The NHSaves® utility partners are here to ensure that New Hampshire residents are equipped with the tools they need to access energy-saving solutions and enjoy comfortable indoor temperatures during the hot summer months. Reliable and safe equipment operation is important for every home, and the NHSaves utility partners are here to help by providing energy audits, reliable partnerships with approved contractors and financial assistance.
According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, “a quarter of all U.S. households and two-thirds of low-income ones have high energy burdens, meaning they spend more than 6% of their income on utility bills, and two of every five low-income households have severe burdens, spending more than 10% of their income on energy costs.”
No one should have to sacrifice the comfort of their family in order to avoid the burden of higher energy usage. The NHSaves utility partners are committed to providing residents with options for lowering their energy costs, all while protecting the environment. Depending on your household size and total income, there are two different programs available that can help jumpstart your journey to improved comfort and reduced energy use.
What is Home Energy Performance?
Home Energy Performance is a program focused on reducing energy costs and protecting the environment through comprehensive, whole-house audits of your energy consumption and efficiency. Knowing how efficiently your home uses energy is one of the key first steps you can take to increase comfort. Common home efficiency upgrades include adding insulation and sealing air leaks.
- Eligibility: Complete the Home Heating Index tool, an online eligibility resource to check if you’re a good candidate for this program. It’s important to have your home’s conditioned square footage and one year’s worth of heating usage on hand for this audit.
- How It Works: After confirming eligibility for Home Energy Performance, an Energy Contractor will interview you to understand any concerns you may have regarding your home’s energy usage and comfort. The contractor will perform a comprehensive inspection of your home and its systems to identify areas where improvements can be made. They will then prepare a report with recommended upgrades, tailored to your needs, paired with information regarding available incentives. The NHSaves utility partners offer access to meaningful incentives alongside low-interest financing that contributes to savings of up to $6,000 in rebates on overall improvement costs. Once you choose which projects to move forward with, the work begins and the benefits start settling in.
What is Home Energy Assistance?
Home Energy Assistance is specifically designed to provide income-eligible homeowners and renters with weatherization services and equipment upgrades to reduce energy consumption and make their homes safer, healthier and increase at-home comfort. Common improvements include adding insulation and sealing air leaks, improving heating and cooling systems and upgrading appliances or water heating equipment with newer and more efficient models.
- Eligibility: Income-eligibility is determined by total household income and number of people in the household. As a first step, the Community Action Agency (CAA) for each county can help to determine you and your home’s eligibility status.
- How It Works: Once your eligibility is confirmed, the NHSaves utility partners will work with you to identify areas in your home where making an upgrade or replacing equipment could make a significant difference in your everyday comfort as well as your monthly expenses. As part of the NHSaves utility partners’ goal to enable residents to become more energy efficient, Home Energy Assistance project costs are 100% covered by the program.
Benefits of Participation
There are many benefits to enjoy when you participate in Home Energy Performance and Home Energy Assistance: fewer drafts and increased comfort, saving up to 20% on your annual heating and cooling costs and equipment upgrades that boost the energy efficiency of your home. This not only provides you with greater peace of mind; It contributes to a healthier and more sustainable home that functions efficiently. Homeowners and renters alike can partake in these offerings and make progress toward a more efficient and comfortable living environment.
The NHSaves utility partners are available throughout the process to help residents stay comfortable without the worry of increased energy usage. To learn more and take advantage of these opportunities, visit the Home Energy Performance and Home Energy Assistance pages on our website.