We know you want a more efficient home, but determining the steps you need to take to achieve that goal can be daunting. That’s where Potomac Edison comes in. The Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program has been custom-designed to help you identify and implement improvements that can help reduce energy costs while increasing the comfort and efficiency of your home.

Schedule a Home Performance Audit

Wondering how to get started? The first step is to schedule a home performance audit with a Building Performance Institute (BPI) certified auditor who will work with you one-on-one to identify energy-saving improvements. For just $100 (a $400 value), an energy expert will evaluate your heating and cooling system, insulation and windows and conduct a blower door test to detect air leaks that could be costing you money.

The expert may also install energy-saving products (valued up to $150), including:

• Up to 14 LED bulbs

• Kitchen and bathroom faucet aerators

• Water-saving showerheads

• Electric water heater pipe insulation

Make Energy-Saving Home Improvements

When the audit is complete, the home energy expert will provide you with a comprehensive report and recommend home improvements you can make to increase your home’s energy efficiency. It’s up to you which improvements you decide to make. Remember: the work needs to be completed by a participating contractor enrolled in the program. Find a home energy expert in your area.

Enjoy the Savings

Once you’ve made your desired home improvements, the final step of the program is to schedule a test-out audit with a participating auditor. You’ll then have the opportunity to receive an incentive of up to 75 percent — or up to $7,500 — toward the expense of air sealing, duct sealing and/or insulation.

Think about it — with the benefits you’ll receive from the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program, you can’t afford not to take advantage of this opportunity. Schedule an audit today!

Pressed for time and money? The Quick Home Energy Checkup Program may be right for you

If a comprehensive home performance audit isn’t in your budget this season, check out Potomac Edison’s Quick Home Energy Checkup Program. At no additional cost, we offer to help homeowners improve the energy-efficiency of their homes.

When you take advantage of the Quick Home Energy Checkup Program, a home energy expert will perform a walkthrough audit, and may install energy-efficient products (valued up to $150), including:

• Up to 14 LED bulbs

• Kitchen and bathroom faucet aerators

• Water-saving showerheads

• Electric water heater pipe insulation

Don’t miss this opportunity to make, simple energy efficiency improvements — schedule your checkup today!

Like standard air-source heat pumps, mini-splits have two main components - an outdoor compressor/condenser and an indoor air-handling unit. Many models can have up to four indoor air-handling units (for four zones or rooms) connected to one outdoor unit. Since each zone has its own thermostat, you can save energy and money by only conditioning occupied spaces.

Easy installation

Many homeowners balk at the thought of installing a traditional ducted HVAC system, a process that can disrupt home life for weeks. Ductless systems, on the other hand, are far less invasive to install and can be up and running in as little as one day.

Cost effective

Ductless systems operate on less power than traditional forced-air systems, resulting in reduced utility costs. And since mini splits allow the creation of “zones” in living spaces, homeowners no longer have to pay to heat or cool rooms that aren’t occupied.

Energy efficient

Since mini splits have no ducts, they avoid the energy losses associated with the ductwork of central forced air systems. Duct losses can account for more than 30 percent of energy consumption for space conditioning, especially if the ducts are in an unconditioned space such as an attic.

Flexible and Discreet

Compared to other add-on HVAC systems, mini splits are versatile and relatively inconspicuous. Indoor air handlers can be suspended from a ceiling, hung on the wall or placed on the floor.

How do they work?

A typical geothermal heat pump consists of a ground loop system filled with a water solution, a heat exchanger and ductwork into the home. The system is designed for year-round use, providing heating in the winter and cooling in the summer.

Winter:

• Heat from the ground is absorbed by the water solution as it circulates through pipes in the ground.
• The warmed water is carried into the home where a water-to-air heat exchanger concentrates the thermal energy and transfers it to the air in a conventional ductwork system, which is circulated to heat the home.

Summer:

• The winter process is reversed—excess heat is transferred into the ground to cool the home.

Environmental Benefits and Sustainability

In addition to the unmatched energy efficiency of geothermal heat pumps, these systems are also notable for being environmentally friendly. Since geothermal heat pump systems do not burn fossil fuels for heat production, they generate far fewer greenhouse gas emissions than a conventional furnace. They also promote better air quality because they produce no carbon monoxide emissions.

*Environmental Protection Agency