When Malcolm Preston bought his century-old New Rochelle home, he knew renovations were needed. What he didn’t expect was that his winter heating and summer cooling bills would reach a staggering $700 per month. Today, thanks to Con Edison’s Weather Ready program, his monthly energy bills have come down significantly.
“When we moved in, we realized it was a 100-year-old house that needed work, and we really wanted to be energy efficient in everything we did,” Malcolm recalls. “It didn’t make sense to pour money into things without maximizing our efforts.”
That first winter was eye-opening. Draft-prone windows, cold walls, and an especially chilly attic made it clear where heat was escaping. With monthly energy bills averaging $300-400 – and spiking to $600-700 during extreme weather – Malcolm knew something had to change.
Enter Con Edison’s Weather Ready program, designed to help homeowners upgrade their homes for energy efficiency. The program is part of Con Edison’s broader strategy to modernize New York City’s electric grid and reduce strain during peak demand periods and improve reliability.
“The program helps customers create more comfortable, energy-efficient homes by providing expert guidance and affordable upgrades, which reduce energy waste, lower monthly bills, and secure their energy reliability for the future,” said Jacob Noori, Con Edison Energy Efficiency Deputy Program Manager. “Buildings consume almost all of our energy in New York City, so ensuring they’re strongly insulated and not shedding extra energy is crucial for managing peak demand.”
The Weather Ready program offers substantial incentives – up to $4,000 to help homeowners make these upgrades. The program is available to owners of one-to-four-family homes, with separate programs available for larger multi-family buildings.
For Malcolm, the decision to participate was practical. “I work from home, so I want to be comfortable here,” he says. “If we’re going to spend money on renovations, we want to enjoy them.” This philosophy aligns perfectly with his advice to other homeowners.
“One of the things I see that I think is a mistake is when people do all these renovations right before selling their home. They never get to enjoy the benefits themselves.”
The results speak for themselves. Malcolm’s latest energy bill – even during a peak usage month – was significantly lower than his pre-renovation costs. Most months, he pays around $140-150 for both gas and electric combined.
These savings aren’t unusual for program participants. According to Con Edison, weatherization and insulation improvements help right-size electric heating and cooling systems. “The impact of the Weather Ready program varies based on each home’s unique characteristics including size, age, insulation, and level of electrification. While some participants, like Malcolm, have achieved notable savings, those results may not reflect the typical experience. Every home has its own energy profile, so outcomes differ. That’s why personalized assessments are essential to identify the most effective improvements for each household,” says Fred Yonghabi, Con Edison Energy Efficiency Sr. Specialist.
Malcolm’s experience highlights an important point about home improvement: energy efficiency upgrades are investments that pay dividends in both comfort and cost savings. His century-old home now operates with modern efficiency while maintaining its historic character.
The Weather Ready program continues to accept new participants, with incentives available through 2030. Homeowners interested in following Malcolm’s path to energy efficiency can visit Con Edison’s website to learn more about qualification requirements and find approved contractors in their area at conEd.com/WeatherReady. Homeowners can filter by location to find nearby qualified professionals.
When asked how he’s using the savings, Malcolm said: “We bought a plug-in hybrid vehicle. If I didn’t have solar and I wasn’t saving that money on the electric bill, I probably wouldn’t have bought it. I have no problems plugging in my car, because I know that I can look at the bill and see it’s still less than $100—and that’s including charging the car every day.”
It’s an investment that has paid off in comfort — a comfortable attic during winter, a comfortable and fully functioning office space for Malcolm, and comfort knowing his energy bills are lower when the bill arrives. Sometimes the smartest home improvements are the ones you can’t see.
The Weather Ready program is designed with single and multifamily homeowners in mind, but anyone can prepare for winter and keep energy costs down. Here are a few tips:
- Set thermostats at the lowest comfortable temperature. Each degree higher increases heating costs.
- Clear the area around heating vents. Furniture and other objects can block vents and prevent heated air from circulating.
- During daytime, open shades on south-facing windows. Close the shades at night.
- Take showers instead of baths. Showers use half as much water as baths. Less hot water means less energy used.
- Consider a cold wash. About 90% of the energy consumed for washing clothes is used to heat water.
For more information on how to maximize efficiency, click here: conEd.com/WeatherReady
