Lower Your Energy Bills: Resources and Tips

The sponsors of Mass Save can provide you with a no-cost Home Energy Assessment to make sure your home is not losing energy and costing you money. A professional can inspect your walls, attic, and basement. Upon receiving your assessment, you can also unlock no-cost and discounted smart thermostats, low-flow showerheads, sink aerators, and other home appliances. Small businesses are also eligible for these energy assessments and incentives.

Heat pumps can be a more efficient way to heat your home compared to oil heating or electric baseboards. Heat pumps move heat indoors in the winter and draw heat outdoors in the summer. Instead of burning fossil fuels in your home, heat pumps can also provide better indoor air quality by using electricity.

If you heat with electric baseboards or oil, you could save hundreds or thousands by switching to heat pumps. Low- and moderate-income households may be eligible for a heat pump installation at no cost through the Mass Save Program. Other households can receive rebates on heat pumps of up to $8,500. The City encourages residents to take advantage of these discounts now. 

Schedule an appointment with the Boston Energy Saver Help Desk by visiting boston.gov/save or calling 617-635-SAVE (7283) to see if a heat pump is right for your home or business.

• Have your heating equipment checked annually by a service professional.
• Clean or replace furnace filters periodically, ideally every 3-6 months depending on filter type and need. 
• Dust or vacuum radiator surfaces and air vents frequently and keep them unobstructed.
• Close fireplace dampers when not in use to keep heated or cooled air from escaping the chimney.

• Check for drafts around windows and doors. Caulk and weather-strip where necessary. 
• Install wall-outlet and switch-plate gaskets to reduce the flow of cold air. 
• Purchase window insulator kits, or install storm windows and doors to reduce drafts indoors.
• Get discounts and no-cost weatherization supplies through the Mass Save Marketplace.

• Do not line oven racks with foil. It blocks heat flow. 
• Use a kettle rather than a pot to boil water. If using a pot, keep the lid on. 
• Allow frozen foods to thaw completely before cooking.
• Consider switching to an induction stove to reduce energy use and remove toxic pollutants found in natural gas from your kitchen. Mass Save offers a $500 rebate for replacing natural gas or propane stove with an induction stove.

• Set your hot water heater at 120°F rather than 140°F. 
• When using your dishwasher, use the air-drying option instead of heat drying. You can also turn off the drying cycle, open the dishwasher, and let the contents air dry.
• Wash clothes in cold or warm water rather than hot, and rinse in cold water. 
• Fill your washer and dryer to capacity whenever possible. Wash smaller loads using lower water levels. 
• Hang your clothes to dry whenever possible. 

• Avoid frequently adjusting the thermostat; try to keep indoor settings steady. 
• It is fine to adjust temperatures a few degrees up and down as needed for comfort. However, unlike fossil fuel heating systems, large changes may cost you comfort and money.
• Cold climate heat pumps are designed to run continuously at a very low speed. Running them consistently actually saves you money compared to starting and stopping their air delivery.
• Use the “heat” setting on the thermostat or control instead of the “auto” setting. 
• Keep the doors open to rooms without the ductless unit, allowing the heating or cooling to circulate as much as possible. Turn up the fan speed if areas are not getting enough heating on extreme weather days.
• Clean ductless heat pump filters regularly, every 2-6 weeks, depending on need.
• Schedule professional service at the manufacturer’s recommended interval (typically annually); or, of course, if you have any problems.