Boston-based EnergySage recently caught the attention of Mayor Michelle Wu because its free online service helps people find the right tax credits, products and providers to maximize savings on rooftop solar installations and other services.

The visit was mentioned in a post on LinkedIn showing a meeting between EnergySage President and COO Charles Hadlow and Wu, an advocate of green initiatives, as seen on the City of Boston’s website.

The good news is that the service and benefits of home solar energy are not only available to our Boston cousins.

The shovel

EnergySage has made great strides in increasing knowledge about the benefits and savings of rooftop solar.

To get started, all you need to do is enter your postcode. A few more simple questions will help you get results tailored specifically to your needs and location. The website is packed with educational resources, a calculator to help you calculate potential savings, and even offers access to energy consultants who can offer further insight.

How it works

EnergySage estimates that about a quarter of all U.S. solar customers visit the site to decide how to add this cleaner energy source to their homes. That equates to more than 10 million site visitors per year.

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Company experts estimate that people who use the company’s free help save on average more than 10% compared to their neighbors by choosing the right panels, inverters and batteries.

The Solar Energy Industries Association reports that 97 percent of all solar systems in the United States are installed on residential roofs. By the end of the decade, the agency predicts, there will be 10 million residential solar systems in the country, double the current number.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the growth is partly due to significant tax incentives, which, for example, save 30 percent on installation costs.

Even when you factor in the cost of installation, a recent study by home experts at Berkeley Lab found that most people can save $700 or more in energy costs per year with such rooftop solar panels. The savings could be as much as $1,900 or more if you exclude payments for the panels.

With EnergySage, you can ensure you’re among those getting the maximum benefit from one of the best ways to reduce heat-trapping air pollution.

What our users say

Boston has a comprehensive clean energy plan that the city introduced in 2019. The goal is to limit the amount of air pollution in the atmosphere.

According to Boston authorities, cities produce about 70% of the world’s planet-warming gas pollution. Smog and other pollutants can cause a range of health problems when inhaled, even in early childhood, state health experts report.

In Boston, public housing is even being converted to implement the passive house principles explained here by Phius, which ensure efficiency and energy savings.

You can support Boston’s vision in your city by learning about the energy saving options readily available and taking action. Simply replacing your old lightbulbs with LEDs can reduce air pollution while saving hundreds of dollars a year.

It all starts with some wise advice.

“It’s fantastic to see such strong collaboration between city leadership and innovators in the clean energy sector,” Daveed Sidhu commented on the LinkedIn post.

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