February 2024
The New England Home Energy Efficiency Checklist: 8 Fixes Before Winter
Updated August 2026 with the latest rates and program details from PURA, Eversource, and state program filings.
Thesis: at rates running from about 23.5¢ per kilowatt-hour in Connecticut to nearly 40¢ in parts of Massachusetts, homeowners here pay some of the highest prices in America for wasted energy — which makes efficiency here worth far more than in an average state. The cheapest kilowatt-hour is still the one you never use.
The checklist
- 1. Air-seal the attic. Gaps around chimneys, hatches, and wiring are where heated air escapes first.
- 2. Top up insulation. Many older New England homes have half the attic insulation they should.
- 3. Swap every bulb to LED. Small fix, permanent savings.
- 4. Seal drafty doors and windows. Weatherstripping costs almost nothing and works immediately.
- 5. Get a smart thermostat. Heating an empty house is the classic New England money leak.
- 6. Service your heating system. A tuned system runs measurably more efficiently — and if it's time to replace, 2026 heat pump rebates run up to $10,000 through Energize CT and up to $16,000 for income-qualified households through Mass Save.
- 7. Hunt down phantom loads. Old fridges in garages and always-on electronics add up at New England rates.
- 8. Book a home energy assessment. Energize CT's Home Energy Solutions program in Connecticut and Mass Save's no-cost home energy assessment in Massachusetts both send technicians who diagnose — and often air-seal — on the spot. The single highest-leverage first step for most homes.
Efficiency first, production second
A tighter home needs a smaller solar system — which is exactly how we design. When we size a system, we look at how your home uses energy, not just how much, so you never pay for more panels than your home needs.