Thinking about electrifying your home or making energy efficiency improvements can be overwhelming! However, it doesn’t all have to happen at once. Evaluating your home and making a plan for future upgrades can save you money and headache in the future. 

Home Energy Audits 

A great place to start is with a home energy audit. Home energy audits help determine where your home is losing energy and opportunities to increase efficiency. Here are a few options: 

NorthWestern Energy E+ EnergyCheck 

If you are a NorthWestern Energy customer, you can sign up for a free E+ Home EnergyCheck. Through a virtual process an energy specialist will help you determine where your home could be inefficient, and which problem areas and fixes you should prioritize to save energy and improve the comfort of your home. You can sign up online or by calling (800) 823-5995. 

HRDC Home Weatherization Program 
If you qualify for LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program), you may also be eligible for an energy audit and home weatherization services through HRDC. Renters and homeowners can both qualify for LIHEAP. If you are unsure if you qualify or are interested in applying, visit HRDC’s website to learn more.  

DOE Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Assessment
If you don’t have access to a professional energy audit, a “do-it-yourself” energy audit can be a good place to start. The Department of Energy has resources on how to conduct a DIY energy audit. 

Making a Plan

Thinking through your efficiency upgrades and prioritizing both short and long term improvements ahead of time can really pay off in the long run. Here’s a few steps to get you started:

Step 1: Identify Your Goals
Start by thinking about why you want to make energy efficiency upgrades or electrify your home.

• I want to electrify my home to reduce my climate impact. I may even consider adding solar panels to move toward net zero in the future. 
• Oh no, my water heater went out and I need a new one but also want to pick an energy efficient option!
• I want to electrify my home to reduce the health impacts from natural gas combustion to create more healthy air for my family.
• I want to reduce my energy usage but I’m not ready to spend a lot of money at this time. 

Step 2: Evaluate Your Energy Use and Appliances 

Evaluate where your home is using the most energy either from looking at the results of your energy audit or checking out your utility bill throughout the year. According to the EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey, the typical home in the United States uses more than half of its energy on space heating and water heating. Home weatherization and upgrading your heating system are opportunities for big energy savings.

 

Take inventory of your appliances and heating/cooling equipment. Consider how old these appliances/systems are and their typical lifespans. Prioritize replacing equipment and appliances that are near the end of life. 

Step 3: Explore Rebates, Tax Credits, and Financing Options
Consider your budget and how much you might want to spend now and in the future. Explore rebates, tax credits, and financing options that are available. If you are making upgrades and want to take advantage of rebates and tax credits make sure the products you are selecting qualify and fit within the timeframe of the incentive. 

Step 3: Make a Plan 
Consider your goals and the information you’ve gathered to create short and long-term plans for home energy upgrades. If you are planning on switching natural gas appliances to electric or adding solar it can be helpful to contact an electrician from the start. 

Up Next: Weatherization