How High ARE My Energy Bills? - A simple measurement tool

START HERE

1. GET ONE YEAR ENERGY HISTORY - it's easy if you have a cheat sheet.  CLICK HERE to see screen shots of the steps to getting energy history at RGE.COM or NYSEG
2. STEP ON AN ENERGY SCALE - it's just 2 numbers and clicking a button if you have energy history. 
3. DECIDE IF FURTHER EFFORT IS WARRANTED - it's easy.  Decide if your home has a big enough savings opportunity to warrant applying for the free audit program.  (not really free, you've already paid for it out of RPS and SBC charges on your energy bill.  So, you are paying for an audit whether you take advantage of it or not).  

DONE!  THAT'S IT!  EASY!

Less than 15 minutes, right?  

NEXT:  

If you feel further effort IS warranted, apply for an audit, which may take another 15 minutes.  
CLICK HERE:  It's a one page application.  

(I am always looking for ways to simplify and clarify the information I provide.  If you have comments or suggestions, please "Post a Comment" at the bottom or send me a note. ) 

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Not clear? Visualize what the 3 step measurement process looks like:

STEP 1.  GET ONE YEAR ENERGY HISTORY.  Here's what mine looks like:

(Click on image to shuttle quickly through images)

You can add these number by hand, or cut and paste to Excel to come up with annual consumption.  (You can also cut and paste this to the email that you attach your free audit application to, as they want documentation of energy use.) 

You'll also need your home's square footage.  IF you don't know this number you can find it on ZILLOW

STEP 2.  STEP ON SCALE:  Take your annual consumption and square footage and enter into the ENERGY SCALE:

Here you see the annual usage and square footage entered,

Next click Calculate and....

YOUR Opportunity will
POP UP

STEP 3.  SEE WHAT YOUR OPPORTUNITY MEANS: Below is how I've classified the various pop-ups:

Again, NEXT:  If you feel further effort IS warranted, apply for an audit, which may take another 15 minutes.   It's a one page application.  

Ever wonder; "How much am I wasting UNNECESSARILY and WHERE IS IT GOING?"  

STEP 4.  SIGN UP FOR FREE ENERGY AUDIT PROGRAM - it's easy.   It's a one page application.  

If you feel further effort IS warranted, that your house has attractive opportunity for energy savings or comfort improvement, the next small bite is apply for an audit, which may take another 15 minutes:

1. SIGN UP FOR FREE ENERGY AUDIT PROGRAM - it's easy.   It's a one page application.  Now you have your energy history and know your home has opportunity that meets your cost effectiveness criteria.  Download the PDF and it's "fillable".  

DONE!  Now you have claimed your $250-$400 energy audit.  Actually, reclaimed RPS and SBC charges you've paid in to the system on your utility bill.  

STEP 5.

NEXT BLOG:  FINANCING PROGRAMS THAT USE ENERGY SAVINGS TO PAY FOR IMPROVEMENTS!  On-Bill:  So good it sounds too good to be true!  

Line up the financing.  It's a good idea to get this step started now.  You have nothing to lose and understanding your options here will be really important later.  (Many people find putting this off leads to disappointment and back-tracking.)

SUMMARY, 

Without some type of Gauge, how do you know if your energy bills are too high?  

How do you determine if big efforts are warranted?

People need a quick rough measure of savings opportunity.

The pre-audit tool can be used to understand what neighborhood your opportunity is in, get an understanding of what the audit results are likely to tell, and basically to set very general expectations and avoid disappointments.  

This tool will also help disqualify people who are living in decent homes, don't have comfort issues, and expect Warren Buffet style return on investment from energy efficiency work. (Typically for that opportunity they need to be well in the RED - or use PROPANE, OIL, or STRAIGHT ELECTRIC for heating.) 

Here is the e-mail I send people:

CLICK HERE TO LINK TO THE Green Jobs Green NY Free/Subsidized audit application.  If you open the form in Acrobat you'll see I've added "fillable" fields, so you can type everything in and just print for your signature.  Audit reservations will awarded on a first come first served basis until funds run out, so please don't delay completing this application.

CLICK HERE to for screenshots of steps to getting energy history at RGE.COM or NYSEG.   Let me know if you need help or would like me to do this for you.

Another area that may cause difficulty is the Household Income Range.  If it is greater than 200% Area Median you will have to pay a small portion of the audit fee.  Again, if you think you may be close, please contact me.

And CLICK HERE to go to my site with more information:

The audit opens the door for additional incentives available for funding repairs and improvements through the NY Home Performance with Energy Star program.  Please contact me if you have any questions!