You’ve Got This The Energy Doctor Will See You Now
How Kara turned her passion for helping others into an occupation.
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As an efficiency expert, ComEd’s energy doctor Kara has made a career out of helping people. From leaking windows to drafty attics, she finds the best treatments for countless homes—
How did all this start?
When the team asked me to be an energy doctor, I jumped at the opportunity because I felt like it would be really fulfilling for me to share some things that I’ve learned just working with the engineers and team here.
So you didn’t go to energy medical school? You don’t have an undergraduate degree in Energy Savings?
No. We go air quotes on the doctor. I do not have a PhD, I wish. So it’s more of just a term that they came up with. I think it was all the engineers that made up the team and then it kind of expanded into my job as well.
I love helping customers make their homes more comfortable and energy efficient.
What are some of the most common things you see that are causing energy efficiency issues?
The most common issue we find in the field during high bill complaint visits is that some equipment is running constantly without the customer knowing. This constant operation leads to high energy usage. Electric space heaters, furnace fans, sump pumps, well pumps, dehumidifiers, humidifiers and rooftop ice melters are often the common culprits.
For someone who is just starting out and wants to make their home more energy efficient, what are some of the first things that they should do?
The first thing I would recommend is visiting ComEd.com/SaveAtHome to find out about rebates and discounts that are available for energy efficiency improvements.
Start with the easy things and then you can move on to the more complex things, such as adding insulation or replacing windows and doors.
What do you think is the biggest barrier to homeowners making energy efficiency improvements?
I think the biggest barrier is definitely cost. Energy efficiency improvements can be expensive and many homeowners just don’t have the money to make them. So that’s why we offer a variety of programs and incentives to help homeowners make improvements to their homes. We offer rebates and discounts to help homeowners offset the cost of making improvements. We also offer free energy assessments to qualifying customers to help figure out what improvements they may need to make.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part is definitely seeing the difference that I make in people’s lives. Whether it is giving them tips that show them small things they can do or sharing details about the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program offerings, I know I am doing my part to help them save.
Consult a ComEd Energy Doctor if you have concerns regarding a higher electric bill at ComEd.com/EnergyDoc.
