich Library, South Dennis Library, South Yarmouth Library, Truro Public Library, Vineyard Haven Library, Wellfleet Public Library , West Barnstable (Whelden) Library, Woods Hole Public Library, Yarmouthport Library
