Energy Efficiency FAQs

Mayor Thomas M. Menino initiated Renew Boston in partnership with NSTAR and National Grid to provide Boston residents with no-cost home energy efficiency assessments and generous incentives for energy efficiency improvements. The improvements offer residents and landlords a low-hassle way to lower their energy bills, increase the value of their homes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Qualifying residents may receive a range of no-cost efficiency services including a comprehensive home energy assessment and instant savings measures such as high-efficiency light bulbs and water savings devices. After receiving an energy assessment, residents can get 75% off – up to $2000 – for insulation and air sealing. Depending upon the results of the home energy assessment, customers may also qualify for a variety of other incentives for energy efficient products.

Boston renters and homeowners living in a single-family home or a small apartment building with up to four units may be eligible for Renew Boston services. Landlords can also take advantage of Renew Boston services. Program eligibility is determined by the following: active interest in weatherization improvements, resident must live in a 1-4 unit building, and renters must have landlord approval for any efficiency improvements installed in the home. Residents who qualify for Fuel Assistance due to their income should contact Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) at 617-357-6012 to learn more about no-cost weatherization and insulation.

If you believe your total household annual income is below 60% of state median income and/or you qualify for Fuel Assistance or your utility’s discount rate, you may be eligible for even greater incentives and assistance offered by Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD). ABCD offers several benefits including fuel assistance, discounted electricity and telephone rates, as well as heating system assistance. The first step is to apply for fuel assistance. You can contact your neighborhood ABCD office or call ABCD at 617-357-6012. Be sure to tell them that you were referred by the Renew Boston Program and you are interested in weatherization. If you already have a Renew Boston assessment scheduled, you will need to cancel that visit. Please call Renew Boston at (617) 635-SAVE (7283) immediately to cancel your assessment.

If you have any questions about whether or not you qualify for the Renew Boston offer, please call Renew Boston at 617-635-7283.

Renew Boston can help you maximize the incentives available for your building. Tenants, landlords, and condo owners should contact Renew Boston at 617-524-3950 x 155 or [email protected] to discuss the specific situation.

Yes, but only if there is an active utility bill in your name for that unit.

Yes, but only if there is an active utility bill in your name for that unit. If the bills are in your tenants’ names, you may request an energy assessment for their apartments when you have the name and account number on their utility bills.

On the day of your assessment, a certified professional Energy Advisor will visit your home and ask to see as much of the house as is accessible, from basement to attic. As your Advisor goes through your home, they will install energy efficient lightbulbs, an energy-saving power strip, shower and faucet aerators, and a programmable thermostat if you don’t already have them. New this year, you may be eligible for one LED lightbulb, the latest innovation in efficient lighting.

One of the first things your Energy Advisor will look for are any health & safety issues that would make it dangerous to weatherize your home. Think of your home like an envelope: if the Advisor is looking for ways to seal it up so the heat doesn’t escape, they will want to make sure that you won’t be sealing anything unhealthy or hazardous into the home along with the heat. The Energy Advisor will check your heating system for carbon monoxide leaks, will suggest you get a licensed electrician’s input if any wiring is “knob and tube” (an old type of wiring that could be a fire hazard when insulating your home), and will check your home in general for ventilation, asbestos, and mold/mildew danger.

These are called “pre-weatherization issues” and the most common ones cost the homeowner $300-500 to fix. The program offers rebates for checking and/or fixing several of these pre-weatherization barriers. If your home has any pre-weatherization barriers, your Advisor will follow-up with additional information on how to remediate those issues so that you can move forward. If your home is clear of health & safety hazards, the Advisor will look for opportunities to provide insulation for your home. The Advisor will check the attic and basement for insulation, because these are places where the bulk of heat escapes or cold air enters the home. The Advisor will be looking for ways to “air seal” as well as insulate these spaces. They may also remove electrical sockets on the walls and prod the interior spaces with a wire or other device to check for insulation. The Advisor will also check your heating system’s efficiency to see if a heating system upgrade might save you money.

At the end of your assessment, your Advisor will produce a report listing potential ways you could improve the energy efficiency of your home and the program incentives to support this work. If insulation is needed, they will present you with a weatherization contract, or they may have another specialist contact you at a later date to discuss a contract. In addition, they may give you a form you can take to a bank to apply for a 0%-interest HEAT Loan up to $25,000. This is a program-subsidized loan, which you could use to cover insulation work, heating system upgrades, and other eligible upgrades.

You will not be asked to pay anything for the Home Energy Assessment and you will have no obligation to implement any of the recommendations on the Energy Advisor’s report. The Energy Advisor is not connected to the City’s Inspectional Services Department and if you get insulation, this will not affect the assessed value of your home.

Home Energy Assessments usually take about 2 hours, though the Energy Advisor who performs your Assessment may be able to finish your home in less time. More time is required for buildings with more than one living unit. Appointments are scheduled for weekdays between the hours of 8am and 6pm. Some Saturday appointments are available but may be booked up months in advance.

Our partners at Mass Save have an excellent website detailing technical information, incentives, and rebates regarding all energy efficiency upgrades. Visit www.MassSave.com for more information.