Piping Plover Home Energy Solutions LLC

I heard that the stimulus bill of 2009 includes tax rebates for energy efficient home improvements. What does that mean for me?

On average, 44% of a home's utility bill goes toward heating and cooling.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes provisions for homeowners to make energy efficient improvements to existing homes. For certain windows and doors, insulation, roofs, HVAC upgrades, water heaters and biomass stoves the government is offering tax credits at 30% of the cost, up to $1,500 for 2009-2010. For renewable energy systems like geothermal heat pumps, solar electric and solar hot water heaters tax credits are available at 30% of the cost of the system with no upper limit through 2016.

What are Focus On Energy's incentives for making energy efficient improvements to my home?

There are several different incentives depending on the type and amount of work you have completed. It's important to note that only those who have hired a Focus On Energy certified home consultant are eligible for these rewards. The rewards usually cover most if not all of the cost of the initial assessment.

How do I know if I qualify for Focus On Energy incentives?

Focus on Energy's website has a tool to verify eligibility. The overwhelming majority of homes in Dane County are eligible.

What are your operating hours?

Our hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. However, we understand that our clients have demanding schedules and we can schedule the home energy assessments and follow up meetings for evenings and/or weekends. Please call us at (608) 698-0120 to schedule a consultation now.

Replacing an old furnace filter can result in up to 40% savings on furnace electricity costs.

What is a piping plover?

The piping plover is a small, stocky shorebird endangered in the State of Wisconsin.

How is what you do different than what home energy auditors do?

For the most part, home energy auditors evaluate the building shell and efficiency and safety of a home's heating and cooling systems and make recommendations for improvements. Unfortunately, their services typically stop there. 

Piping Plover incorporates the home energy audit into our process but also adds a detailed breakdown of costs/energy payback, works with qualified contractors to complete the work, and helps homeowners with financing options if necessary. We perform all aspects of the home energy improvement process instead of just one part.

In addition, we perform an analysis of a home's electric use, looking at large load items such as refrigerators, lightbulbs and potential "phantom" loads that are adding significant costs to a home's utility bills.

Lastly, we can incorporate the evaluation of renewable energy options into our process. Interested in solar hot water, solar electric, or other technologies like geothermal? We can review costs and paybacks to help our customers make informed decisions as to the costs, benefits and risks of each system.