Resources for Energy Efficiency

Sign up for your no-cost energy assessment right now!

You're curious, or you've made the decision and you're ready to do what it takes to save energy at home. The good news is these days it takes less cash on hand, with the rebates, other incentives, and loans available to Rhode Island households.

City of Providence homeowners on moderate income have a new program providing 0% interest loans to conduct energy efficiency improvements to your home. Click on this link for info.

If you heat with oil and don't qualify for heating assistance, now is the time to sign up for the state's first comprehensive energy efficiency programs for heating oil, propane, and other delivered fuels customers who aren't low-income. 

For those who heat with natural gas or electricity, check out your utility program. If you are a National Grid electric or gas customer, it's the EnergyWise program (1-888-633-7947). To get the most out of the programs, start with a home energy assessment (also known as an energy audit)—and a professional will be sent to your home to evaluate what the priorities for savings would be in your particular building. They'll give you a list of options to improve your home, everything from insulation to air sealing to appliance replacement and heating system upgrades, with an estimate of how much it would cost and how much it would save.

You can pick all the best deals you can afford from that list, and do them all at once, or set up a plan to do them one at a time, paying for the next project with the help of the savings from the first. Either way, you have a choice of qualified contractors who can do the work. To get the best price, we recommend getting three bids—and letting the contractors know they are up against competition.

The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) lists these and other incentives such as tax credits.

Recent updates to the federal tax credits can be found at http://energytaxincentives.org.

If your electric utility is Pascoag Utility District, you have special programs.

Low-income households, meaning families who qualify for heating assistance (Low-income Heating Assistance Program, or LIHEAP) or are on the low-income rate for electricity, qualify for Low-Income Weatherization Assistance and the Appliance Management Program. If so, you should use those programs, because they will pay for 100% of the cost of weatherizing your home and improving its heating, air conditioning, and appliances. To find out if you qualify, contact your local community action agency.

Click here to sign up for your no-cost energy assessment today!