Energy assessments offer layers of savings for homeowners

For a limited time, homeowners in Hamilton, Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties can spend just $50 for a $400 to $500 review of potential energy inefficiencies in their homes, and then apply that $50 toward improvements that will help lower their energy bills.

An initiative of the non-profit Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance, the discounted three to five-hour energy assessment includes an in-depth examination of how well your home's heating and air conditioning are working, as well as trouble-shooting for potential leaks and gaps in insulation.

"It doesn't matter if a home is five years old or 105 years old, there are cost effective energy upgrades in almost every home we've ever looked at," says Andy Holzhauser, GCEA's executive director. "It's our job to make the process easy and affordable for everyone in our community."

Holzhauser believes connecting homeowners with local contractors who have been trained to find affordable, environmentally sustainable ways to retrofit homes creates a powerful motivation for living green. So, after the energy assessment, the GCEA will discount up to 35 percent of the cost of projects that assessors recommend.

"We make the retrofit more affordable," Holzhauser says. "In the case of a $5,000 retrofit, we will put $1,700 to $1,800 of our dollars on the table right alongside the homeowner's investment."

Best of all, there are no income restrictions on the discounted assessments and retrofit projects, both of which can lead to lower monthly living costs and better environmental stewardship. "The notion of an investment on a home actually generating a cash return back to you is something that is new," Holzhauser says. "It's at the heart of what we do."

Do Good:
• Watch a home energy assessment in action.

• Find out how much you could save. Sign up to learn your potential savings and request an audit of your own.

• Tweet and learn. Follow GCEA on Twitter.

By Elissa Yancey

Photo by Scott Beseler