HomeBoost Energy-Efficiency Kits Now Available

Plattekill Public Library patrons can now check out HomeBoost energy kits – a free do-it-yourself energy assessment tool. Thanks to a partnership effort of the Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS) and Central Hudson, the DIY kits that patrons borrow can provide a beneficial way to take control of their home energy use.

The kits are designed as an easy, accessible tool. Each kit includes a smartphone-compatible thermal-imaging camera and step-by-step instructions to help users identify areas in their homes where they can improve energy efficiency. Within days of completing the assessment, patrons will receive a free personalized report via email that highlights available rebates and makes recommendations to increase efficiency and reduce monthly bills. 

To check out a kit, residents must have a Plattekill Library card and be an active Central Hudson customer. 

Each HomeBoost kit contains a professional-grade thermal imaging device that converts a patron’s mobile phone into a thermal imaging camera. Combined with the HomeBoost app, a patron can use the thermal imaging camera to assess their home and subsequently receive the free report that will help guide residents with ways to bolster the home’s energy efficiency. The app guides you through the approximately 30-minute process to scan the home.

Either Android or iPhone mobile phones will work. The kits are specific to the type of mobile phone a patron uses, and for iPhone users the type of charging connection they have:

• Android
• iPhone Lightning
• iPhone UBC-C

Based on the free, customized report you receive (a $99 value), you can choose what energy-efficiency recommendations you want to implement, such as weatherization, heating system, or appliance improvements.

Stop in at the Plattekill Library to borrow a HomeBoost kit or pick up a brochure to learn more. It’s a way to use your library card to save money and conserve energy!