Wellesley offering free reports to show residents where they can better insulate their home

By Jaclyn Reiss, Boston.com Staff

Wellesley homeowners can now get a free report showing where they have the most heat and energy loss as part of a local going-green campaign.

The thermo imaging reports are the newest feature of the "Power to Choose" campaign started by the town's Sustainable Energy Committee, according to group members. The thermo image report shows residents exactly where they are losing heat and energy in their house.

The report can help Wellesley residents make efficient home improvements, such as installing insulation or heatproofing windows, that can save them $1,000 per year or more in energy costs, according to group representatives. They also noted that the US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that insulation and air sealing typically save 20 percent of heating and cooling costs.

Seeing the energy leaking from the house is a vital first step, and an in-home energy assessment then allows homeowners to fully realize how they can achieve energy savings in their home, said Tim D'Souza of Sagewell, Inc., the Cambridge-based company partnering with Wellesley to conduct the reports.

During the assessment, experts conduct a thorough evaluation of the house in question, from the basement to the attic, and will also provide information about how to save money on energy costs, said Peter Holland, managing partner of Wellesley-based Riverstone Custom Building, a home building and remodeling company.

In addition to some immediate energy efficiency measures, they leave estimates or recommendations of deeper measures you can take to reduce your energy use," Holland said. "Everyone will see energy savings from the thermal image report, energy assessment, and by following up on the recommendations."

Wellesley's "Power to Choose" campaign offers several other options to help local home and business owners reduce their carbon footprint and save on their energy bills, such as providing information on solar power and using renewable sources for energy.

For more information, visit the campaign's official website.

-- Follow us on Twitter: @yourwellesley, @jaclynreiss

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Wellesley offering free reports to show residents where they can better insulate their home