Town of Nantucket Energy Office

Heating & Energy Savings Resources:
Be Prepared for Winter!

One of the best ways to be prepared for your winter energy costs is to be informed. This page will provide you with quick access to information that will make your home or business more energy efficient, link you to tips, financing options, and fuel assistance.

Energy Efficiency Programs and Rebates

Mass Save® offers a one-stop resource for homeowners, landlords, renters, small businesses and large commercial and industrial customers across the Commonwealth who want to reduce their energy use and utility bills. Get expert guidance and financial incentives through this initiative from Massachusetts’ gas and electric utilities, energy efficiency service providers and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER).
  • Sign-up for a free, Mass Save Home Energy Assessment and receive immediate energy savings measures, such as unlimited LEDs &  free programmable thermostats, smart-power strips, and water saving devices.
The Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is designed to assist low-income households reduce their heating bills by providing full-scale home energy efficiency services. The program is funded by an annual grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and your local utility company, and is administered by anetwork of local agencies that are listed by community here.

Do-It-Yourself Tips

Even small projects that don’t require a full audit can improve your home’s efficiency. Learn how making adjustments to windows, doors, lights and hot water can lower your energy bill. Click on these helpful links to learn more:  Homeowner Energy Saving Tips and Winter Heating Tips.

General Tips:
  • Assess your home’s energy use with Mass Save’s online tool.
  • Always look for the ENERGY STAR® label, which means the product has met strict government standards for energy efficiency, saving you money.

Heating and Cooling
  • Maintain your heating system to save energy and money.
  • Call your contractor to do annual pre-winter season check-ups to keep your cooling and heating system at peak performance.  
  • Turn down your thermostat at least 2 degrees. Lowering a thermostat between six 
    and nine degrees when sleeping, for example, can save up to 10 percent per year on 
    heating costs
  • Invest in a programmable thermostat and set the temperature to return to a comfortable setting a half hour before you come home and reduce energy use and costs while you are away.
  • Install weather stripping for leaky doors and windows.

Lighting and Electric Appliances
  • Change your light bulbs to LED bulbs by signing up for an energy assessment. 
  • Shut the lights off when you leave a room.
  • Shut down your computer when you are done using it.
  • Use the right size pot on stove burners while cooking (a 6-inch pot on an 8-inch burner wastes over 40% of the burner’s heat).
  • Use your microwave instead of the oven when you are reheating small portions and you can reduce your cooking energy by up to 80%.
  • Install a power strip to manage the energy consumption of your plug load.

Energy Efficiency & Conservation Efforts

  • Conserve water (e.g., install low-flow toilets, utilize gray water systems where possible)

Energy Efficiency in 90 seconds!
Help defeat DIRTY POWER, by signing up for a free Home Energy Assessment available to all Nantucket National Grid residents through the Mass Save Program!
Although energy efficiency is closely related to energy conservation, the two terms are different. Energy conservation refers to behavior that uses less energy (such as turning off lights), while energy efficiency refers to performing the same tasks, but using more efficient approaches (such as using LEDs instead of incandescent bulbs).

The Nantucket Energy Office aims to empower our local community to save money and minimize total energy demand, by embracing both energy efficiency and conservation techniques.

National Grid Budget Billing

Billing options and discount rates also are available to help eligible customers who may have difficulty paying their monthly electric bill. 

National Grid offers programs to help customers spread payments out more evenly across the year, which are particularly helpful to those on fixed incomes. Discounted rates are based on service area and certain eligibility requirements. For more information about the availability of  these rates, customers should contact National Grid at 800-322-3223.

Electricity Supplier Options

Did you know you can choose who supplies the electricity that National Grid delivers to your house or business? It's quick and easy to take control of your energy costs by choosing an energy supplier, many of which can guarantee lower rates than National Grid.  Here are some helpful tips:

Energy Saving Resources

Below are a few resources that offer information about residential and business energy and efficiency ideas, tips, and programs.
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More Than 100 Ways to Improve Your Electric Bill 

This energy-efficiency brochure provides tips to save energy in every major area of the home: heating, cooling, lighting, cooking, water heating, laundering, and refrigeration. Many tips also can improve your home’s comfort and convenience, while protecting the environment by using energy more wisely.
US EPA: ENERGY SAVERS (RECOMMENDED!)
Provides tips and steps to maximize a buildings energy performance. 
Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources: Provides information about energy efficiency programs and initiatives offered to residential and businesses/non-profits in Massachusetts; includes rebates, incentives, loan information and regulatory proceedings.
US Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE):
EERE sponsors various initiatives to build awareness about energy efficiency and renewable energy topics and to coordinate efforts toward specific energy efficiency goals. 
ICLEI's Profiting from Energy Efficiency Guide: 
Online guidebook that address an array of energy efficiency issues such as why to invest in energy efficiency and how to finance energy efficiency measures. 
MASS SAVE: Savings through Energy Efficiency (RECOMMENDED!)  
An initiative sponsored by Massachusetts’ gas and electric utilities and energy efficiency service providers that offers a wide range of services, incentives, trainings, and information promoting energy efficiency to help residents and businesses manage energy use and related costs.
US EPA: Energy Efficiency: 
Provides information on EPA’s clean energy programs, ENERGY STAR efforts, the Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool, and much more.
Energy Education:
An Energy STAR partner that helps universities, colleges, K-12 schools, and large churches develop energy conservation plans.
DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency):
DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Established in 1995 and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Town of Nantucket Energy Office