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How it works
1. Tell us about your home.
Complete the online Sign-up/Intake Form as a self check inventory practice so we can both better understand and assess your homes energy use. If you need assistance you may come into our office or call us.
Before you start, you'll need access to your energy data.
In addition to the form, you will be asked to provide your two most recent years of utility usage data which includes your electricity, gas and/or oil bills to see what is listed in kw/h, gas in ccf or therms and oil in gallons delivered). If you don't have this information please request it from your utility providers by calling or visiting their websites.
Guides to access energy data
This combined information gives us a good indication of whether or not the Green Homes program is potentially right for you.
2. Get a home performance evaluation.
We receive your information we'll pass it down to our contractors to review and call you directly to schedule an Energy Audit and Home Performance Evaluation.
This is a 2-3 hour specialized test of your home conducted by a Town-licensed, BPI ((Building Performance Institute) accredited energy auditor.
This test will give you a complete diagnostic breakdown of your home's energy efficiency in a comprehensive report highlighting:
- Exactly where and how your home is potentially wasting energy
- Solutions on how to fix those issues
- A cost for each recommended improvement
- Projected dollar savings on your utility bills for each recommended improvement if you choose to do the work.
Since this test is very time & labor intensive, we want to make sure you're at least willing to consider our energy auditor's advice on how to fix the problems identified.
3. Doing upgrades
Typically, improvements take between one to three days to complete.
We assign you or allow you to choose a contractor to do the upgrades for your property. Once a work scope is agreed upon, we'll draw up a two-party contract.
4. We help you pay for it.
The Green Homes program will finance the cost of the work for you up to $14,000 (or $19,000 if the work includes installation of a high energy efficient heat pump).
We directly pay the contractor the cost of the energy-efficiency improvements. Under a separate contract with the homeowner, the Town sets up a monthly payment plan with you to pay us back over time (for up to 10 years).
The best part is that we structure it so your utility savings should cover the monthly payments.
This financing option includes a fixed 3% interest rate, and the payments can be transferred to the next homeowner if you move. The buyer must agree to assume payments and the program must be informed 90 days prior to sale.
Because these improvements are permanent fixtures to your home, every homeowner qualifies for the financing – there is no need to provide any personal credit score or financial history.