Save Energy, Win Big
Increasing your home’s comfort is its own reward. But sometimes a little friendly competition can add an extra incentive for learning more about energy efficiency.
That was the case in late March when the NEC conducted a combination home energy audit and Home Energy Squad visit at the home of Maplewood mayor Nora Slawik. The NEC delivers these efficiency services in partnership with Xcel Energy.
Slawik scheduled the audit as part of her participation in Energize Maplewood, a city-sponsored contest in which 12 teams of Maplewood residents compete to see who can shave the most off their energy footprint. The 98 participating households (including each member of the city council) earn points for different energy-efficient actions, such as having a home energy audit and Home Energy Squad visit. The highest scoring team will win $500.
The contest is part of Maplewood’s ongoing commitment to conservation.
“Maplewood has been a leader on environmental issues,” said Slawik, “Energize Maplewood is a way to continue that and really take it down to the citizen level.”
Expert Advice for Fighting Cold Drafts
Besides her desire to win points for her Energize Maplewood team and promote energy conservation, Slawik scheduled an audit because she was interested in learning about both short-term fixes and long term, energy-saving projects for her family’s home.
Slawik’s family moved into their 1948 home two years ago, after years of living in a home built in the 1990s. The difference in temperature is noticeable—“you can feel the cold drafts coming in,” she said.
Cold drafts are one of the most common problems the NEC helps homeowners solve. To help determine root causes and possible solutions, NEC Residential Energy Specialist Patrick Deal used an infrared camera to pinpoint heat leakages, checked attic and wall insulation levels, and utilized a blower door test to measure the home’s air tightness. Additionally, the Home Energy Squad changed out Slawik’s older lightbulbs for newer, more efficient ones.
At the end of the audit, Deal sat down with Slawik and her family to go over their Xcel Energy bill history, easy. He identified a few easy, energy-saving behavioral changes, as well as larger energy efficiency upgrades, such as adding insulation to the home's crawl space, attic and walls.
Slawik appreciated the chance to sit down with a home energy expert, and believes that spreading awareness of available energy efficiency services is an important part of the mission of Energize Maplewood.
“Most people are so busy with work and family that they don’t always have time to think about energy efficiency,” Slawik said. “It’s really helpful to be connected with the Squad and audit programs so that homeowners can get a concrete, actionable plan that helps reduce their energy use and utility bills.”
The Neighborhood Energy Connection is a thirty-year-old Saint Paul nonprofit. Every year, our programs—including audits, the Home Energy Squad, financing and free advising—help thousands of Minnesotans reach their energy efficiency and home improvement goals.
Learn more about our Home Energy Audit program
Read about the benefits of a Home Energy Squad visit
Max Bielenberg is a communications specialist with the Neighborhood Energy Connection. He helps tell the NEC’s story through social media, blog posts and website content. When he’s not reading up on residential energy savings, Max enjoys riding his bike around town. You can connect with Max on LinkedIn.
