Any homeowner or landlord within the Town of Bridgewater struggling to afford energy bills is eligible, including owners of single family homes, semi-detached homes, and mobile homes. Apply for Energize Bridgewater Home Upgrades if:

• Your total family net income is within the levels shown in the Income Qualification Chart, noting that net income is usually lower than gross income.

• You own a single-detached, semi-detached, or mobile home located in Bridgewater and can provide proof of ownership. Copies of documentation must be submitted with your application.

• You live in your home year-round, no more than 50% of the home is used for profit-generating purposes, it is your current primary residence, and you do not plan to sell it in the near future.

The program does not extend to renters, though it does include landlords who want to reduce the running costs of a single-unit rental home.

Owners of multi-unit buildings are not currently eligible for the program, but we plan to do so in the future.

A Home Upgrades Program Navigator will support participants at every step, helping them find best-fit financing and figuring out which improvements will best reduce home heating bills.

The Program will stream participants to the right financing option depending on homeowner needs, considering income and life situation.

The process will begin and end with a home energy assessment to measure before-and-after results, with the post-upgrade assessment confirming projected cost savings.

Program administrators will schedule Home Energy Advisors and contractors for assessments and upgrades so that participants don’t need to hire and manage their own contractors.

Based on the Home Energy Advisor’s report for your home, we’ll put together some packages blending an array of energy-saving upgrades for your home. The choices you make are up to you. Free upgrades could include:

• Draftproofing seals cracks in walls, ceilings, floors, or around windows and doors. This prevents your home from losing warm air in the winter and cold air in the summer.

• Insulation reduces heat loss and gain by providing a barrier between the inside or your home and the different temperature outside. If your home qualifies, insulation may be installed in your attic, main walls, and/or basement.

• A heat pump heats and cools your home by transferring thermal energy from the outdoors. While they use electricity to transfer heat from a cool space to a warm space, they’re much more efficient than baseboard electric heaters or a forced air oil furnace, and cost less to operate.

• If you don’t already have one, you may need a new 200 amp electrical panel to support a heat pump.

• A dehumidifier runs on electricity and draws water from the air to reduce and maintain humidity levels. It prevents mildew and mould in homes that have damp basements.

• Carbon monoxide detectors alarm when carbon monoxide is present in the air. Any home with combustion appliances should have one.