Energy Savings

Energy prices are soaring and winter is coming. Whether you rent or own a home, or are a business owner, everyone is looking for ways in which to lower energy costs and save money this season.

Take control of your energy usage with dozens of energy-saving ideas, tips and how-tos. Follow along the clickable game board and explore the information, resources and FAQs listed below.

GET HELP: CONTACT YOUR LOCAL UTILITY

APPLY FOR AID THROUGH YOUR COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY

If you need help paying your electric or fuel bills or making your home snug for the winter, contact your local Community Action Agency (CAA) to apply for help. You must be a resident of New Hampshire and meet income eligibility requirements. With a backlog of applications, don't delay. Click here for a list of CAA phone numbers.

The NH Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LiHEAP) provides economic aid for home heating costs for qualified renters and homeowners. if you or a family member qualify for SNAP, SSI or TANF, you are automatically eligible. Others must meet income eligibility requirements.

Under the Energy Assistance Program (EAP) income-eligible customers of Eversource, Liberty, Unitil or the NH Electric Co-op can qualify for a 12-month discount on their monthly electric bill. Funds are limited, but successful applicants can get 8 - 76% off their bills.

Take control of your energy consumption for free by simply changing some of your habits. Check out our 31 Day Energy Challenge, by visiting our Twitter and Instagram channels, to get inspired for how to lower your energy bills.

Share your own favorite energy savings tips on social media or email us at hello@cleanenergynh.org so we can share them with others.

Interested in sharing this information with your friends, family or colleagues? Download a printable version of our game board that includes more information for the 31 Day Energy Challenge.

TIPS & TRICKS: PARTICIPATE IN THE FREE ENERGY CHALLENGE

GET HANDY: WEATHERIZATION AUDITS AND ASSISTANCE

Weatherization boosts your home's energy efficiency, safety, and comfort by repairing or improving its outside layer (the shell). It can include fixing broken doors and windows, patching small holes in the walls or roof, adding insulation, fixing the furnace and installing weatherstripping.

Test your home's energy efficiency. Enter your home's energy usage in Home Performance with Energy Star (HPWES). A low score may qualify you for a home audit that may help you earn incentives for energy efficiency or weatherization help.

The NH Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) directs federal grant money to low-income households hardest hit by high energy costs and not able to weatherize their homes without assistance. Eligibility guidelines are the same as for LIHEAP, but applicants must wait for an energy audit to see if their dwelling space qualifies for the program.

USDA offers a Single Family Repair Loans & Grants program to very low-income rural homeowners who cannot get credit from other source. Known as the Section 504 program, amounts of $10,000 - $40,000 can be used to repair, improve or modernize homes. Many LiHEAP recipients use these funds to repair their homes before installing energy efficiency upgrades.

CHOOSE A COMPETITIVE ENERGY SUPPLIER

A competitive supplier is a company licensed by the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (NHPUC) to sell electric supply products to electricity consumers. They are separate from the utilities and focus mainly on energy supply. Visit the links below for more information about competitive energy supply, how to make the switch, and important FAQs before making your decision.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

LEND A HAND: CHECK IN AND SHARE TIPS

Ask your neighbors, especially seniors, if they know about this website and the many money-saving ideas and resources listed.

If you think they might qualify for rate assistance, make sure they have the number of your local Community Action Agency and urge them to call ASAP to apply for aid. Ask if they need help putting energy-saving ideas into practice. Have they swapped out their old bulbs for LED lights? If not, offer to buy the bulbs on their behalf and install them if they need help.

Look for other ways you can help each other save on energy, such as carpooling to the grocery store or running an errand for someone else while you're out so you can save them a special trip. Get creative!

GET CREATIVE: ORGANIZE AN EVENT

Suggest that your Chamber of Commerce, local hardware store or building supply store host a public demonstration explaining when to use different kinds of insulation and weatherizing products and showing how to install them.

Even better: Ask retailers to make a special energy-saving section or display in their store and offer volume discounts on LEDs, weatherstripping and thermal window film.

Urge your church group, civic club, scout troop or neighbors to sponsor a fundraiser to buy energy monitors and weatherizing tools for a tool lending library. Host a coffee hour or drop-in day so others can learn how to use the new tools.

Even better: Offer to do the work for one or more families who need hands-on help.

START A WOODBANK: DO MORE GOOD WITH WOOD

Start a "wood bank" - think of it like a food bank, a place where people can pick up items they need. In this case, it's a place where they can pick up firewood for free.

Financial assistance for wood banks
An in-depth guide on how to start a wood bank
A list of New Hampshire wood banks:
- Sean Powers Wood Bank, Hopkinton, (603) 568-2783
- The Grapevine Community Wood Bank, Antrim, (603) 588-7154
- Wood Ministry at Kearsarge Presbyterian Church, (603) 526-4800
- Peterborough Community Wood Bank, Peterborough, (603) 924-6800
- Warner Community Wood Bank, Warner, (603) 456-3303

THINK BIGGER: LEARN ABOUT WINDOW DRESSERS

This community-based program matches volunteers with homes that need window inserts to save on heating bills.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

GET INVOLVED: BECOME A LOCAL LEADER

Get involved with your local Energy Committee or Energy Commission. Reach out to your City or Town Clerk to learn if there is one in your community.

If there's not one in your town, consider starting one with other clean energy champions. Visit here to find more information and resources on how to get one started.

CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS: SUPPORT NH'S ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAMS

Let your NH State Representative and Senator know you care about energy costs and value the programs offered by NHSaves. Not sure of the elected official serving your district? Find your State Senator here and your NH State Representatives here.

KEEP IT GOING: JOIN CLEAN ENERGY NH!

Support the organization that is working in local communities, serving as regulatory watchdogs, and working with bipartisan coalitions of energy stakeholders to support favorable policies and practices that strengthen NH’s clean energy industry.