WMECO STUDY

CARB teamed with the Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO) to investigate the costs and benefits - both to the utility and to the homeowners - of combining home energy efficiency and renewable energy. Rising energy costs have made a tremendous difference in cost-effectiveness of the "Zero Energy" home in Hadley, Massachusetts. The pilot home features active solar hot water and solar electric systems as well as boosted insulation, low-e windows, and energy-efficient appliances and equipment. Combining efficiency with solar electricity means that the home is a net generator of electricity during the utility's peak periods - a big perk for the utility. The graphics illustrate home energy performance in 2005:

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