MIDDLEBORO — Fall is a great time to prepare for colder weather and lower heating costs.

Sustainable Middleborough will sponsor a free All About Insulation workshop at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Middleborough Public Library, with insulation expert Matt Perry from JM of New Bedford.

Residents will learn do-it-yourself energy-saving measures, such as caulking and air sealing, as well as what to know about hiring a contractor. 

“There are so many things homeowners can do themselves that will make their homes more comfortable and help them save on their utility bills,” said Perry, who lives in Lakeville and grew up working in his family’s insulation business. “Often it’s as easy as learning how to spot where drafts are coming from and sealing them up with ordinary materials you can get at the hardware store.”

Sustainable Middleborough’s new weatherization expert Hayden Kane will also be on hand to help residents sort through the numerous federal, state, and local energy incentives that can help with the costs of hiring contractors for weatherization and heat pumps, including two new 0% or low-interest loan programs. Kane is also available for free one-on-one appointments.

 “Up to half the energy used for heating and cooling an average home is lost to air leakage,” Kane said. “That’s like having a window open year-round and letting your money fly out. Most houses here in Middleborough were built before 1960 and many are underinsulated. Our goal at Sustainable Middleborough is to help people stop all that energy loss and save money.”

Those interested can go to ene.org/ene-sustainability/hea/ or email hea@ene.org or call 888-772-4242 for a free energy assessment to learn about their home’s needs and get access to financial incentives. 

The All About Insulation workshop is free and open to the public. To sign up for an appointment with Hayden Kane or view the Sustainable Middleborough’s complete Weatherization Guide for local residents, go to sustainablemiddleborough.org.