THE NEW COMMUNITY COALITION
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Governor's Energy Office Programs |
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TNCC has been awarded funding for several of the Colorado Governor's Energy Office (GEO) matching grant programs. These programs are intended to help local jurisdictions meet the state's energy efficiency goals for 2008. Select from the following list of GEO programs to jump to program descriptions: Insulate and Seal Colorado REBATE program Residential Solar PV REBATE program Solar Domestic Hot Water REBATE program ENERGY STAR for New Homes program (please note this is NOT a rebate program) PLEASE NOTE: TNCC highly recommends that homeowners invest in a HOME ENERGY AUDIT prior to hiring an insulation contractor to perform insulating and sealing of the home or hiring a solar installer to install a solar PV or hot water system on their home. According to the GEO, "Energy efficiency is the most cost effective method for decreasing the home energy costs. A home energy audit is the best way for you to determine where your home is performing well, and where it needs to improve when it comes to energy efficiency. An energy audit will identify where your home is leaking energy, determine how well your heating and cooling systems are working, and help you identify what actions you need to take to fix the problems. There are professional energy audit companies that you can hire, or you can choose to do your own audit. Depending on where you live, there may also be low-cost energy audit assistance programs in place. Regardless of what route you choose, an energy audit will most likely lead to long-term cost savings on your energy bills." GEO Energy Audit Website Home energy auditors that are HERS certified and located in the San Miguel County region are listed here: Home Energy Audit Service Provider List Coming Soon... __________________________________________________________________________________________________
Insulate Colorado - Home Rebate Program The New Community Coalition (TNCC), in partnership with the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office (GEO), announced the kickoff of the “Insulate Colorado” program, just in time for Earth Day. The purpose of the program is to assist Colorado homeowners wishing to make energy-efficient improvements to their homes. Properly insulating and air sealing a home will not only help reduce increasing heating and cooling costs, but also make the home more comfortable. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that homeowners can typically save up to 20% of heating and cooling costs, or up to 10% of total energy costs, by air sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics, floors over crawl spaces, and accessible basement rim joists. “A recent 12% rise in energy costs has many homeowners looking for ways to control energy costs, and a properly insulated home can save money during both the heating and cooling seasons,” said Tom Plant, GEO Director. “GEO is using Clean Energy Funds to help homeowners insulate their homes, buy more energy efficient homes through the ENERGY STAR for New Homes program and ultimately to, save energy, money, and reduce their carbon footprint.” Funding was allocated on a matching basis between GEO and TNCC. Much of TNCC’s funding for this program was given by San Miguel County – a huge thanks to them! Insulate Colorado rebate amounts are offered to homeowners at 20% of the total job cost, or $300, whichever amount is less. Residents of San Miguel and Ouray Counties are eligible to apply for the rebate through TNCC. Rebates will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until program funding is exhausted. To qualify for the Insulate Colorado rebate, a homeowner must have used an eligible contractor to install insulation to IECC 2006 recommended R-Values and complete air-sealing measures. A list of eligible contractors from southwestern Colorado is located at: Participating Insulation Contractor Companies. Homeowners requesting the rebate must reside in San Miguel or Ouray counties and submit the following documentation to TNCC: 1. A completed Homeowner Rebate Request Form – available at: InsulationRebateTelluride 2. A copy of the contractor’s invoice showing total job costs and measures installed. 