WE ARE WELL INTO THE WINTER HEATING SEASON, AND THERE ARE REBATES AVAILABLE TO MAKE HEATING - AND COOLING IMPROVEMENTS FOR YOUR HOME -- MORE AFFORDABLE. MANY OF THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE STILL EXPENSIVE, BUT ADVOCATES SAY, THEY PAY FOR THEMSELVES IN ENERGY SAVINGS OVER THE YEARS. HERE'S PHIL HIRSCKORN NOW WITH MORE. "SO, THIS WILL BE NEXT YEAR'S WOOD." (VO 1: WOOD PILES 103050...STOVE 103215 ...FIRST FLOOR 104110) TO SPEND LESS ON HEATING OIL, LEANNE BARD LOOKS TO THESE PILES....TO FILL HER WOOD STOVE, NOW CONNECTED TO HER FIREPLACE. IT HEATS THE WHOLE FIRST FLOOR OF HER FALMOUTH HOME. (NATSOT LEANNE AND PHIL, 10:47:29) "AND THAT HAS CUT OUR OIL CONSUMPTION BY HALF." (VO 2: ATTIC 000...BASEMENT) TO KEEP HEAT INDOORS, SHE INSULATED HER ATTIC....AND HER CONCRETE BASEMENT. (SOT LEANNE, 10:36:00) "WE HAD RIGID FOAM INSTALLED." (VO 3: INSULATION) THE COST OF AN INSULATION JOB AS HIGH AS $5,000 CAN BE CUT IN HALF WITH A REBATE FROM EFFICIENCY MAINE. (SOT LEANNE 10:44:19) "THE REBATE WAS THE KEY. TO GET A 40, 50% DISCOUNT ON SOMETHING - WHO DOESN'T LIKE A SALE. HELLO!" (VO 4: WATER HEATER 103040) BARD ALSO BOUGHT A NEW WATER HEATER WITH A HEAT PUMP ON TOP. A REBATE FROM EFFICIENCY MAINE CUTS THE COST BY TWO- THIRDS, FROM $1,500 TO $600. (SOT LEANNE, 10:44:35) "IT'S NOT THE BLING OF THE HOUSE, IT'S ALL THOSE THINGS THAT YOU DON'T SEE THAT NOBODY NOTICES. SO, THE LESS YOU CAN SPEND IN IT, THE MORE APPEALING IT CAN BE." (VO 5: BULBS 104110 OR 105820 ANDY'S HOUSE....LEANNE TOUR) HER LONG- LASTING, ENERGY EFFICIENT L-E-D LIGHTS COST ONLY 50-CENTS BULB -- A DISCOUNT EFFICIENCY MAINE ARRANGED WITH MAINE STORES. (SOT ANDY 11:15:59) (COVER WITH HOLDING BULB) "ALL THE THINGS WE REBATE PAY FOR THEMSELVES IN ENERGY SAVINGS. (ON CAM) "THEY ALSO HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF LOWERING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS." (VO 6: TWO SHOT 111640...HIS HEAT PUMPS 105600) ANDY MEYER, OF EFFICIENCY MAINE, POINTS TO THE HEAT PUMP REBATE -- $800. THAT STILL LEAVES A STEEP OUT-OF- POCKET COST OF $3,800 EACH. (SOT ANDY, 11:13:18) "IF THEY SAVE ABOUT $600 A YEAR, PAYS ITSELF OFF IN SIX YEARS." (VO 7: HEAT PUMPS) MEYER EXPLAINED HOW HEAT PUMPS DELIVER HEAT -- AND COOLING -- AT A FRACTION OF THE COST OF BURNING FOSSIL FUELS. (SOT ANDY 11:14:20) (COVERED) "EVERY OTHER HEATING SYSTEM BURNS SOMETHING - BURNS NATURAL GAS, BURNS OIL, BURNS FIREWOOD. // (ON CAM 11:14:37) HEAT PUMPS - THEY USE ELECTRICITY BUT NOT TO MAKE HEAT. THEY USE ELECTRICITY TO TAKE HEAT THAT ALREADY EXISTS IN THE OUTDOOR AIR, IN YOUR BACKYARD, FOR EXAMPLE, AND IT JUST MOVES THAT HEAT FROM THE BACKYARD INTO YOUR KITCHEN, FOR EXAMPLE." (VO 8: HEAT PUMPS) AND HE SAYS THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS WILL INCREASE YOUR COMFORT AND THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME. (SOT ANDY, 11:11:34) "SOME INSTALLERS WILL DO WORK AND ONLY CHARGE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FULL PRICE AND THE REBATE, AND WE'LL SEND THE REBATE TO THE INSTALLER." (VO 9) LEANNE BARD