Efficiency Vermont Announces Incentives to Tighten Up Your House

From the March 16, 2009 edition of the Addion Independent.

BURLINGTON — New incentives and financing options available from Efficiency Vermont and Green Mountain Power can help moderate- income Vermonters and Green Mountain Power customers improve the energy efficiency of their homes and replace inefficient heating systems.

Vermonters may be eligible for up to $2,500 in incentives to make energy efficiency home improvements. Some of the incentives are available to customers serviced by Green Mountain Power, while others are available to moderate-income Vermonters across the state. Moderate-income Vermonters are defined as those with a household income of less than $51,000 for a single person or less than $73,000 for a family of four.

“We’re encouraging Vermonters who are considering energy efficiency home improvement projects to contact Efficiency Vermont as soon as possible to see if they might be eligible,” said Emily Levin, residential planning manager for Efficiency Vermont. “If eligible, they could potentially save as much as $2,500 on the cost of an efficiency project and reduce their energy bills by as much as 30 percent.”

Efficiency Vermont–approved Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractors are certified to perform energy audits, diagnose building problems such as moisture, mold, and ice dams, and install the recommended energy-efficiency improvements. Efficiency Vermont provides training and quality assurance. Typical energy-efficiency home improvements completed by these independent contractors include installing energy-efficient lighting and water-conservation products; reducing drafts with air sealing; adding and improving insulation; upgrading heating systems; and improving indoor air quality by installing ventilation and carbon-monoxide detectors.

To learn more and to find a certified contractor, please contact Efficiency Vermont at 888-921-5990 or visit www.efficiencyvermont. com/homeperformance. To receive financial incentives, projects must be pre-approved prior to installation by Efficiency Vermont.

Efficiency Vermont was created by the Vermont Legislature and the Vermont Public Service Board to help all Vermonters reduce energy costs, strengthen the economy and protect Vermont’s environment. Efficiency Vermont is currently operated by Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC), an independent organization under contract to the Vermont Public Service Board. VEIC is a Vermont-based nonprofit organization founded in 1986. For more information, contact Efficiency Vermont at 888-921-5990 or visit www.efficiencyvermont.com.