|
|
Doug Bechtel
|
|
In my last OPALCOGRAM,
I promised a rundown on our current conservation programs.
As I explained then, the rebates provided by these programs
are expected to go away as of October 1, 1995.
Residential Weatherization is the most popular program we offer (and where we save the most kilowatt hours). This program is open to owners of electrically-heated homes built (and the electric heat installed) before January 1, 1988. We perform an energy audit at no cost to you to determine potential energy savings - including insulation, duct wrapping and windows. We require that this audit be done before work is begun, and we usually have a waiting list of several months. Of the recommendations made in the audit, we will pay 60% of the cost of insulation and duct wrapping. Only $4 per square foot is paid to upgrade windows and glass doors to thermal pane, and we require that all needed insulation be installed before we will pay anything on upgrading glazing. (We also weatherize mobile homes, although the guidelines are slightly different.) If the occupant of the house qualifies for low-income status (125% of the federal poverty guidelines), we will pay 80% of the cost of insulation (but still only $4 per square foot for windows). The Whatcom County Opportunity Council pays the additional 20% on insulation, nothing on windows. While we have a waiting list for homes to be weatherized, we have room to add about 60 more people before we run out of money.
Building to Super Good Cents standards makes a home up to 20% more energy efficient than the Washington State Energy Code, and provides a rebate of $1,500 on a single family home. Different rebates are available for multi-family buildings. We need to work with you from the planning stage on. We have funding available for approximately 30 single family dwellings and 4 multi-family buildings before the program ends.
If you buy a Water Heater from our approved products list, we will pay you $60. We have funding for about 185 more before the program ends. Call for a copy of our list before you shop. I continue to be surprised how many water heaters we buy in a year.
Low Flow Shower Heads and Faucet Aerators are available over the counter at our offices for any home built before July 1, 1992 (when the building code began requiring installation of 2.5 gpm shower heads). We have only 100 or so of these shower heads in stock and will not be purchasing any more.
One other area of interest, with slightly different guidelines, is Manufactured Housing. Although we do not pay rebates to buyers of new homes, BPA pays a $1,500 rebate directly to the manufacturer. We understand that the dealers generally pass this rebate along to the purchaser. BPA’s contract with the manufacturers extends through March, 1996.
As I explained last time, in order to qualify for the above rebates, all work must be completed, verified by an OPALCO representative, and a check issued not later than September 30, 1995. So if you are interested in getting in on one of these programs, you should contact us sooner rather than later. We allocate our funds for all programs on a first-come, first-served basis.
Doug Bechtel
|