Home Energy Efficiency in Pittsburgh

Making Your Home Comfortable and Efficient

When it comes to being energy savvy in Pittsburgh, here are some stats to consider.

• The average low from December to February is in the low 20's and the average summer high is in the 80's. Temperature variations like these make insulation important year round.
• Pennsylvania produces and uses a lot of coal to generate electricity. The average price of electricity for Pittsburg residents is about $0.12 per kilowatt-hour.
• The average price of natural gas from utilities such as Peoples Natural Gas and XTO energy is around $12 per thousand cubic feet.
• The average Pennsylvania home was built in 1958. Older cities like Pittsburgh have a lot of room for improvement in residential energy efficiency.
• The average annual wind speed in the Pittsburgh area is 9 mph.

Home Energy Audits in Pittsburgh

Energy audits are a great way to gather a to do list of energy efficiency upgrades that will help you lower your utility bills and make your home more comfortable. Typically, energy audits cost a few hundred dollars, but Allegheny Power offers comprehensive audits for $180!

If you'd like to find out — for free and within minutes — whether your home is a good candidate for an energy audit and for upgrades, take our online home energy report. We'll give you a home energy score and estimate your savings potential.

Home Energy Upgrades in Pittsburgh

Some of the items on your to do list may include some of the follow energy efficiency upgrades.

• Insulation and Air Sealing: As said above, older cities have a lot of room for energy efficiency improvement, especially in the areas of air sealing and insulation, which will seal your home in order to prevent a loss of air that has been heated and cooled.
• High-Efficiency HVAC: Energy efficient heating and cooling systems will help you lower your utility bills significantly, especially when combined with insulation and air sealing.
• ENERGY STAR Appliances: If you're still rocking that 1970s refrigerator or other out dated appliances such as dish washers, clothes washers, dryers, etc., it's probably time for some appliance upgrades. ENERGY STAR appliances will help you drop you energy consumption and lower your utility bills.
• Energy-Efficient Windows: ENERGY STAR windows with low U-factors and low SHGC ratings will make a big difference in your home's overall comfort and make a dent in your bills, but the upfront costs are high. So you should definitely have an energy audit before replacing windows in order to find out if there are more cost-effective measures that can be done first.
• Wind Energy: If you give yourself a pat on the back every time you think about how energy efficient you've made your home, you may be ready for the next step — a renewable energy system such as wind. Using wind turbines to generate your own electricity will not only save you a ton of money on your utilities, but it will significantly reduce your environmental impact and help you become more energy independent.

Have a project in mind? Contact an energy expert to get started.

Energy Rebates and Tax Credits in Pittsburgh

Home Efficiency Upgrades: Along with the discounted energy audit, Allegheny Power also offers rebates on ENERGY STAR appliances such as dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers, programmable thermostats and more. Duquesne Light Company offers rebates on insulation, cooling system upgrades and ENERGY STAR appliances. If you're not sure how to finance upgrades in your home, Pennsylvania offers an energy-efficiency HELP loan. For a limited time, Pennsylvania will also be offering rebates on furnaces, water heaters and boilers.

Renewable Energy Systems: Pennsylvania offers the Sunshine Solar Rebate Program, which provides rebates for solar panels, solar water heaters and solar space heaters. The US government will cover up to 30 percent of a system's costs through the Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit.

Check out all energy rebates and tax credits in Pittsburgh.

Home Energy Resources from EnergySavvy

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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: May 2010

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