As the weather cools down, households across the Tennessee Valley will be turning on their heat. When the temperatures drop lower and the heat comes on, we just accept that our electricity bills will climb higher. It seems like an inevitability, but does it have to be?
The answer? Maybe not, if you are one of the ten million Americans who receives their power from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). In Alabama, TVA sells power to local electricity companies across North Alabama, Cullman County, and Bessemer. To help customers combat rising electricity costs and make smart choices about their home’s energy use, TVA offers its EnergyRight program.
Everyone wants to save money on their home’s energy use, but it can be difficult to know where to start, right? Thankfully, TVA EnergyRight can make it easy to find a starting point.
Step One: Home Energy Audit
A good first step for anyone looking to reduce their energy consumption or upgrade their home’s energy efficiency is a home energy audit. For the DIY-ers out there, TVA EnergyRight’s DIY Home Energy Assessment is the best place to start. The self-guided assessment is easy to complete. Once you’re finished, you’ll receive customized recommendations to improve your home’s energy use. Plus, TVA will mail you an energy-saving kit and home improvement gift card to kick start your energy upgrades.
For those of us who prefer to leave things up to the professionals, you can schedule a Home Energy Evaluation, led by a TVA-certified Home Energy Advisor. This in-depth assessment will show you how your home uses – and loses – energy. By evaluating your home’s air sealing, HVAC, insulation, appliances, lighting, and more, a Home Energy Advisor will provide you with the best recommendations to save energy (and money) in your home.
Step Two: Explore Financing Options for Upgrades and Appliances
While making suggested upgrades to your home may save you on your monthly electricity bill, the fact of the matter is that these often come with hefty up-front price tags. Thankfully, TVA EnergyRight offers several pathways to cut costs and finance your home’s energy upgrades.
- Affordable Financing: Depending on your home’s address and who your local power company is, you may qualify for a $0 down, fixed-interest-rate loan through TVA EnergyRight to cover eligible projects.
- Home Energy Rebates: TVA EnergyRight offers home energy rebates exclusive to their local power company partners’ customers. These rebates – worth up to $1,500 – can be combined with other federal rebates and tax incentives. To make sure you are taking advantage of all available federal and local offerings, create a free account with Canopy Climate. Canopy will help you see which upgrades can save you the most money and step you through the process to claim your savings!
- Financial Aid: For income-eligible customers, TVA’s Home Uplift provides an average of $10,000 in free home energy upgrades.
If you’re looking to make energy-efficient upgrades to smaller appliances across your home that aren’t eligible for rebates, check out the TVA EnergyRight Marketplace. You can find details on all the latest models of efficient TVs, dryers, kitchen appliances, and more to save you energy, money, and time. Through their partnership with BestBuy, you can even get your old appliance hauled away and recycled for just a small extra fee!
Step 3: Get Your Projects Done
Whether you are a weekend warrior, or someone who would rather leave things up to the professionals, TVA EnergyRight has options to help you get your home upgrades done. If you are looking to take advantage of the program’s financing options, you will need to go through a TVA-vetted contractor. By hiring within the Quality Contractor Network, you will have access to all of TVA EnergyRight’s home energy rebates and on-bill financing options.
More of a DIY-er? Not to worry. TVA EnergyRight offers expert advice and education. With the help of their library of DIY videos, articles, and tips, you can tackle projects – both big and small – to save on your home’s energy costs.
Options from TVA EnergyRight mean you don’t have to have cold feet about turning up the heat this winter.
A home energy audit – whether you do one yourself or hire a professional – can give you customized recommendations based on your home’s needs. From there, explore your financing options. From federal tax incentives to rebates and financing offered directly through TVA and your local power provider, you may be able to save big upfront. As the clocks fall back, don’t let your home’s efficiency fall behind. Get your projects done, so you can bundle up your energy savings – rather than needing to bundle up at home.
