Get some Energy money!
There are numerous ways you can get help to start saving energy. Many governments and organisations offer rebates, and bonuses, grants and loans to people and businesses who want to make a change and save energy.
But there are a few things you need to know first:
1 - They go fast. The federal rebates offered in the USA are being snapped up quickly and they only have a certain amount of money put aside for such grants. So once they are gone, they’re gone. For example, in Florida, one rebate program closed just 36 hours after it was started. Check the status of your area in the US at www.energysavers.gov/financial
2 - Local states have their own cash - there are up to 600 alternative programs being run by individual states, separate to federal programs which are still available.
3 - Do the maths first - Certain projects may give you greater savings then others. So check them all out first and work out what would be best. A comprehensive home energy audit, which will pinpoint the areas which need changing, is around $400. But some states or utilities conduct basic audits for free or will reimburse some of that cost.
4 - Small ways can pay too. There are plenty of ways to save energy without spending a lot. Every degree you go up or down on your thermostat will knock 2% off your annual heating and cooling costs; replacing your five most frequently used bulbs with compact fluorescents can take $70 a year off your energy bill.
Finally, ditching that old fridge you’ve relegated to the garage for storing extra drinks will save about $200 or more a year. You may find you can justify an appliance upgrade after all — rebate or not.