
According to Energy Star®, 90 percent of U.S. homes are under-insulated. The Charlottesville Department of Utilities is offering residents a free online tool to address how their homes meet their insulation needs.
Open to homeowners, and renters with landlord approval, the Attic Insulation Self-Assessment is available to all Charlottesville Utilities customers. Eligible homes include single-family, duplexes, and townhomes, with a focus on older homes.
The Attic Insulation Self-Assessment is 100 percent free to use, and can be accessed via smartphone, tablet or computer.
Customers interested in the self-assessment can access it through a customized online portal. The self-assessment gathers basic information about the customer and their home and provides easy step-by-step instructions on completing and submitting the assessment.
Once submitted, staff from the Local Energy Alliance Program will analyze the information about the customer’s attic and provide a free preliminary evaluation for attic insulation. The evaluation includes guidance to help maximize the attic’s energy efficiency potential, and a preliminary cost estimate for any recommended upgrades.
If the customer decides to pursue the recommended upgrades, they will then schedule an in-person evaluation with LEAP to determine the exact work needed and the final cost.
A 30 percent federal insulation tax credit is available, as well attic insulation-related rebates from Charlottesville Utilities for qualified customers.
More information on the Attic Insulation Self-Assessment, including accessing the self-assessment portal or any of Utilities’ other energy efficiency resources, can be found at www.charlottesville.gov/utilityincentives.