Home Energy Efficiency in Boston

Overview

Founded in 1630, Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States. While Bostonians may brag about their rich history, there are some things that don't improve with age. The average Massachusetts house was built in 1956, which means there are a lot of homes in the Boston area that could use an energy retrofit.

Making Your Home Comfortable and Efficient

Here is some information to ponder when considering energy efficiency improvements.

The average temperature high for Boston in the summer is 82 degrees, and the average low in January is 22 degrees. On top of that, the average low for the seven coldest months reads in the 40s or lower. This means insulation is key to keeping your home comfortable and affordable.
Nearly half of Massachusetts's residents heat their homes with natural gas, which costs around $14.11/thousand cubic feet from National Grid and other electricity providers. That's $2.50 higher than the national average.
The cost of electricity from NSTAR and other Massachusetts utilities is around $0.17/kilowatt-hour (40 percent higher than the national average).

Home Energy Upgrades in Boston

So what should Boston residents be doing to make their homes more energy efficient?

Energy Audit: Not sure where to begin? An energy audit can give you the answer by identifying the areas of your home that are slacking when it comes to conserving energy, like single pane windows or inefficient appliances.
Attic Insulation: In order to keep your home affordable and comfortable during all four seasons, you'll want to make sure your home isn't losing or letting in heat through inefficient windows, doors or walls. If your attic insulation, like many older homes, is only 3-4 inches thick, ENERGY STAR experts recommend adding insulation with a rating of R38 to R49 to the existing layer.
ENERGY STAR Appliances: If your insulation is up to par, but your energy bills still make you groan, you might want to consider replacing some of your outdated appliances. Using new, ENERGY STAR approved equipment (heat pumps, furnaces, refrigerators, etc.) may significantly reduce your home's energy consumption.
Solar Panels: If you enjoy bragging about how cheap your utility bills are, youl might be a good candidate for a renewable energy system. Home solar panel systems can be used to power your home and possibly help you achieve a net zero home.

Energy Rebates and Tax Credits in Boston

How do you pay for the projects that will make your utility bills affordable? Massachusetts, along with NSTAR and National Grid, offer several incentives to help make energy-efficiency projects affordable.

Home Efficiency Upgrades: NSTAR offers a rebate of up to $2,000 to customers who weatherize their homes by adding insulation to their floor, walls, or attic. Other rebates through NSTAR are available for installing efficient windows, water heaters, furnaces and lighting. Also, the U.S. government offers a tax credit of $1,500 for energy-efficient appliances and measures.

Renewable Energy Systems: There are several different incentives that can be stacked to help cover the cost of installing a wind energy system. The Commonwealth Wind Initiative offers up to $40,000 depending on system size. Massachusetts offers a state income tax credit of $1,000 for installing a renewable energy system (including solar). And Mass Energy will buy your system's renewable energy credits for $30/megawatt-hour of energy produced. Finally, the federal government offers homeowners a tax credit of 30 percent of the costs of a renewable energy system.

New Energy Rebates... Coming Soon: "Cash for Caulkers", also known as HOME STAR, is a proposed initiative that will create a larger tax credit from the federal government for making your house a certain percent more energy efficient overall — no matter how you do it, as long as it's testable. In March 2010, Massachusetts will provide rebates for ENERGY STAR approved refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers and dishwashers. There is more than $6 million dollars available for the program, which will last until funds run out.

Check out all energy rebates and tax credits in Boston.

Home Energy Resources from EnergySavvy

Home Energy Report: How efficient is your home? Find out how to improve your home's efficiency and comfort, without spending tons of money, with EnergySavvy's free online home energy report.
Energy Rebate and Tax Credit Directory: EnergySavvy's guide to energy rebates and tax credits can help you find all the energy tax credits and rebates that are available locally for you.
Energy Contractors: If you've got a project in mind to make your home more energy efficient and comfortable and you'd like to talk with an energy expert about it, we can help. We focus on the relatively small group of contractors nationwide who really understand home energy auditing and energy retrofits.
Educational Content: Home energy efficiency is complicated stuff. It's not just as simple as laying some insulation in the attic. We've put together a library of easy-to-read topics that cover the basics of energy efficiency. And if you have a question about anything, you can ask one of our energy experts using our "Ask an Expert" feature.

Last Updated: January 2010