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Energy assessments offered at discount

JANESVILLE — Residents looking for savings might be able to find it in their own walls with a little help from the city of Janesville.

The city is providing 150 discounted home energy assessments, which will tell homeowners how they could improve energy efficiency in their homes.

The assessments are performed by Wisconsin Focus on Energy, which helps businesses and homeowners install energy efficient and renewable energy projects. After a consultant inspects the home for air leaks, moisture, cold spots and other signs of heat and energy loss, the homeowner is given a list of possible home improvements.

Improvements might include installing new insulation, replacing water heaters, putting in new furnaces and sealing windows.

Al Hulick, a city management analyst, said the energy evaluations usually cost between $400 and $500, but the city is using $65,000 in federal grants to drop the cost to $25.

If residents implement the energy upgrades, Focus on Energy will provide rebates for certain improvements. While the rebates normally cover 15 to 20 percent of improvement costs, the city has committed an additional $65,000 to match the rebates.

“Just doing the assessment is something we encourage everybody to look into, but anything you do to your home is going to be an improvement in the value of your home and the savings in energy use,” Hulick said.

Nearly one-third of the 150 energy assessment spots are full, but residents have until the end of August to sign up.

The assessment discount is available only to residents whose homes were built before 1970. Participation is limited to two units per owner.