The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), in collaboration with Mass Save®, is using U.S. Department Of Energy grant funds in the Greater Springfield area to provide interactive tools for homeowners to encourage more – or "deeper" – energy efficiency upgrades. This initiative, called Home MPG (miles-per-gallon) is an enhancement to the Mass Save home energy assessment program. The initiative is available through Mass Save to homeowners in eight communities: Belchertown, East Longmeadow, Hampden, Longmeadow, Monson, Palmer, Springfield, and Wilbraham.Map of Mass. showing where the Home MPG communities are
Home MPG' provides an interactive web portal that connects homeowners to their scorecard and links to their home’s thermal image (if available). Core elements:
  • An Energy Performance Score (EPS), similar to a vehicle MPG rating, reflects a home's expected energy use and carbon emissions, and allows comparison between area homes. The EPS also provides data on utility incentives available to help pay for the cost of energy efficiency improvements aimed at improving the EPS.
  • A web-based tool that allows homeowners to view the results of their Mass Save home energy assessment and their energy scorecard.
  • The web interface also connects homeowners to an infrared thermal image of their home (if available) to help understand the potential for targeted cost-effective building improvements. 

DOER is collaborating with three states, Washington, Virginia, and Alabama, as well as a host of national, local and utility partners to gauge the effectiveness of new tools to catalyze the home energy retrofit market.

  CSG Home MPG Scorecard
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Sample Energy Performance Scorecard (EPS). The format will vary by Mass Save contractor.
Source: Conservation Services Group

Thermal Imaging

Infrared thermal imaging enables homeowners to see quickly where they have opportunities for energy improvements. On the program website, homeowners are able to view any available thermal images of their house, available incentives, results of their Mass Save energy assessment, and the structure's energy performance score.

Thernal Imaging Tells a Different Story

Source: Sagewell 

Home MPG program goals include:

  • Creation of market value and recognition of the benefits of home energy performance
  • Streamlining and improving the homeowner experience with Mass Save
  • Increasing both the total number of home energy upgrades completed and the total energy savings achieved per household

Sponsored by: Columbia Gas, National Grid and Western Massachusetts Electric        

DOER program contacts: Alissa Whiteman / Elise Avers

This information is provided by the Department of Energy Resources.