3. A copy of the official “Insulation Card” demonstrating the amount of insulation added. Additional program info is available at: http://www.colorado.gov/energy/residential/existing-insulate-co.asp Insulation Contractor Seminars The first seminar was held on April 18, 2008 in Ridgway. Future seminars will be offered throughout the state, based on interest level. If you are a contractor interested in providing this service but missed the first seminar, please contact Chris Fuller at the GEO (chris.fuller@state.co.us) or Kim Wheels at TNCC: energy.tncc@gmail.com _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Residential Solar PV Rebate Program TNCC has partnered with San Miguel Power Association (SMPA), the Governor's Energy Office (GEO) and CoSEIA to offer a Residential Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Rebate Program. The rebate program will be available beginning on June 1, 2008 to residents throughout the SMPA service territory. Rebates will be distributed equally throughout the region and will be issued throughout 2008 until funding is exhausted. Rebates are not retroactive to systems installed before June 1.Applications will be submitted to SMPA in two stages, with a 90-day total completion timeframe, by the homeowner with assistance from the solar installer. To assist the installers with this program, the following forms are now available: - Completion of Rebate Application PV Basics: Once energy efficiency has been optimized, grid-tied, net-metered solar photovoltaic (PV) systems offer an elegant option for most households to further offset their electricity costs. Grid-tied PV systems allow the owner to send excess energy back into the grid and also benefit the owner by mitigating the effects of electric utility price increases. In addition, distributed solar electric systems decrease the demand for electricity generated from centralized fossil fuel plants, which leads to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Program Parameters and Requirements for Participation Resident eligibility requirements - Homeowners must be a customer of San Miguel Power Association. Systems must be installed at the applicant's primary, year-round residence. SMPA will award rebates on a first-come, first-serve basis. Installer eligibility requirements - SMPA and TNCC recommend installers have a history of successful residential PV, grid-tied installations. Prospective installers should submit a letter to the homeowner outlining their qualifications and history of installations. They must submit proof of these prior projects, if requested by the homeowner. If an interested installer has been working for a local qualified installer who meets these requirements, they may be asked to submit a letter of recommendation from that installer along with proof of the projects they personally installed. SMPA and TNCC encourage installers to have NABCEP certification, CoSEIA training, and/or SEI solar PV course completion. Installers must provide a 2-year system warranty to the customer, in addition to the equipment warranties. SMPA and TNCC do not endorse or recommend any installers, and recommends the homeowner receive multiple bids. Rebate awards – Rebates will be issued directly to homeowners. Due to the technical details and other requirements in the application process, installers are required to be directly involved in the rebate application process. Rebates will be offered at $2.00 per watt up to a maximum rebate amount of $3,000. Rebate processing will take between 4-8 weeks. Renewable Energy Credits – To qualify for the rebate, the homeowner must agree to assign all Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to SMPA for all energy produced by the system for a period of 10 years. Energy audit requirements and eligible auditing entities - To meet the homeowner awareness and educational goals of this grant, one of the following is required to be performed prior to Application for Rebate:
System documentation for rebate eligibility - A full application package from the homeowner will be submitted in two complete stages, as detailed below. Application completion must be completed within a 90-day period from point of application, or the rebate will be denied and rotated to the next selected project. Rebates will not be awarded or paid until the system has been completed, inspected and is operating.
