Fairfax County has launched a new program to help simplify the process of making energy-efficient upgrades for homeowners. The Fairfax Energy Compass program, introduced in September 2025, offers free personalized advice from energy experts who provide homeowners with clear guidance and tailored solutions to transform their homes into energy-saving spaces.
Maya Dhavale, senior community specialist and program manager for Fairfax Energy Compass with our Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination, appeared on a recent County Conversation podcast to explain how the program works and who can benefit from it.
What Is Fairfax Energy Compass?
The program is a free, concierge-style service that connects residents with Energy Navigators who are experts in home energy systems. These navigators help homeowners determine which upgrades make the most sense for their specific situation.
“Fairfax Energy Compass is a new program. It’s a pilot program,” Dhavale said. “It is designed to help residents of Fairfax County who are able to make energy efficiency upgrades or retrofits to their homes.”
As climate change continues and energy costs remain a concern for many families, programs like Fairfax Energy Compass represent a practical approach to helping residents make a change.
By removing barriers like confusing information and lack of expertise, the county hopes to make it easier for homeowners to improve their homes in ways that benefit both their wallets and the environment.
How Does the Program Work?
The program focuses mainly on single-family homeowners, but townhouse or condominium owners or anyone with decision-making authority over their residence can also get help.
After homeowners contact the county and share information about their home and what they’re hoping to accomplish, they schedule a consultation with an Energy Navigator.
Navigators can help homeowners who are at any decision-making stage, whether they are just beginning to explore energy-efficiency options or know what they want and have more technical questions and advanced requests.
“Some people know exactly what they’re really interested in, and the Energy Navigator can do a deep dive with them,” Dhavale said. “Other people might say, ‘I’ve heard about this, I have no idea where to start.’ And the Energy Navigator can walk them through options.”
After the conversation, the Energy Navigator creates a personalized recommendation package. This includes information about the systems discussed during the call, links to county resources, details about available incentives and rebates and a list of vetted contractors who can do the work.
Who Are the Energy Navigators?
Energy Navigators are independent experts with backgrounds in building science, HVAC systems and green building practices. They don’t work for contractors or equipment manufacturers, so they don’t have financial interest.
Why Did Fairfax County Create This Program?
The program comes from the county’s Community-Wide Climate Action Plan, which has an ambitious goal of retrofitting 100,000 homes by 2030. The county is about two-thirds of the way to meeting that goal through several county programs.
Energy Compass fills a specific gap. Many homeowners want to make energy-efficient upgrades but don’t know where to start. The process can be overwhelming, with confusing information about different systems, conflicting advice and uncertainty about which improvements will save money.
Some homeowners also worry about getting taken advantage of by contractors who push expensive upgrades they might not need. The program solves these problems by giving residents access to unbiased, expert advice tailored to their home and budget.
What Kind of Help Can Residents Get?
Energy Navigators can answer questions about almost any home energy system or upgrade. This includes heating and cooling systems, insulation, windows, appliances, solar panels and more. They can explain the pros and cons of different options, help residents understand what incentives are available and suggest the order in which to tackle different projects.
The navigators can’t do home energy audits themselves, but they can explain whether an audit would be helpful for a particular situation and point residents toward companies that perform them.
How Much Money Can Residents Save?
The amount homeowners can save depends on what upgrades they make. Replacing old appliances will have different savings than improving insulation or upgrading a heating and cooling system. The program helps residents make smart choices based on their specific home, budget and priorities.
Some upgrades pay for themselves relatively quickly through lower utility bills. Others might have a longer payback period but increase home comfort or reduce environmental impact.
How to Get Started
Residents interested in the program have several ways to connect:
- Visit the Fairfax County website and search for “Fairfax Energy Compass”
- Email energycompass@fairfaxcounty.gov
- Call 703-324-3721
- Fill out the Energy Compass form on the program’s webpage
The County Conversation Podcast
The “County Conversation” is a podcast featuring employees and subject matter experts from the Fairfax County Government discussing programs, services and items of interest to residents of Fairfax County. Listen to past episodes. To find other county podcasts, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/podcasts.
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