Minnesota winters are cold, and our summers can be hot. Keeping a home comfortable year-round can take a lot of energy, especially in older or drafty homes with inefficient heating, cooling, and appliances. For many homeowners, that energy use can translate into high utility bills.
CEF’s Sustainable Homes Program is designed to help Minneapolis homeowners make their homes more efficient, comfortable, and affordable.
Understanding Your Home’s Energy Use
Every home is different, which is why Sustainable Homes starts with understanding how your home actually uses energy.
The program begins with a comprehensive Home Energy Assessment, a review of at least 12 months of your utility usage, and an assessment of your income information to determine what rebates and incentives you may qualify for.
From there, we identify potential improvements that can help reduce energy use, reduce reliance on gas, improve comfort, and lower energy costs.
Making Home Upgrades More Accessible
We know that even when homeowners want to make energy improvements, the upfront cost can be a major barrier.
Sustainable Homes is designed to help make those upgrades more accessible. CEF provides vetted contractors and, in most cases, covers most or all of the upfront costs. We also help process eligible rebates and incentives.
If you choose to move forward, you'll receive an upgrade offer that clearly outlines the expected savings, program costs, rebates, any required upfront contribution, and monthly service charge before you make a decision.
In many cases, the monthly service charge is designed to be less than the modeled energy savings, helping you save money while making improvements to your home.
Three Steps Toward a Better Home
1. Start with a Home Energy Assessment.
We'll take a closer look at your home and how it's using energy.
2. Explore your options.
We'll explain what we found and provide up to three potential upgrade options, followed by a one-on-one conversation so you can ask questions and decide what makes sense for your home. If you decide not to move forward, there is no cost for the assessment.
3. Make your home improvements.
If you choose an upgrade option, vetted contractors complete the work. CEF handles much of the process, including helping with eligible incentives and rebates.
What Could Sustainable Homes Do for You?
Depending on your home and your needs, upgrades may help you:
- Reduce household gas use
- Lower energy costs
- Improve comfort
- Make your home more energy efficient
- Improve health and safety
- Avoid emergency heating or cooling replacements
- Increase your home's resale value
- Make important improvements without taking out a traditional loan
The program is currently available to Minneapolis residents who own and occupy a single-family home and have lived there for at least 12 months. Participants must also be willing to provide historical and ongoing utility data.
Homeowners who live in Minneapolis Green Zones or who are at or below 80% of Area Median Income may qualify for the greatest incentives, but the program is open to eligible Minneapolis single-family homeowners regardless of income.
Your Home. Your Energy. Your Choice.
Making your home more efficient doesn't have to mean figuring everything out on your own or taking on a large upfront expense. Sustainable Homes is about giving homeowners the information, support, and options they need to make improvements that work for their household.
Ready to learn what your home could do better?
Start with a Home Energy Assessment and take the first step toward a more comfortable, efficient, and affordable home.
