Welcome to the Thetford Home Energy Forum

1. Welcome to the Thetford Home Energy Forum Please take this time to: • Fill out Pledge Cards • Review Materials • Enjoy Refreshments • Socialize with your Neighbors

2. Thetford Home Energy Forum How to Save Energy, Save Money and Increase Your Home Comfort

3. Agenda • Welcome and Vermont Home Energy Challenge • Home Performance with ENERGY STAR • Thetford HPwES Contractors and Homeowners Case Studies • Other Thetford HPwES Stories • Group Discussion • Meet the Contractors and Homeowners

4. The Vermont Home Energy Challenge – What? • Implemented by Efficiency Vermont, in partnership with Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network • Goal to weatherize 3% of homes in participating Challenge towns • Support for local partners from Efficiency Vermont, VECAN, and regional partners (SERG in Upper Valley)

5. The Vermont Home Energy Challenge – Why? • State falling short of residential thermal efficiency goals • 80,000 homes by 2020, achieving average savings of 25% • Requires 3% of homes annually; currently we are reaching 0.5 - 1% • Energy prices continue to rise; e.g., fuel oil has increased 350% since 1999

6. The Thetford Home Energy Challenge • Thetford’s 3% Goal translates to 32 residences weatherized in 2013, whether owner-resident or rental. • Qualifying weatherizations must go through EVT’s “Home Performance with ENERGY STAR” program. • Potential for Thetford to win $10,000 from EVT.

7. Home by Home Savings • Reduce your energy bills. • Average reduction of 25% of heating fuel consumption • Average savings of $750 - $1,000 per year • Improve health of your home. • Increase your comfort. • Money not spent on fossil fuels more likely to stay local. • Reduce carbon emissions.

9. Global Impact • Current path of carbon emissions means we will go far beyond 2C (3.6  F) increase in average temperatures, the limit usually cited as maximum non-disastrous increase. • Vigorous action required at all levels of society, from policy to personal lives.

11. Neighbor to Neighbor Support for Change • Weatherization is not simple, and heat loss is not visible • Learning from neighbors about their weatherization experience helps • Home Performance talk becomes normal • Recognition of savings • Contractor references

12. Home Weatherization Programs • Weatherization Assistance Program • Home Performance with ENERGY STAR • Contractor work performed • Do-It-Yourself work performed • Volunteer Assisted Programs • COVER • Thetford HEAT

13. Weatherization Assistance Program • FREE audits and improvements to income qualifying Vermonters • Provides same services as HPwES program • Run by Central Vermont Community Action Council in Orange Cty. • Contacts: 1-877-919-2299, nbrooks@cvcac.orghttp://www.cvcac.org/weatherization/about-weatherization • Eligibility Guidelines Number of Household Residents – Qualifying Income Levels for Orange County:

14. Home Performance with ENERGY STAR • Comprehensive, whole-house home assessment and improvements • Improves home health, safety, comfort and efficiency • Run by Efficiency Vermont • Provides up to $2,000 to help homeowners install improvements • Implemented by trained and certified HPwES contractors

15. HPwES Process • Get a “home performance audit” from EVT authorized contractor. • Using audit report, decide what weatherization work to pursue. • Get weatherization work done by EVT authorized contractor. • Have “test out” to confirm improvement. • Receive incentive rebates from EVT.

16. HPwES Costs, Incentives and Savings • Audits normally $400 - $600, depending on house. • EVT now providing $100 up-front discount • 18 contractors offering additional $50 discounts • Average weatherization work: $8,000. • Ranges widely—you can do work piecemeal over time and still benefit from EVT incentives • Some work can be done by home owner • Average rebate incentive from EVT: $1,300 ($2,000 max) • Federal tax credit for weatherization: $500 (max) • Typical payback—ignoring Federal tax credit—6-7 years and return-on-investment of 11 – 15%.

17. Sample HPwES Financing Scenario(using actual loan terms from local lender as of Feb 2013) • Average net cost of weatherization is $6,700 • Average projected annual savings approx $875, so average monthly savings of approx $73 (assuming stable fuel prices) • If financed with 10-year 5.25% loan, monthly payments are $71.89 • If financed with 15-year 6.25% loan, monthly payments are $57.45 – immediate cash flow gain of approx $15/month

18. Case SummaryStephen Branchflower & Colleen FoxHoughton Hill Road, Thetford

19. To Do… • Fill out EVT Pledge Card and Home Energy Kit request form, available here. • Pick up a $50 Discount Coupon available here, choose a contractor and get your audit done ASAP! • Follow up with home energy improvements before Fall/Winter crunch. • Spread the word. • Volunteer short term with Thetford Home Energy Action Team (HEAT) to support all our efforts.

20. Home Energy Saving Contacts • Vermont Home Energy Challenge – – www.efficiencyvermont.com/homeenergychallenge • Home Performance with ENERGY STAR – www.efficiencyvermont.com/homeperformance, 888-921-5990 • Thetford Home Energy Action Team (HEAT) Mike Kiess, 802-299-5864, michaelkiessvt@gmail.com