City Of Minneapolis issued the following announcement on Oct. 4.
For Energy Awareness Month, the City of Minneapolis wants homeowners and renters to know some ways to save energy and money. And for people getting ready to sell a home, these could help sellers get ready for the ordinance taking effect Jan. 15 to provide energy information. Everyone in Minneapolis deserves to live in a comfortable, affordable home.
Plug in to savings
Thousands of households already benefit from the Home Energy Squad program, saving hundreds of dollars every year and enjoying a more comfortable house during the cold winter nights ahead.
- Home Energy Squad visits. Sign up now and get in by the end of the year. Energy efficiency experts visit participants’ homes to install energy-saving materials such as door weatherstripping, a water heater blanket, LED bulbs, a programmable thermostat, and high-efficiency showerheads and faucet aerators to help owners and renters start saving on the spot. The experts will also recommend energy-saving upgrades such as wall and attic insulation. The visit is free to qualified households with a family income less than $94,300 and all residents living in a Minneapolis Green Zone regardless of income; that means that all residents of these neighborhoods qualify for free Home Energy Squad visits: Bottineau, Cedar-Riverside, East Phillips, Hawthorne, Marshall Terrace, McKinley, Midtown Phillips, Near North, Phillips West, Sheridan and Ventura Village. Other households get the visit, energy-saving materials and recommendations for $100. Homeowners and renters can call 651-328-6220 or visit mncee.org/hes-mpls to schedule a visit. The City’s Sustainability Division funds the free visits.
- No-interest financing for eligible energy efficiency improvements is also available through support from the City’s Sustainability Division.
Plan ahead if selling your house
Starting Jan. 15, homebuyers will be able to learn energy information about a Minneapolis home before they sign on the dotted line. That means sellers will need to include energy efficiency characteristics in the already-required Truth in Sale of Housing report. It covers information on the home’s insulation, heating system and windows. If the home has had a Home Energy Squad assessment, it automatically gets the Truth in Sale of Housing evaluation covered. And if you make energy efficiency improvements for a more resilient, energy efficient home, you’ll get a higher score.
Have energy questions?
Ask Center for Energy and Environment energy advisers your energy questions at 612-244-2484 or energyadvisor@mncee.org.
 Original source can be found here.
