CT Home Improvement blog

If there’s one thing on all our mind’s these days, it’s how to preserve what we have in these uncertain times. Energy costs also seem to be skyrocketing, leaving us wondering how we can save a little money. Refer Me is always on the look out for home related programs that our clients might be interested in. Energy efficient is a buzz word these days. The HE appliances look nice in your kitchen and bathroom, and do save you money in the long run, but what if you don’t need a new appliance yet?

Now residents of the State of Connecticut have access to Home Energy Solutions, a program funded through a surcharge on monthly electric bills. The program, run by Connecticut Light & Power Co. and United Illuminating, sends an energy-efficiency contractor to your home to perform an energy assessment, find and professionally seal critical air leaks, replace incandescent bulbs with compact florescent lamps, provide water conservation devices and make recommendations. The Home Energy Solutions audit costs $75 ($300 if you heat your house with oil or propane), and just having the visit can save you on your energy bills. If your home has issues that need to be addressed, be sure to check back with Refer Me to find a contractor to help.

Those looking to do a little more in the way of home improvements, can get rebates for installing energy efficient water heaters, furnaces or boilers. There are rebates of $300 available for those who replace their water heater with an energy efficient one attached to a natural gas boiler. You’ll be eligible for a rebate of up to $500 if you replace your furnace or boiler with a more energy efficient model. You can contact your utility company or visit http://www.ct.gov/opm/site/default.asp for more information on these programs.

If you don’t feel you need an entire house audit it’s good to keep in mind that it is imperative to have your oil fired heating equipment serviced annually which normally includes an efficiency test, a cleaning, and replacement of general filters and nozzles. While gas boilers, furnaces and water heaters are generally maintenance free, you should definitely have a qualified heating contractor evaluate your unit and components every few years. Keeping up with these tasks ensures a longer life for your equipment and also helps them to run more efficiently. Refer Me can also help you find a contractor to carry out these small maintenance tasks as well.

Whether you decide to take the plunge and do a major upgrade to the energy efficiency of your home or just decide to change some old light bulbs to florescent, it’s good to know even these small changes can make a difference to your bottom line.