Information for residents

Saving energy is good for the environment and good for you. By keeping your energy usage down, you may also keep your costs down. Big changes, both in lifestyle and in modifications to your home or business, can mean big savings.

How much could you save? According to www.energystar.gov:

A skilled contractor could save you up to $1,000 on your heating and cooling costs over five years, just by better sealing and insulating your home. Increase the savings by upgrading to an EnergyStar furnace and air conditioner, and you could save another $1,000 on heating and cooling over the same time period.
Upgrading your 1990s refrigerator to an EnergyStar model could save you $315 over five years.
Save up to $900 over five years by replacing two older toilets with high-efficiency models.
Upgrade your 10-year-old washing machine to a high- efficiency model and you could save $675 over five years.

Those few, easy improvements could save you almost $4,000!

Five Easy Steps to Energy Savings

Select a certified energy analyst to evaluate your home's energy efficiency. The analyst shows you which improvements will help you save the most energy and the most money. (Visit www.kcenergy.org for a list of certified analysts.)
Choose what improvements you'll make. Some improvements will be easy decisions, but ultimately, you will choose how much or how little you do. Maybe you'd like to install solar panels or a geothermal heat pump, even if it might take some time to see the cost savings. Or maybe you only want do the low-cost things that will give you
immediate savings, like sealing leaks and improving your home's insulation. It's a personal decision. Only you know what will work best for your home. (Need some inspiration? Download the free Green Remodeling Idea Book at www.marc.org/greenideabook.)
Decide how you will finance your project. There are many rebates, low- and no-interest loans and tax credits available. See the list below for some of the resources available. Use as many as you're eligible for to receive maximum savings.
Work with a certified contractor to make the improvements you select to your home. You can also make it a do-it-yourself project, but note that some incentives are only
available for work done by a certified contractor. (Visit www.kcenergy.org for a
list of certified contractors.)
Enjoy your new energy-efficient home, and the savings that come with it!

Make the process even easier! The Metropolitan Energy Center (MEC) is available to help you through the energy-efficient improvement process. Visit www.kcenergy.org or call 816/531-7283 for more information.

How Will You Pay For It?

There are many financing options available. Use as many as you're eligible for to receive maximum savings. See MARC's Energy-Efficiency Rebate Guide and Utility Energy-Efficiency Rebates and Programs.

Atmos Energy

Appliance rebates for Atmos Energy's Missouri customers.
www.atmosenergy.com

Cool Homes

Rebates for Missouri KCP&L customers on energy-efficient air conditioners or heat pumps.
www.kcplsave.com

Efficiency Kansas

Low-cost loans for energy upgrades for Kansas residents.
www.efficiencykansas.com

Energy Smart Homes

No-interest loans for qualified energy-efficiency measures for Kansas City, Kan., Board of Public Utilities customers.
www.energysmartbpu.org

EnergyStar

Federal tax credits for qualifying purchases.
www.energystar.gov

EnergyWorks KC

Comprehensive information on energy-efficiency resources, including finding financial incentives and selecting certified analysts and contractors, for Kansas City, Mo., property owners.
www.kcmo.org/ewkc

Home Performance with EnergyStar

Rebates for KCP&L and/or Missouri Gas Energy customers.
www.hpwes.net

Independence Power & Light

Low-interest loans and appliance rebates for customers' eligible energy-efficiency measures.
www.independencehelp.org

Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program

Free energy-efficient upgrades for qualifying low-income residents.
Missouri residents: www.dnr.mo.gov/energy/weatherization/wxmap.htm
Kansas residents: www.ks-energy-assistance.com/lieap

MARC Home Remodeling Loan

Low-interest home equity loans of up to $30,000. Available to qualified residents of 33 cities throughout the metro area.
www.marc.org/loanprogram

Missouri Gas Energy

Rebates on qualifying central heating units and water heaters for MGE customers.
www.betterheatingnow.com

This list is subject to change. Please check with each program for availability and eligibility requirements.