Mass Energy is proud of our role in advocating with the Green Justice Coalition for the creation of Mass Save’s 2016 initiatives to better serve renters and moderate-income households. This blog post by Loie Hayes, Mass Energy’s resident energy efficiency expert, describes the new renter-specific Home Energy Assessments.

This article was originally posted to Renew Boston's blog.

Thanks to a new Mass Save renter initiative, renters can now get all the free energy-saving gear that comes with a no-cost Home Energy Assessment, and it will take only half the time it used to take.

In just one hour, a trained professional will check out your home energy use and provide you with a customized home energy report and numerous free energy-saving products.

You’ll receive up to 10 LED lightbulbs – the latest in energy-saving bulbs – saving $10/year for each incandescent or halogen that’s replaced. Yaima, a renter in Brookline, recently had her home assessed by Mass Save with the new renter program. She tells us that “getting a home energy assessment was a no-brainer. It’s free of charge and they swapped out all my lightbulbs for more efficient ones. I’m saving money every month.” Water-saving showerheads are also available to renters.

You’ll also be able to shrink your energy waste with “smart” or advanced power strips (APS), another energy-saving item that you can get at no-cost when you have a Home Energy Assessment. Many TVs, game systems, computers, and printers, for instance, have stand-by functions that continue to draw small bits of electricity when they are not being used, but are still plugged in. An APS allows you to effortlessly shut down that stand-by energy loss. Just one APS can save you up to $150 over the course of five years.

You don’t need your landlord’s permission to have a Home Energy Assessment, but if you do have a cooperative landlord or property manager, you might be able to save even more. Rental units may qualify for special rebates like $200 on efficient refrigerators and $400 on washing machines. With a landlord’s consent, renters can have programmable thermostats installed, including the latest in wifi-enabled thermostats that you can control by smart phone.

With just one hour’s time investment, you can feel much more comfortable at home, and save every month on your electric bill. Just call 617-635-SAVE and schedule a Renter Home Energy Assessment. If you’re not ready to set up a home visit, you can still take this 5 Minute Online Assessment to get a custom home energy profile, an estimate of potential savings, and cost-effective upgrade advice.