Better Homes Belmont Program Breaks State Energy Audit Record

Belmont is on track to setting a new record for signing up more homes as a percent of total homes in the community to receive no cost energy assessments than any other city or town in Massachusetts.

The Better Homes Belmont program has signed up more than 550 homes in just five months representing nine percent of the town’s total homes.

“The response has been phenomenal and speaks to the pent up demand in Belmont for good energy efficiency services, the real savings to be had, and the wonderful contractors that are doing the work.” said Belmont Energy Committee Co-Chairman Ian Todreas.

Belmont homeowners are getting not just any ordinary home energy assessment. The Better Homes Belmont program combines scans of the exterior walls of homes that show energy leaks with comprehensive, no cost in-home energy assessments that pinpoint exactly where the most effective improvements can be made. The thermal images are provided by Sagewell, Inc., a Cambridge-based independent energy efficiency company.  

The program is available to all Belmont owners of residential buildings with 1-4 units, regardless of the heating fuel it uses.

To sign up and request a thermal image, homeowners and renters should visit www.Sagewell.com. 

Free assessments for oil-heated homes are provided by the Belmont Municipal Light District, which has funding for only the first 250 homes that express interest. Only 120 spots are left for oil-heated homes.

With 550 assessments requested, the program is more than halfway towards the Belmont Energy Committee’s goal of 1,000 energy assessments. The impact of this program on reducing Belmont’s climate footprint will be significant.  

“This is a watershed in Belmont’s response to climate change. We are incredibly excited to tally up the energy and cost savings from Better Homes Belmont and build on this success,” said Todreas.