Uncovering Hidden Savings: The Benefits and Process of a Massachusetts Energy Audit

Everyone wants to save money on their home energy bill—that’s just a fact. Getting those savings isn’t always simple. There are many terms that get thrown about, including Mass Save® home audit, Mass Save® home energy audit, home energy audit, home energy audit report, residential energy audit, energy savings and upgrading your heating and cooling systems.

It can all get a little confusing, because it’s hard to know who’s offering what kinds of savings. The federal government is involved with the Inflation Reduction Act, and the state of Massachusetts is offering home energy rebates via the Mass Save® program. Other savings seem to be coming from different government sources, and there are companies with their own programs as well.

So let’s sort it out. The process starts with a Mass Save® home energy audit, and this audit can help you uncover a hidden world of savings without any confusion or unnecessary runarounds.

 

What is a No-Cost Massachusetts Home Energy Audit?

Let’s start with a simple definition. The no-cost part of the headline for this section is simple—it means just that. Under the terms of the Mass Save® home energy audit program, these audits are free. Massachusetts helps identify the source of the savings, which are offered via the state government through Mass Save®.

 

So what exactly is a home energy audit?

The term “audit” might sound ominous, but in this case it works in your favor. The goal of the audit is to evaluate your home energy consumption, and to supply you with a final energy grade based on how well you’re doing in optimizing your home energy usage and costs.

There’s no judgment here, though. In fact, exposing any issues or missed opportunities for savings is actually a good thing, because the ultimate goal of a home energy audit is to provide you with a report with suggestions on how to cut your home energy bills.

 

Home Energy Audit: A 3-Part Process

A Massachusetts home energy audit is a three-part process, so let’s break it down to see how it all plays out.

The process starts with an evaluation that can be broken down as follows:

• Inspection: When a home energy auditor arrives at your home, they’ll look at your insulation and your windows and doors to see where you’re losing heat or cool air via leaks, holes or insufficient coverage. They’ll also look at your appliances to see if you’re using the latest technology when it comes to energy efficiency and the specific efficiency rating of your gear.
• Testing: Once the inspection is over, testing begins. The purpose of the testing is to further pinpoint the source of any energy loss in your home, with the goal of making more specific recommendations to help you become more energy efficient. Specifically, the tests include a blower door test, a more detailed heat loss test involving infrared cameras, efficiency meters to see how your furnace is performing, and surface thermometers to conduct temperature measurements at different points where energy loss seems to be more pronounced.
• Efficiency Recommendations: The third part of the test is the part where you learn about savings. Once your home energy efficiency has been thoroughly evaluated, it becomes possible to hone in on free updates, discount purchases, rebates and other forms of savings.

 

Infrared Cameras and the Blower Door Test

Before we break down the efficiency analysis further, it’s important to say a bit more about the blower door test and the heat loss tests using infrared cameras.

Simply put, the blower door test measures how airtight your home is. The test is exactly what it sounds like—the home energy auditor will open the door and use a fan to blow in air, which will depressurize your home. This will allow the auditor to detect any air leaks or drafts that could literally open the door to energy loss.

The infrared cameras as used as part of a thermal imaging test. These cameras can detect any energy loss in your walls, floors and ceilings, even if you have insulation in these areas.

 

Efficiency Analysis Can Help You Save on Your Oil, Natural Gas and Electric Bills

The efficiency analysis part of a Massachusetts home energy audit is very precise. One of the things the auditor does is to go over your utility bills and make suggestions that can save you money, regardless of whether you use oil or gas, or how much your electric bill is costing you.

That analysis also covers every aspect of your home energy usage. Your heating and cooling systems get a thorough review, and so do your appliances.

 

Recommendations that Reveal Your Hidden Energy Savings

The efficiency analysis will help the auditor make specific recommendations that can save you money. Some of these are simple, like sealing air leaks and adding insulation, which may end up being free under the terms of the Mass Save® program

Others are more complex and interactive. The home energy auditor may recommend replacing your windows or doors, or perhaps getting a smart thermostat that’s discounted via Mass Save®.

The bigger savings come when larger changes are recommended. This may be about getting more energy efficient appliances that are highly rated, or upgrading your electrical panel to make sure it’s both up to code and redone to save you as much money as possible.

The auditor may even recommend that you get a new furnace or boiler, or maybe even a heat pump. These larger investments also come with significant rebates, but they all start with a Massachusetts home energy audit.

 

How is Mass Save ® Involved in the Massachusetts Home Energy Audit?

There are several things you need to understand about the role of Mass Save® in all this, and one of the most important is that the program designates who is qualified to do home energy audits.

At Revise, Inc., we’re committed to doing everything we can to help make your home more energy efficient and educating you about your home and what you can do to maximize savings under Mass Save®. 

We’re proud to be a designated contractor under the Mass Save® program, and we’ve helped hundreds of customers save thousands of dollars while improving their energy efficiency. 

We make the process as simple as possible. Our home energy assessors are professionals who are extensively trained to evaluate your energy needs, and we’re happy to answer any questions you may have or explain anything from the assessment. We want you to understand that it’s a lot easier to increase your savings than you think, and we can show you how to do it. 

To start the process, call us at 800-885-7283 (SAVE) or visit our website, www.callrevise.com. We’ve got some great information about savings there, so it’s an excellent place to start if you’re curious and you want to get some background material about how to spend less while making your home more energy efficient.