Wyandotte's Free Home Energy Audits Extended Through September

Wyandotte residents who have yet to take advantage of the free home energy audits being offered by the city are in luck as the program has been extended through the end of September.

, every Wyandotte home, whether rented or owned, is eligible for free energy inspections as well as grants, discounts, and low-interest loans for energy efficient upgrades.

The program, being overseen by , is designed to help Wyandotte homeowners make their homes more energy efficient and comfortable. It's being paid for through $4.3 million in state and federal grants.

“We’ve performed free home energy audits to over 1,400 homes, but we’re shooting for at least 2,000," said Pamela Tierney, energy services program manager for Wyandotte Municipal Services. “This is a chance for our residents to get a huge helping hand toward making their homes greener and more comfortable while saving money.”

One of those residents is retired principal

“The team conducted the tests, showed us the results, and helped us make the right decision for our home and our budget without ever pressuring us," she said. "The results have been terrific. We highly recommend every home in Wyandotte take advantage of what our city’s offering. We’ve increased the value of our home and more importantly, we’re more comfortable.”

Residents who sign up for the program will be able to participate in all three steps of the program, the first of which is a free home energy audit and the installation of some energy saving devices.

During the energy audit, program representatives will do a complete walk-through of a home, looking for issues such as temperature differences from room to room, condensation on window and other signs of energy inefficiency. The auditor will then check the complete HVAC system, including ducts and vents. The audit also includes a check of insulation, doors and windows. There is no charge for the step one audit.

Under step two, residents can qualify for incentives to help pay for blower door-assisted air and duct sealing to increase home comfort and decrease energy losses. According to Tierney, the process includes sealing the entire house and attaching a large fan to the front door to force air through the home. A small bit of smoke is then added to the pressurized air in the home, and a check is done to see from where the smoke may be escaping.

Because of the grant, the city is able to subsidize most of the cost of the pressure test.

“It’s actually about an $800 package,” Tierney said, adding that the final costs to homeowners is $50, or $100 if they also choose to have their ductwork tested. “We’d like to see everyone take advantage of it.”

In the final step, residents can get double rebates on energy saving measures and equipment and may qualify for low-interest financing to pay for qualifying upgrades, such as doors, windows or insulation.

Once 2,000 residents participate with a free step one audit, the city will be eligible for funding to install at . The Better Buildings for Michigan program will pay for the library rooftop panels.

Besides saving the city and residents money, Tierney said, “the program is a job creator."

“We have marketing consultants, quality control people, five contractors that are doing work and their subcontractors,” she said, adding that local merchants also are benefiting by selling needed supplies.

For more information or to sign up for a free energy audit, call 855-674-9926.