As a homeowner, I often find myself researching how to increase home value without draining my savings. My neighbors seem to have some pretty creative ideas: one added landscaping, another updated a bathroom. These ways were well and good, but I needed something a little different, something that would not only increase my home's value, but also help me in my day-to-day home ownership expenses. The one thing I kept coming back to was insulation.
Topics: Mass Save, Home Ownership
The holidays can be an energy guzzler. The Christmas lights are hung and turned on 24/7. The oven is busy baking gingerbread cookies, yams, turkey, etc. The whole family is at home and turns on all of the lights...and the television...and the computer. Between driving to stores to buy gifts and attend holiday dinners and parties, the car gets double its normal use.
Topics: Money Management, Mass Save, budget
Longer nights and falling leaves are the precursor to heating bills and chilly times at home. When you winterize your home now before the snows blow in, it can minimize the impact to your wallet later on. Here, ten easy winterizing tips at a variety of price points...plus a bonus tip:
Topics: Mass Save, Home Ownership, Green
I learned two things from my free Mass Save® home energy assessment last year: both the attic insulation and windows of my home are in great shape. This was good news to hear before investing in central air conditioning. The auditor also helped me prioritize home energy projects on my honey-do list.
When you first consider the home improvements which will increase your home value, you probably think about a new coat of paint, some landscaping improvements, or the proper staging of your home while it's on the market. While these are all effective methods for increasing your home's overall appeal, there is another thing to consider - the energy efficiency of your HVAC system. Through the Mass Save Home Energy Assessment program, you can even get an interest free loan to upgrade your furnace.
Topics: Mass Save
Thinking about going solar? These four questions will get you started.
Topics: Mass Save, solar energy, Home Ownership
The decision to go solar involves more factors than just how sunny your neighborhood is.
In making a decision on solar power there are four key factors to consider. They influence each household differently but can help you calculate the cost-benefit trade-off of solar on your home.
Topics: Mass Save, Home Ownership, solar
Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend, and that means winter isn’t far away. Now is the time to finish prepping your home for the transition to colder weather. In today’s blog, I share some vulnerable spots on your home that you should prioritize as you get ready for a new season.
Topics: Mass Save, Home Ownership
I just got off the phone with my uncle. Since the original publishing of this article on December 16, 2011, he has paid off his MassSave Heat Loan and still loves the efficiency he gets from the furnace they recommended at this Home Energy Assessment!
My uncle lives in a circa 1790 farmhouse in Williamstown, MA. It's one of those rustic old American houses that started as little more than a cabin and was added to over the years to become a large, beautiful house. Though beautiful, the house was grossly inefficient regarding heat.
Topics: Mass Save, Home Ownership
