Park Ridge Residents Make Homes More Energy Efficient; Rebates and Financing Options Available to Homeowners for a Limited Time

Park Ridge area homeowners have the opportunity to make their homes more energy efficient this fall with the help of limited-time rebates and financing available through Energy Impact Illinois, an advocate for homeowners made up of an alliance of local organizations, utility companies and non-profit groups.

Homeowners David and Tracey Edsey are among the first to explore ways to improve the comfort of their home and lower their energy bills. The couple hosted the city’s first Impact Party on Friday, October 26. At the party, friends and neighbors saw an energy assessment of the Edsey’s home followed by a presentation on the importance of air sealing and insulation by Energy Impact Illinois and local contractors from Arc Insulation.

“Our house party was really informative. I had never known that my recessed sliding doors and can lights were sources of air leaks in my house and that my 40-year-old windows were not,” said Dave Edsey. “My friends were also very engaged in the discussion and learned possible solutions for their own heating and cooling problems.”

Air sealing and insulating a home are two of the most cost-effective and permanent improvements that homeowners can make to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. More than half of total energy costs come from heating and cooling a home and almost all homes let too much air escape or penetrate. Most homes (even newer ones) also have incorrectly installed or insufficient amounts of attic insulation. 

Energy Impact Illinois is offering a limited-time rebate of up to $1,750, or about 70 percent of the total cost for air sealing and insulation projects, and is also offering a free home assessment for homeowners who host an Impact Party with a group of homeowners from their neighborhood.

Energy Impact Illinois connects homeowners with certified and vetted contractors who can assess and estimate the right mix of projects for their home to maximize savings. In addition to the limited-time rebates, Energy Impact Illinois can also link homeowners with attractive loan options with zero percent interest for the first year. Energy Impact Illinois is a program run by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning through a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Park Ridge homeowners are encouraged to call 855-9-IMPACT to take advantage of the rebate offer before it expires. Homeowners can also get involved by contacting their local coordinator, Mary Edsey at (773) 404-9402 or mary@energyimpactillinois.org.