What does “high usage” mean?

What counts as high usage depends on the specific household, but a general rule of thumb is that consuming 1.5 times your expected amount of energy is a sign of high usage.

How do you figure out how much energy I should be using?

We base our estimates on the home’s square footage, resident count, and location (whether it is coastal, inland, northern, southern, etc.). We compare your usage to that of similar homes based on census data and our past experience with homes in your area.

What information do I need to submit?

We will need to know your annual energy usage, which is how much energy you used per month for at least the last 12 months. You will see electricity measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), whereas heat is generally measured in BTUs, therms, or CCFs, but can be measured in various ways depending on your fuel source.

We require this so we can tell whether your home consumes energy within a normal range for your household specifications. There are a few ways you may choose to send this information, either from you or the utility, but no method of sending your usage to us will require an account or meter number. As long as we know how much energy was consumed per month, over the course of a year, that is all we need to get started.

Where do you operate?

We operate 100% remotely and partner with energy assistance agencies in Wisconsin and Michigan.

How long will the call take?

Calls typically take about 15 minutes, though the duration may vary depending on the scope of your concerns. The report containing your ECO Plan will be sent by mail or email shortly thereafter.

What’s included in the Report?

The ECO Report contains comparative consumption charts of your home’s energy usage compared to similar households, a summary of the information we were provided, our findings from the data, and the contact information for the resources we believe to be a good fit for your household. We’ll discuss our assessments and recommended actions over the phone before sending the report to your email or mailbox.

Will it cost me anything?

Not necessarily: we will check to see if you work with an assistance agency or other organization to cover the cost of service before continuing. Either way, every quote we send will cost less than the average energy bill in your state.

What counts as an income-qualified household?

An income-qualified household makes under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level guidelines and/or under 80% area median income, whichever is lower. We specialize with income-qualified homes, and while we don’t reject households above those guidelines, there are fewer resources available for those who are not income-qualified.

How do you create these plans?

(See ECO Plans section)

Do you provide assistance?

We are a consultation service providing recommendations on energy improvements, resource navigation, and a general understanding of how energy moves in households. That said, we receive no grant funding to provide direct financial aid.