Brookline Assesses its 600th Home for Energy Use

It's 6 p.m. on Sunday. Do you know where your energy is? 

May 1 is the new deadline for anyone who wants to get the current special offer on free home energy assessment through the Green Homes Brookline initiative. The program offers up to $3,500 for insulation and other energy efficiency upgrades. Friday, they announced the 600th assessment, to be done at the Naples Road home of Rebecca Albrecht. 

"Through Green Homes Brookline, we spent less on weatherizing our home and lowered our heating bills. I urge everyone who can to take advantage of it," said Albrecht in a press release.

Brookline Selectman Jesse Mermell was on hand to announce the assessment, and the new deadline for special offer applications, which is on May 1. 

To sign up for an assessment, visit the Green Homes Brookline website and complete the form.

The following is the full press release from Green Homes Brookline issued on Friday:

Today, Brookline Selectman Jesse Mermell announced the 600th no-cost Home Energy Assessment through the Town-sponsored Green Homes Brookline initiative. Since Brookline launched the initiative in July 2010, Green Homes Brookline has partnered with Mass Save® Participating Home Energy Performance Contractor Next Step Living and community-based organizations including Climate Action Brookline and Mass Energy Consumers Alliance to serve residents.

Selectman Mermell announced a new deadline of May 1st, 2012 for Brookline residents to take advantage of a special offer for up to $3,500 in no-cost energy upgrades. While Green Homes Brookline will continue beyond May 1st, the special offer is a unique opportunity for some residents to receive a higher level of incentives.

“In Brookline, our homes and apartments are a source of pride for many residents," said Brookline Selectman Jesse Mermell. "Green Homes Brookline demonstrates how we can save money now while creating jobs and reducing our impact on the environment for years to come."

Selectman Mermell made the announcement in front of Brookline resident Rebecca Albrecht’s home, one of the first recipients of the Green Homes Brookline special offer for energy efficiency services that include air sealing and insulation.

"Through Green Homes Brookline, we spent less on weatherizing our home and lowered our heating bills. I urge everyone who can to take advantage of it," said Albrecht.

Green Homes Brookline is an innovative energy efficiency partnership with NSTAR and National Grid that provides no-cost Home Energy Assessments and generous energy efficiency incentives to Brookline residents utilizing the Mass Save Residential Energy Services program. The Green Homes Brookline special offer temporarily provides no-cost energy upgrades for some residents using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program. 

Green Homes Brookline participants save immediately upon getting a Home Energy Assessment. On average, participants will save up to $200 a year with installation of CFL light bulbs, aerators and programmable thermostats. A completed weatherization that includes insulation and air sealing can save a resident up to $600 in energy costs each year.

To determine eligibility for specific incentives and for more information on how to enroll in Green Homes Brookline residents should call (866) 867-8729 or visit www.GreenHomesBrookline.org. Residents who qualify for Fuel Assistance or are on a utility discount rate should contact Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) at 617-357-6012 to learn more about no-cost weatherization and insulation.

[Correction: The original text incorrectly indicated that the program deadline was May 1, implying that after that date no more applications would be available. May 1 is the deadline for the current special offer, after which the offer changes. 12:04 a.m.]