Quincy up to help residents to save $150,000 annually

National Grid selects Quincy for Community Energy Efficiency Initiative; Mayor Koch Announces Program to Help Residents Save $150,000 Annually

Quincy– Mayor Koch announced today that National Grid has selected the City of Quincy to participate in its 2016 Energy Efficiency Community Initiative.  To boost home energy efficiency, the City’s new Quincy Saves program encourages residents to take measures to reduce energy used in their homes, while reducing drafts, energy bills and the possibility of ice dams.  

National Grid has challenged Quincy residents to complete 701 no-cost home energy assessments by the end of 2016.  In addition to checking the safety and efficiency of your heating and hot water systems, residents receive LED and CFL light bulbs and water saving showerheads at no cost, and a personalized report specific to your home.  If the measures are recommended, residents are also eligible for a 75% discount of up to $2,000 in insulation, between $300-$1,600 for an energy efficient heating/hot water system, as well as other discounts and rebates, including 0% loans.  Home energy assessments typically take 2-3 hours.  National Grid will track the number of households that have roof or wall insulation installed, replace old inefficient heating systems, and install wi-fi thermostats.  The City stands to earn more than $40,000 from National Grid if City residents achieve all of the initiative’s goals; the funds will be used to pay for energy saving measures in Quincy public buildings.

To improve the efficiency of Quincy homes, Mayor Koch announced the creation of the Quincy Saves program to help residents save energy and money.

“Your electric and gas bills includes an ‘Energy Efficiency Charge’ that National Grid uses to reduce the cost of energy saving measures.  Since you’ve already paid for it, you should use it. The home assessment will find ways to lower your electricity and heating bills and make your home less drafty, while reducing the chance of ice dams,” according to Mayor Koch.   

Quincy Saves is a partnership between the City, the nonprofit Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET), and two Mass Save contractors, Next Step Living and HomeWorks Energy.  Quincy Saves will provide outreach and easy accessibility to energy savings services offered by National Grid through Mass Save. 

“Saving Quincy residents energy is not only good for your own households, but good for the City.  Residents will have lower energy bills, have more money to save or spend as they want, and will reduce the emissions and other harmful environmental impacts associated with natural gas and electricity use,”  said Shelly Dein, Quincy’s Energy and Sustainability Director.

If residents meet the goals outlined in National Grid’s initiative, their collective savings is estimated to exceed $150,000  per year.  Residents can use either Mass Save approved contractor to participate in Quincy Saves.  To sign up, contact: www.HomeWorksEnergy.com/Quincy-Saves/ or call HWE at 617-855-9889, or www.NextStepLiving.com/Quincy or call NSL at 855-704-2992. 

Other communities selected for the 2016 Energy Efficiency Community Initiative are Lowell, Swampscott, Melrose, Somerville, Newton, and Winchester.