ATHOL – The town is encouraging residents to take part in a free home assessment through Mass Save and HomeWorks Energy to explore potential energy efficiency upgrades.
Planning and Development Director Eric Smith explained that HomeWorks will look at issues like weatherization, lighting, the installation of heat pumps and other steps that might be taken to improve energy efficiency and conservation.
Those who agree to having an assessment done, said Smith, “Aren’t necessarily tied to using HomeWorks to do those improvements. We’re just partnering with HomeWorks, using their resources to reach out to everybody in town, versus the Town of Athol having to do so.”
In addition to completing an assessment, Smith continued, HomeWorks representatives will provide an estimate of the cost of the improvements that may be recommended.
“Depending on income levels, there are a lot of good resources out there to be able to help people who are low- or moderate-income,” he said. “There’s the potential for having some improvements done at low cost or no cost. HomeWorks will identify all of those resources.”
A letter soon to be mailed includes the example of an Athol resident who last year completed more than $6,000 worth of energy upgrades to their home and only paid $1,270.38. The balance, the letter states, was covered by Mass Save incentives.
While the effort is focused on single-family homes, Smith noted that HomeWorks’ free assessments are available to anyone who owns a building with up to four units.
Some of the benefits that may result from an assessment include, according to the letter, a rebate of up to $16,000 on high-efficiency heat pumps; a 0% Mass Save HEAT Loan; and a safety check of a home’s heating and cooling system, as well as gas appliances.
At the Selectboard meeting, Town Manager Shaun Suhoski said, “This is a legitimate program partially overseen by the Department of Energy Resoucres. It is funded through everyone’s electric bill – the ‘energy efficiency’ charge. So, all this money is being collected by the utilities, and this is one method to give back to the community.”
Homeowners interested in a free energy assessment can call (781) 305-3319 or go online at HWE.Works/Athol.
Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.