Not to intentionally exclude the one visitor I had this month from Macedonia (Welcome!), but the truth is, the bulk of my readers live or work in Chapel Hill.  All those Chapel Hillians should know about a new program to fund residential energy efficiency within the city limits.

Before I dump the data you’ll need to apply, let me direct my visitors from across the US to the DSIRE database of State and Federal incentives for things like renewable energy and efficiency projects.  You are sure to find a program in your area that will help you make your home or business a bit greener.

Sorry, Macedonians, I just don’t have any information on projects in your area.

So, without further ado, here are the details:

Are you WISE? If your Chapel Hill home is owner-occupied and a single-family detached structure, you may qualify for grants up to $5,000 to help pay for energy assessments and improvements that will lower your home’s utility bills. Be WISE and apply today at www.townofchapelhill.org/wise!

The Chapel Hill WISE Homes & Building Program is being offered through the end of May 2011 by the Town of Chapel Hill. Funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Energy through two grants totaling $300,000 made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Chapel Hill, through its contractor Clean Energy Solutions (CESI), has developed a network of prequalified contractors who will conduct energy assessments and complete home improvements for eligible homeowners. The Town will also provide subsidies that will lower the cost of eligible home improvements by 25-50 percent. These subsidies are designed to incent “deep” energy efficiency improvements, meaning 15 percent or greater energy savings per home.

The goals of the program are to:
Reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions
Lower utility bills
Create jobs
Assist in the development of a local home and building retrofit market
Create a sustainable program that lasts beyond grant funding

Program participation eligibility:
Primary residence is located within Chapel Hill corporate (city) limits
Primary residence is owner-occupied
Primary residence is a single-family detached structure

Eligible home improvements and subsidy levels:*

50 percent subsidy (after all other incentives):
Envelope air sealing and insulation improvements
Duct sealing and repair
Outdoor thermostats for homes with heat-pumps

25 percent subsidy (after all other incentives):
Heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) upgrades
Energy-efficient appliances
Hot water heater replacements
Re-circulating hot water systems
Programmable thermostats in gas-heated homes
Lighting upgrades
Solar thermal hot water
Solar photovoltaic or geothermal renewable energy systems ONLY if in combination with energy efficiency improvements estimated to generate 15 percent or more energy savings

* The Town of Chapel Hill will work with prequalified contractors to make the final determination about all eligible home improvements. The maximum subsidy per home is $5,000.

Sign up today!

Click on the link below to download the application form
Homeowner Participation Form:
http://www.townofchapelhill.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=8947

For more information, contact Nora Barger of Energy Efficiency Services at nbarger@cleanenergysol.com

How it works: The Chapel Hill WISE Homes & Building Program

1. APPLY: Complete a Chapel Hill WISE Homes and Buildings Homeowner Participation Agreement. The form may be downloaded below.

2. HOME PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT: Schedule a Home Performance Assessment with one of the pre-qualified contractors.

3. SCOPE OF WORK: Based on the information gathered in the Home Performance Assessment, the Contractor will create a scope of work with recommendations for energy efficiency improvements for your home that will provide an estimated 15-20% energy savings. You should receive the scope of work within 10 days of the Home Performance Assessment.

4. ASSESSMENT SUBSIDY: Once you have received the Scope of Work you will submit a Chapel Hill WISE Homes and Buildings Assessment Subsidy Invoice to the Town of Chapel Hill, authorizing the Town to pay the Assessment Subsidy to the Contractor.

5. ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS: Complete a Chapel Hill WISE Homes and Buildings Intent to Proceed Form and submit it to the Energy Efficiency Coordinator. The form estimates the subsidy amount, including utility incentives, and informs the Town that you are proceeding with the improvements. Schedule the construction work with the pre-qualified contractor that conducted the Home Performance Assessment or another pre-qualified contractor from the list.

6. QUALITY ASSURANCE (QA): All projects in the Chapel Hill WISE Homes and Buildings program are monitored for quality assurance by an independent third party. The QA will verify that the work was completed to industry standards.

7. ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS SUBSIDY: Complete a Chapel Hill WISE Homes and Buildings Energy Efficiency Improvement Subsidy Invoice with the help of your contractor and submit it to the Town of Chapel Hill, authorizing the Town to pay the subsidy to the contractor.

 

What projects are YOU thinking about?