Is your home energy efficient? How do you know? BGE offers a FREE program called the Quick Home Energy Checkup. You say that nothing is really free? Well technically you are correct.... you have already paid for this service whether you receive it or not. The State of Maryland has passed a mandate to reduce the amount of electricity consumption in the state by 15% by the end of 2015. In order to make this a reality, they have assessed a tax on your electricity bill in the form of the EmPower Maryland program. (go look at your bill... its there). This money pays for electricity providers such as BGE to help make you more energy efficient.
So what do you do? First, you call BGE and schedule an appointment for your Energy Checkup. When they arrive the BGE representatives do a one to one and a half hour visual inspection of your home. They will look at your windows, your insulation, your furnace and air conditioner, your hot water heater, your appliances, and your lighting. They will review your BGE bill with you to get a quick idea of how much electricity you are using, and then walk around your home with you to see what you might be able to change. This is not a sales call and they are not trying to sell you anything. BGE is attempting to follow the State mandate and by making you more efficient they are accomplishing that goal. In fact, they want to give you things. They will insulate your hot water heater hot water pipes, install up to 12 CFL lamps, install up to four reduced flow aerators on your faucets, and install up to two low flow shower heads. During this review, you will also receive lots of advice on both large and small projects that you can do on your own or with a contractor to reduce your energy usage. The representatives will be able to give you an idea of whether investment in a particular change will be worth the energy savings that you will receive. They will also give you advice on a range of health and safety issues that they might see during the walk through.
If you feel that your home needs a more comprehensive review, BGE also offers a Home Performance with Energy Star review which includes a pressurized blower test on you home to look for leaks, and infrared cameras to analyze the efficiency of your insulation. This test will cost you $100, but also will include rebates on energy efficient improvements to your home.
Check out the link below and schedule your test today. There is no reason not to do it... you have already paid for it!
Quick Home Energy Check
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