Weatherizing The Upper Valley

Round Two Launches in January

Most basements have no air sealing or insulation around the band joists. Installing foam insulation and air sealing around the edges is one option for reducing the heat loss and the infiltration of cold air into the home. Courtesy: Efficiency Vermont.

By Paige Heverly, Vital Communities

After a successful pilot round in 2017, Vital Communities is bringing Weatherize Upper Valley back in 2018 to help more Upper Valley residents complete home energy upgrades. This time, the campaign will run on both sides of the Connecticut River with six towns in New Hampshire and five towns in Vermont participating in the program.

Home energy efficiency projects are great home improvements, because they can increase your comfort and increase a home’s value. A typical home energy project costs between $6,000 and $12,000, and focuses on air sealing and insulation. Figures from Efficiency Vermont and the NHSaves program typically result in average heating costs savings of 20% or more. To sweeten the deal, rebates up to $2,500 in Vermont and $4,000 in New Hampshire make weatherization all the more cost-effective. And these figures don’t take into account the benefits of increased home comfort. Say goodbye to drafts and cold spots!

Many homeowners resign themselves to leaky homes and high heating bills. Weatherize Upper Valley makes it easy for homeowners to take back control, improve home comfort, and start saving. In fact, Vital Communities aims to double the number of home energy projects completed each year in participating Weatherize towns.

But Vital Communities isn’t in it alone. The nonprofit is working closely with Efficiency Vermont, NHSaves, and many local energy committees and contractors.

In Vermont Weatherize Upper Valley campaigns, a group of qualified local contractors will offer free home visits and work proposals to residents in participating towns who sign up between January and March 2018.

Residents in participating New Hampshire towns will receive comprehensive home energy audits for $100 (usually costing $400 or more!).

Any Weatherize participant, in Vermont or New Hampshire, who signs a contract to complete work with a partner contractor by May 31 will be entered to win $500 toward the cost of their project.

How Weatherize Upper Valley works:

1. Sign Up and attend a launch event in January.
2. Complete a Home Energy Questionnaire by March and get connected with a contractor.
3. Receive a home visit and work scope.
4. Take Action! Sign a contract by May 31 and be entered to win $500.

Residents of Weatherize Upper Valley’s 11 round two teams are invited to attend their community’s kick-off event to learn about the program and meet each town’s partner contractors. Interested residents can sign up for more information at VitalCommunities.org/Weatherize or contact their volunteer team.

• Orford-Piermont-Lyme, NH: David Perlman, davidaperlman@gmail.com
• Lebanon, NH: Lynne Garfield, lynngarfield17@gmail.com
• Plainfield-Cornish, NH: Steve Ladd, StevenALadd@gmail.com
• Springfield-Chester, VT: Char Osterlund, charmf@vermontel.net
• Woodstock-Pomfret-Bridgewater, VT: Zach Ralph, zach@sustainablewoodstock.org

Weatherize Partner Contractors for 2018 include ABC Energy Savings, Build Basic Green, Building Alternatives, Building Energy, Earthshare Construction, Farnum Insulators, Quality Insulation of Meredith, Shakes to Shingles, van de Ven Construction, Vermont Foam Insulation, Weatherization and Renovation of Montpelier, and Yankee Thermal Imaging.

For more information about Weatherize Upper Valley and the January kick-off events, visit VitalCommunities.org/Weatherize.

Paige Heverly is a Project Coordinator focused on Energy and Transportation at Vital Communities. Paige can be reached at Paige@VitalCommunities.org or 802.291.9100 x114.

Many thanks to our sponsor:

Weatherizing The Upper Valley posted first on Green Energy Times