A2ZERO Home Energy Advisor Hits Milestone, Helping Over 500 Ann Arbor Households
Over 500 Ann Arbor homes have now received customized plans for advancing sustainability, energy efficiency and health through the City’s A2ZERO Home Energy Advisor (HEA). Launched in the spring of 2024, the HEA is a free program open to all city residents including homeowners, renters and landlords that performs comprehensive on-site home assessments and provides written reports detailing recommendations and resources individuals can take to save money and make their homes more sustainable. The HEA also provides follow-up support and standalone consultations for specific questions folks may have about things such as appliance replacements, contractor quotes, and more. Those interested can learn more or sign up at www.a2zerohea.org.
Participants in the program receive a comprehensive assessment of their home energy use and recommendations for making improvements. The assessment includes an analysis of appliance age and condition, energy efficiency needs, insulation gaps, HVAC condition, and more. The HEA also tests for air leakage and combustion appliance safety. After the assessment, residents are provided planning tools to help them decide on improvements along with tips on how to fund any enhancements.
HEA Program Manager Swen Hendrickson noted: “Too often, people wind up in a situation where a crucial appliance breaks, leaving them without hot water or heat. In the cold months especially, many in this scenario opt for a quick replacement, defaulting to ‘like for like’ and missing the opportunity to upgrade to a better technology. We help people plan ahead for these windows of opportunity and understand their options.”
“Most insulation and air sealing projects pay themselves off fairly quickly, in reduced energy costs as well as increased comfort.,” added Julie Roth, Energy Manager at the City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations. “And the City’s robust Home Energy Rebate program helps reduce the upfront costs of high-efficiency appliances, bringing them close to cost-parity with less efficient and polluting fossil gas options.”
In addition to detailed “what” to do advice, the Advisors provide information on the “how” to do it, including referrals to local contractors, guidance on project sequencing and timing, and support navigating financial incentives available from multiple sources. All participants are offered a follow-up call, and the Advisors are available at any time for ad hoc consultation, including technical support, unbiased review of contractor bids, project planning, and more.
The HEA is a crucial part of the City’s work to help reduce the climate-related impact of our buildings as a part of A2ZERO, the City of Ann Arbor’s plan, vision, framework, and associated actions for a just and equitable transition to carbon neutrality, community-wide, by the year 2030. Learn more at a2zero.org.
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Media Contact:
Julie Roth, Office of Sustainability and Innovations Energy Manager, jroth@a2gov.org