What does it mean to “Weatherize” my home?
Weatherizing your home usually means hiring a specialized contractor to help you air seal and insulate your home. The result? Lower heating and cooling costs and a healthier and more comfortable home.
Hire a Specialized Contractor
All weatherization projects should be completed by a Building Performance Institute (BPI) certified contractor. In order to qualify for rebates, your BPI contractor must ALSO be approved by your state’s efficiency utility, either Efficiency Vermont or NHSaves.
Your contractor will complete an in-home assessment (or “energy audit”), then provide you with detailed recommendations (often called an “audit report”) for energy efficiency improvements. If you choose to move ahead, you and your contractor will agree on a scope of work that aligns with your budget and priorities.
If you qualify for weatherization rebates in New Hampshire, NHSaves will assign you to a qualified local contractor after approving your rebate application.
Project Cost, Rebates, and Financing
Every home is different. Project cost may vary from less than $5,000 to more than $12,000 depending on your home and your budget. Rebates and financing are available in New Hampshire and Vermont to help you pay for your weatherization project.
Benefits of Weatherization
Your weatherization contractor is trained to take a whole-home approach to improve your home’s efficiency, comfort, health, and safety. Common benefits of working with a trained professional to weatherize your home include:
- Testing of combustion appliances to ensure toxic gases are vented properly
- Assurance that your home has plenty of ventilation and fresh air even after any air sealing improvements are completed
- Reduced moisture, mold, and drafts that contribute to poor air quality
- Fewer ice dams and other issues related to heat loss
- A home that stays warmer in winter and cooler in summer
- Average energy savings of 20-25% according to Efficiency Vermont and NHSaves
- A quieter home (air sealing and insulation help keep out noises from outside the home)
- Warmer floors (insulation in the basement will make the floor of your living space feel warmer)
- More consistent temperatures upstairs and downstairs within your home
Renters and Landlords
There are many low-cost improvements a renter can install to increase the efficiency of their home.
For larger investments, renters will need to seek permission and collaboration from their landlord. NHSaves or Efficiency Vermont have programs that can make any rented single- or multi-family building more energy efficient. Programs for renters and landlords may be harder to find on program websites, so contact Vital Communities if you can’t find what you’re looking for. We’ll be happy to point you in the right direction.
Building a New Home?
Efficiency Vermont and NHSaves have programs that provide cash incentives and free technical assistance to help make your home as energy efficient as it can be from day one.
Weatherize Upper Valley: Results Across Our Region
3 years · 33 towns · 283 weatherized homes: Between 2017 and 2019, Vital Communities teamed up with communities and home energy professionals from across the Upper Valley to help residents save money and stay warm through home weatherization. Some communities have since gone on to launch their own weatherize campaigns to help even more neighbors reduce heating and cooling costs.