Homeowners in Southeastern Pennsylvania now have more incentive for increasing their home's energy efficiency and lowering their utility bills.

The regional EnergyWorks Now program, which was launched in 2010 to assist residential and commercial building owners in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties with planning, financing, implementing and assessing energy savings projects, has added two new features available April 1 that will provide even more savings for homeowners.

To further accelerate home improvements that will reduce home energy usage and utility bills, Energy Start certified replacement central air conditioning and windows will now be eligible for EnergyWorks' low-rate, energy efficiency financing. In addition, EnergyWorks will make the first six monthly payments on one of its low-cost loans for energy efficiency home improvements.

All EnergyWorks projects are designed to produce increased energy efficiency of at least 25 percent, with many designed to reduce energy use by as much as 40 percent.

Along with increasing home comfort and lowering homeowners' energy usage and bills, a whole-house or targeted EnergyWorks home improvement project – such as air sealing and insulation, upgrading heating and cooling systems, and other measures - can also improve a home's Home Energy Score (HES), helping to increase its resale value.

After improvement opportunities are identified, EnergyWorks can help finance the project(s) with Keystone Home Energy Loans sponsored by PA Treasury and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Certified EnergyWorks contractors perform the work needed, and an independent analyst provides a free follow-up inspection to ensure that the recommended improvements were correctly installed, and that energy savings are being realized.

Homeowners can start the process of improving their home's energy efficiency and lowering their utility bills by signing up for a professional home energy assessment, available by visiting the EnergyWorksNow website or by calling 215-609-1052. 

4/1/2013