A lot of us are looking to save money anyway we can. Now you have the chance to find out how you might be able to save on your monthly utility bill.
Energy experts say it's just a few tweaks to your home here and there could really add up, and there's a new program in Indiana to help you do it.
Richard and Jeannine Sunshine have lived in their home in Granger for more than twenty years. On Friday they learned how to save money on their monthly utility bills with a just a nip here and a tuck there.
“What we're doing here today in this home is a home energy assessment," said Bob Nuss, who is with a new statewide program called "Energizing Indiana.
"It's about an hour to an hour and a half walk-through of the home,” he said. “...We're just trying to figure out where the energy is going here – Where are you using energy?"
And where they are losing it.
The program is a partnership with electric companies and the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to cut down on how much energy we use.
“We're going to need more generation here in Indiana just to meet our capacity needs,” Nuss said. “So if we can bypass some of that – eliminate some of that need through these kinds of programs, that's a great thing!"
Energy advisors, when invited, come into homes, businesses, and schools for free to help them become more energy efficient.
In the Sunshine home, they found an opportunity by changing some pipes and components of the hot water heater.
"And before we leave, we'll print out a report for the homeowner that makes suggestions on other things they can do along with and what potential costs might be to implement those – what the payback might be for those,” Nuss said.
Jeannine Sunshine says she can't wait!
"Because it's going to show us where we can save and today that's very important."
Energizing Indiana says the program is paid for by utility companies that collect a fee from customers – so in effect, you're helping pay for it.
But the head of the program says what you get OUT of this program will save you more in the long run.
And the home energy audit is only one of several programs available including money off to buy energy-efficient light bulbs and other items for your home.
For more information: http://energizingindiana.com/
