Home Energy Efficiency in Wilmington

Making Your Home Comfortable and Efficient

How do we really compare to the rest of the country in terms of energy efficiency and the need for it?

• When it's cold, it's really cold! For a good half of the year, our average low is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, which means we have to spend a lot of time and money keeping our houses warm.
• During the summer, though, it gets pretty hot! Three months out of the year the average high is over 80, so we have to remember to incorporate cooling strategies into our homes, not just heating ones.
• At $15 per thousand feet cubed of natural gas, we pay around $5 more for each thousand feet cubed than the rest of the country. Since energy prices are rising, homeowners with inefficient houses will end up paying even more on heating and cooling in coming years.

Home Energy Audits in Wilmington

In Wilmington, there are a wide variety of income levels, house ages and other factors to take into consideration, so your best bet is to get an in-home energy audit. An energy audit will help you learn how efficient your house is and which upgrades will give you the most bang for your buck. An in-home energy audit typically costs a few hundred dollars, but in many cases, it'll identify easy problems to fix that'll result in at least a few hundred dollars of savings in the short-term, paying for itself!

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 Wilmington

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

• Attic Insulation: If, like most houses in Wilmington, yours doesn't have much in the way of attic insulation, try checking out programs that help subsidize improvements. Paying a little up front can save you a lot down the line.
• Efficient Windows: Upgrading to higher-efficiency windows may help with heating and cooling costs, since windows are the number one source of heat loss in a house. Also, given the recent "snowmageddon" in the East Coast, storm windows might be good protection from the elements, as well as a heating and cooling efficiency helper.
• Solar Panels: A home solar system takes some know-how and the right conditions, but can pay off well if your house receives enough sunlight daily.

Have a project in mind? Find the right contractor.

Energy Rebates and Tax Credits in Wilmington

How do you pay for it all? Energy rebates and tax credits from the State of Delaware and the federal government are all lined up for you to use - you just need to know what to ask for.

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Home Efficiency Upgrades: The state of Delaware provides rebates of up to $550 for energy-efficient appliances. These rebates are not taxable by the U.S. government. Also the federal government offers a tax credit equal to 30 percent of the cost of energy efficiency upgrades such as adding insulation, replacing your roof, windows and/or doors, and upgrading inefficient appliances like water heaters or central air conditioners.

Renewable Energy Systems: Delaware offers Green Energy Program Incentives for solar space and water heaters. The U.S. government also provides a Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit, which applies to 30 percent of the cost of measures such as geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, photovoltaic systems and more.

Check out all energy rebates and tax credits in Wilmington.

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: March 2010

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