WMECo Urges Customers to Celebrate Green this St. Patrick’s Day

Springfield (March 17, 2014) – Springtime is renowned for its home cleaning frenzies and for being one of the most popular times of year to begin home improvement projects. It's also a great time for WMECo customers to go green by making money-saving energy efficiency improvements with help from a no-cost
Mass Save Home Energy Assessment. By partnering with a Mass Save energy expert, customers won't have to rely on the luck of the Irish to be sure they're choosing the right improvements at a good price. They'll receive in-depth information about their energy use, valuable time-tested tips for saving energy, and details about financial incentives and rebates worth their weight in gold. To help customers go green this St. Patrick's Day, WMECo is offering the following energy saving advice.

Increasing weather-stripping and insulation is undeniably helpful during the brutal cold winter months. It’s also beneficial during the warmer months, sealing sources of air leaks and adding insulation to attics and walls helps to hold in the cool by keeping hot outside air from seeping in. WMECo customers can get up to 75 percent off the cost (up to $2,000) of installing additional insulation and air sealing, and may qualify for a zero-interest loan through the Heat Loan Program

Programmable and Wifi thermostats make it easy to regulate your home’s temperature year-round when you’re away or asleep, without sacrificing comfort. As we welcome warmer weather, be sure to lower thermostat settings when opening windows during sunny spring days. WMECo customers may be eligible for a no-cost programmable thermostat when they get their home energy assessment.

Let the sun in as the weather warms up. While the weather’s still cool, throw open south-facing drapes during the day to soak up the sun’s warm rays. Taking advantage of the sun’s radiant heat can mean heating systems will come on less often. Later in the day, those same drapes are a great way to hold in heat once the sun goes down.

Recycle second refrigerators and freezers. Using an old, inefficient fridge to keep a couple of sodas cold can add over a hundred dollars a year to electricity bills. WMECo will pick up that second unit, recycle it and give you a rebate.

Energy efficient lighting like LEDs and CFLs provide the same amount of brightness as standard bulbs and use much less energy. On average, lighting accounts for about 20 percent of the electric bill in an average U.S. home. When changing to Energy Star rated energy efficient bulbs, customers can expect to save up to $10 per year per bulb. Customers may also qualify for no-cost light bulbs during their home energy assessment.

For more tips on going green to save more green go to WMECo’s website.

Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECo), a Northeast Utilities company (NYSE:NU), transmits and delivers electricity to 210,000 customers in 59 cities and towns. For more information, please visit our website: www.wmeco.com, like us on Facebook (facebook.com/WMECo) and follow us on Twitter @wmeco.

CONTACT:
Priscilla Ress
priscilla.ress@nu.com
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