All around the country, homeowners are beginning to understand firsthand just how cost-effective it is to make energy-efficient changes to their homes. Not only does it save them significant money on their utility bills, but thanks to many state-supported programs, there are incentives that cut the cost of making the initial upgrades.

Palmer, Massachusetts resident Jim Marowski is one of the latest homeowners to benefit from these incentives, reports MassLive.com. After learning about Mass Save, an initiative that offers rebates and awards to residents for making energy-efficient upgrades to their homes, Marowski told the source that it would have been crazy not to take advantage of it.

The Mass Save energy auditor evaluated his home, located places where heat was escaping and helped Marowski prioritize a set of changes he could make.

Ultimately, Marowski spent $9,000 on upgrades, including a new boiler, water heater and light bulbs. But when all was said and done, after the rebates and incentives kicked in, the cost was almost halved. And that's not including the estimated $1,400 a year in reduced energy costs.

"[The savings you get] will go straight into your pocket book," Marcy Reed, president of National Grid, told Massachusetts local news website, WWLP.com. "Is there an investment up front? Yes, but the incentives that come back to the customers can almost fully cover that."

For Maryland residents inspired by Marowski's story, you'll be happy to know that there are a number of different incentives available to you, too. Pepco and Potomac Edison both offer rebates, including up to 50 percent back on services like air sealing and air insulation. A good place to start is with an energy audit from a home inspection contractor.