Energy Efficiency at Home

5-steps to Energy Efficiency at Home

1. Start by checking out these Quick Tips on how to improve your home’s efficiency.

2. Conduct a Home Energy Audit. Several option are available to you (ranging from less to more comprehensive):

Download the free Idea Book (Part 1 & Part 2) developed by Salt Lake County, Assist, Inc., with help from Utah Clean Energy and others for tips on energy efficiency and other green living ideas.
Download Utah Clean Energy’s free Home Energy Checklist (medium and long) to learn about opportunities to save energy at home.
ENERGY STAR offers an online analysis: Home Energy Yardstick (you will need 5 minutes and your last 12 months of utility bills).
Questar Gas customers can download and the ThermWise Mail-in Audit form, or schedule a ThermWise in-home Audit: call Questar Gas at (800) 695-7375 or send an E-mail to ThermWise.
Contact a "Home Energy Rater" in Utah about conducting an in-person comprehensive energy audit on the home you're planning to build or on an existing home.

3. Purchase ENERGY STAR appliances or other efficiency measures:

Look for the ENERGY STAR symbol and review the product energy efficiency rating to make sure it meets utility rebate or federal tax credit specifications before making your purchase.
Keep all receipts and stickers from the appliance or measure; you may need this to receive your rebate or tax credit.

4. Select a contractor to carry out your energy-efficient retrofit:

Follow recommendations from the Federal Trade Commission when selecting a contractor.
Consider contacting a contractor or distributor listed on the ThermWise Products and Service Providers web page. These contractors may be more familiar with the energy efficient products than others on the market. (This list is for information purposes only, UCE cannot endorse any specific companies or products).

5. Apply for rebates and tax credits available for energy efficiency projects such as:

Utah Clean Energy has compiled a summary of Energy Efficiency financial incentives.
Questar ThermWise Residential Programs appliance rebates are available for high efficiency appliances such as furnaces, water heaters, boilers, solar assisted water heaters, and clothes dryers. Weatherization rebates include insulation, windows and duct sealing. Rebates can range anywhere from $30 to $750 per installed item.
Rocky Mountain Power Home Energy Savings Program and Cool Cash Incentive Program offers incentives for ENERGY STAR appliances, evaporative coolers, certain air conditioning units, electric water heaters, lighting fixtures and ceiling fans. Rebates are also available for home improvement, heating and cooling including insulation, windows, duct sealing and insulation. Rebates range from $20 per $1,000 per installed item.
Federal tax credits are available for many energy efficiency projects through December 2009. Eligible projects include insulation, replacement windows, water heaters and certain high efficiency heating and cooling equipment. Visit the ENERGY STAR website for more details.
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