The Mass Save energy assessment program is Massachusetts’ all-encompassing energy efficiency campaign, and is sponsored by both your electric utility and energy efficiency providers. The program is available to renters, homeowners, and businesses across Massachusetts. Here’s the complete breakdown of all the different measures that you can take to reduce your energy use and resultant utility bills through the Mass Save program in 2019.
MA Save rebates for lighting and appliances
One of the simplest actions you can take to reduce your energy use is to swap out your old, inefficient lighting and appliances for more efficient models. Mass Save offers rebates and discounts for small and large appliances, lighting, and heating & cooling systems.
Compact fluorescent (CFL) and LED light bulbs
Replacing your old incandescent light bulbs is about as simple as energy efficiency can get. While a 60-watt incandescent light bulb will last for about 1,200 hours, a comparable CFL bulb will last 8,000 hours, and LED light bulbs can last for up to 25,000 hours. Assuming eight hours of usage per day, these LED bulbs can light your home for more than 3,000 days – over eight years – before they need to be replaced. More efficient bulbs come at a higher price, but you can get significant discounts on both CFLs and LEDs by buying through the Mass Save website.
Advanced power strips
Many electronics, such as your television or computer, will use some electricity even when they’re turned off. By switching to advanced power strips, you can reduce the amount of energy that’s wasted by electronic devices when they are not in use.
Advanced power strips have a “master” outlet and “controlled” outlets. When your electronic device is plugged into the master outlet and turned off, the power strip will also cut power to the controlled outlets – thereby preventing any device from drawing power unnecessarily. Advanced power strips are a great way to reduce the amount of standby power you use in your home, and you can purchase them at a discount on the Mass Save website as well.
Washers, dryers, refrigerators and freezers
If you’re using older appliances in your home, you can significantly reduce your electricity use by replacing them with new energy-efficient models. To help you out, Mass Save offers rebates for energy efficient appliances:
| Appliance | Mass Save Rebate |
|---|---|
| Washing machine/Clothes washers | Up to $150 |
| Clothes dryers | Up to $50 |
| Room air cleaners | Up to $40 |
| Dehumidifiers | Up to $30 |
Air source heat pumps
Heating and cooling your home or business is one of the biggest contributors to your month-to-month energy bills. However, it can be costly to invest in upgrades to your HVAC system. Fortunately, Mass Save offers rebates to help you save on air source heat pump installations.
Your rebate amount depends on the size of your system (in tons), the delivery method (ducted vs. ductless) and whether you’re displacing your current fuel type (oil or propane) or using air source heat pumps as a supplemental heating and cooling resource. Additionally, there are different eligibility requirements for various types of air source heat pump installations:
- Integrated controls: allow property owners to automatically switch back and forth from air source heat pump heating to their conventional heating source based on outdoor temperatures
- SEER and HSPF ratings: indicate how efficiently an air source heat pump technology heats (SEER) and cools (HSPF) a space
- Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership (NEEP) Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pump: a list of air source heat pump technologies that meet a proven performance standard at low temperatures
| Air source heat pump rebate type | Mass Save Rebate |
|---|---|
| Whole home | $10,000 |
| Partial home | $1,250 per ton, up to $10,000 |
| Integrated controls | $500 per indoor unit, up to $1,500 |
*integrated controls are not required if you’re completely removing an existing oil or propane heating system entirely.
Wireless and programmable thermostats
An easy way to cut down on your day-to-day heating and cooling costs is to install a smart thermostat. You can choose a wireless thermostat, which is wifi-enabled and can be controlled remotely, or a programmable thermostat, which uses preset temperatures based on the date and time. Both options reduce the amount of energy you use when you’re not at home. Certain smart thermostats even have the capability to communicate with your utility directly. Mass Save offers a rebate of up to $100 to purchase a wireless or programmable thermostat. You can also purchase a discounted wireless thermostat and have it installed at no cost during your Mass Save energy assessment. Take a look at the table below to learn more about the top smart thermostats on the market:
| Solar shingles | Solar panels | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $60,000 - $75,000 | $15,000 - $25,000 |
| Aesthetics | Look like traditional shingles | Can be noticeable on your roof |
| Availability | Not widely available | Available in most places |
| Flexibility | Limited viability | Works for most roofs |
| Efficiency | 14% - 18% | 20% - 23% |
Mass Save energy assessments for your home
In addition to rebates on energy-efficient appliances and equipment, the Mass Save program offers no-cost home energy assessments for homeowners, renters, landlords, and multi-family buildings in Massachusetts.
During a home energy assessment, an Energy Specialist affiliated with the Mass Save program will come to your home and create a personalized report with energy efficiency recommendations for your property. The report will include suggestions like replacing windows or insulation, as well as upgrading to energy-efficient appliances. In addition, your Energy Specialist will install immediate energy efficiency measures like LED light bulbs, programmable thermostats, and water-saving devices at no cost.
An additional benefit of getting an energy assessment through the Mass Save program is that you gain access to the Mass Save HEAT loan program. HEAT loans offer low-cost financing that you can use for more significant energy efficiency improvements.
Mass Save HEAT loan program
There are lots of big-picture projects that you can take on to reduce your energy use, but the ones with the greatest payoff also have high out-of-pocket costs. During your Mass Save energy assessment, your Energy Specialist might determine that you should upgrade your heating or cooling system or replace the insulation or windows in your home.
Customers of National Grid, EverSource, Unitil and Cape Cod Light Compact are eligible for the Mass Save HEAT Loan program, which offers 0% financing for a variety of energy efficiency home improvements. You can borrow up to $25,000 to finance:
- Heating system replacements
- Domestic hot water and solar hot water heaters
- Central air conditioning and heat pumps
- Insulation & replacement windows
A new grant from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources has temporarily expanded the projects eligible for HEAT loans to include:
- Central wood pellet heating systems
- Deep energy retrofits
- Removal of asbestos and vermiculite
- Upgrading knob & tube wiring
Solar power: the best way to reduce energy bills in Massachusetts
The Mass Save program offers many different ways to reduce your energy use by making your property more efficient. However, energy efficiency can only take you so far. The most impactful way to cut your energy costs over the long term is generate your own electricity, and installing solar panels in Massachusetts is one of the best investments you can make in your home. In fact, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association, Massachusetts is a top 10 state for solar.
The average Massachusetts homeowner who installed solar in 2015 broke even on their investment in just five years, and their solar panels will continue to produce electricity for 20+ years. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has also created the Mass Solar Loan program, which is one of the best ways to finance a solar panel installation in the entire country.
To find out just how much you can cut your energy bills by going solar, try using EnergySage’s Solar Calculator. The Solar Calculator uses weather data, local rebates and incentives, electricity rates, and real-time prices to create a customized estimate of your 20-year solar savings. Based in Boston and backed by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, EnergySage offers a solar marketplace where you can get competing solar installation quotes for your property, for free. When you combine Mass Save energy efficiency measures with solar power, you can be confident that you’re maximizing your savings while living in a truly eco-friendly home.
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