2. Completion of Rebate Application
Application Submission – Applications shall be submitted in two complete packages. Documents shall be hand-delivered or mailed (no fax or email) to: SMPA Ridgway Office Attn: Bill Green P.O. Box 1150 Ridgway, CO 81432 __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Residential Solar Hot Water Rebate Program TNCC has partnered with EnCana, the Governor's Energy Office (GEO) and CoSEIA to offer a Residential Solar Hot Water Rebate Program. CoSEIA is administering the program. The rebate program will be available beginning on June 1, 2008 to all homeowners in San Miguel County and the west end of Montrose County. Rebates will be issued throughout 2008 until funding is exhausted and are not retroactive to systems installed before June 1. Applications will be submitted to TNCC in two stages, with a 90-day total completion timeframe, by the homeowner with assistance from the solar installer. To assist the installers with this program, the following forms are now available: - Completion of Rebate Application Solar Hot Water Basics: Once a home has been optimized for energy efficiency, solar heated domestic hot water is perhaps one of the most cost effective ways to incorporate renewable energy into a home. In the average Colorado home, up to 15% of the annual energy consumed is used for domestic water heating. By using solar energy to heat domestic water, homeowners can significantly reduce their water heating costs while also mitigating the consumption of fossil fuels. Program Parameters and Requirements for Participation : Resident eligibility requirements - All residents of San Miguel County and the west end of Montrose County are eligible to participate. Systems must be installed at the applicant's primary, year-round residence. Rebates will be equally distributed between the eastern part of San Miguel County and the western ends of San Miguel and Montrose Counties. Installer eligibility requirements - TNCC recommends installers have a history of successful residential PV, grid-tied installations. Prospective installers should submit a letter to the homeowner outlining their qualifications and history of installations. They must submit proof of these prior projects, if requested by the homeowner. If an interested installer has been working for a local qualified installer who meets these requirements, they may be asked to submit a letter of recommendation from that installer along with proof of the projects they personally installed. TNCC encourages installers to have NABCEP solar thermal certification, CoSEIA training, and/or SEI solar hot water course completion. Installers must provide a 1-year system warranty to the customer, in addition to the equipment warranties. TNCC does not endorse or recommend any installers, and recommends the homeowner receive multiple bids. Rebate awards – Rebates will be issued directly to homeowners. Rebate processing will take between 4-8 weeks. Due to the technical details and other requirements in the application process, installers are required to be directly involved in the rebate application process. Rebates will be awarded based on the system capacity (System capacity is based on SRCC rating for clear day/C interval) as follows: 30,000 – 44,999 Btu/day output, minimum 50 Gal storage tank = $750 45,000 – 59,999 Btu/day, minimum 65 Gal storage tank = $1125 60,000 & higher Btu/day, minimum 80 Gal storage tank = $1500 Renewable Energy Credits - The rebated portion of a system’s Renewable Energy Credits will be claimed by the GEO. Energy audit requirements and eligible auditing entities - To meet the homeowner awareness and educational goals of this grant, one of the following is required to be performed prior to Application for Rebate:
System documentation for rebate eligibility - A full application package from the homeowner will be submitted in two complete stages, as detailed below. Application completion must be completed within a 90-day period from point of application, or the rebate will be denied and rotated to the next selected project. Rebates will not be awarded or paid until the system has been completed, inspected and is operating.
2. Completion of Rebate Application
Application Submission – Applications shall be submitted in two complete packages. Documents shall be hand-delivered or mailed (no fax or email) to: TNCC Attn: Kim Wheels Hand-deliveries: 100 E. Colorado Ave, Suite 231 USPS: P.O. Box 1625 Telluride, CO 81435
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Energy Star (not a REBATE Program!!) TNCC has partnered with the Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) to offer the Colorado ENERGY STAR New Homes Program. TNCC will work closely with homebuilders serving San Miguel County to support the construction and testing of new energy efficient single family homes built to ENERGY STAR standards. TNCC will also develop a base of Home Energy Rating partners to support this program and provide home energy audits within the region. The program will also aim to increase consumer awareness of energy efficiency options in residential new construction. All certified new homes will receive the ENERGY STAR label to allow for simple identification by Colorado home buyers. What is an ENERGY STAR New Home? Free ENERGY STAR Training AND Regional Green Building Code Update Friday, June 13. 8am-4pm This full day training session will provide an overview of how to be an ENERGY STAR builder, how to effectively build ENERGY STAR Homes, and how to market energy-efficiency and the ENERGY STAR name. TNCC will also provide an update on the status of the local tri-jurisdiction green building code efforts, with an emphasis on ENERGY STAR integration. Attendance is free, but contact TNCC at 728-5208 or greenbldg.tncc@gmail.com to reserve a seat. Mountain Village Town Hall, lunch and breakfast provided.
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P.O. Box 1625, Wintercrown Building, 100 W Colorado Ave ,# 231 (Above Las Montanas) Telluride, CO 81435 970-728-1340