It’s that time of year again! We often use the new year to commit or re-commit ourselves to improve our habits for the good of ourselves or those around us and commonly look at diet and exercise as 2 popular areas for improvement, among other ideas.

For something different, here are some other things you could consider acting on for the coming new year – how about committing to make some changes, even small changes, to the way we consume energy!

The team at Energize Franklin has developed a list of potential ideas and actions for you to consider adopting as a New Year’s resolution. These are things that will potentially benefit your comfort, your budget, and our shared natural resources!

Please consider adopting one of these ideas / actions below in 2025:

• Register and get a MassSave home energy audit, which can include free energy-saving devices and discounts on home insulation. (Mass Save, a state sponsored energy efficiency program, can reimburse customers for any needed insulation at 75%. See more information at masssave.com. There are also significant federal tax credits for 30% off the costs of heat pumps, heat pump hot water heaters, insulation, solar, windows, and more. You can find more details and information from the United States Department of Energy and the IRS.)

• Attend a 350Mass Franklin Node meeting 

• Switch from a gas only car to an electric or gas/electric hybrid car, either eliminating car CO2 emissions or cutting them in half.

• Register on EnergizeFranklin.org and choose a goal for 2025.

• Caulk gaps at windows and doors and insulate the water heater. Clear plastic window treatments can cover windows in the winter and help keep your heat in and make your home more comfortable and energy efficient. Flexible gap-fillers can be used to reduce leaks around windows. Simple draft stoppers can be placed on the floor in front of old drafty doors. Install electrical outlet and switch plate insulators on exterior walls. Place covers over drafty A/C vents. Close fireplace dampers when not in use.

• Keep the heat turned down a few degrees and wear a sweater.

• Consider installing a mini-split heat pump for energy-saving space heating and cooling.

• Investigate and install solar panels, which can reduce or eliminate monthly electric bills.

• Wash your laundry with cold water. This will save energy on heating, and most detergents are designed to clean just as well with cold water as with hot water. It will also help expand the lifespan of your clothes. If possible, use a longer spin cycle to cut down on drying time. Alternatively, air dry your clothes!

• If you have a dishwasher, stop it after the wash cycle and let the dishes air dry. Your dishwasher may have a feature that allows you to turn off heated drying.

• If buying a hybrid consider a plug-in hybrid, such as the Toyota Prius Prime, which provides 40-mile range, sufficient for more most local daily driving, before the very efficient gas engine kicks in. This makes it effectively an Electric Vehicle (EV) for people who mostly drive locally, but the convenience of not having to stop and charge on long-range trips – very simple, effective short-term plan until solid state batteries come into use with longer range.

The Energize Franklin website hosts the free exchange of these and many other money-saving and energy-saving ideas, and the team encourages local residents to leave a testimonial about the actions they have taken.

 

The website www.energizefranklin.org was launched in 2023 by a local team of volunteers who wanted to have an online space where friends and neighbors here in Franklin can find inspiration and see what others in their community are doing. Anyone can go to the site to browse the suggested actions, or you can sign up and track the actions you’ve done and create a to-do list for items you would like to accomplish. Having a free account also allows you to track your carbon reductions and leave a testimonial. For easy access or more information, use the QR code here!