courtesy photo
Liz Steel a volunteer member of $ave Energy NEK, introduces the panel of presenters: Bekah Kuster, Efficiency Vermont; Mark Snyder, Vermont Energy Audits; Bill Chidsey, Solar Harvester; Craig Taylor, Craftsbury Energy Committee; and Erik Schultz, NEKCA Green Saving Smart.
GREENSBORO – A group of volunteers from six neighboring towns is on a mission to show that, through simple home improvements, not only can homeowners save money on their energy bills, but that those savings will more than pay for the cost of doing the work.
That was the goal of the recent “Weatherization Pays You Back” panel presentation and individual questions-and-answer sessions held on March 19, at Greensboro UCC’s Fellowship Hall.
The event attracted significant community participation across a number of local towns, with over 60 attendees in addition to the organizers and energy experts.
The panel of local energy experts included Bekah Kuster, a community engagement manager with Efficiency Vermont and Erik Schultz, a certified financial counselor and coach with the NEK Community Action Green Saving Smart program, who both provided details of incentives and financing available to homeowners undertaking weatherization projects. Local contractors, Mark Snyder and Bill Chidsey shared insights, information and examples of home weatherization priorities, and homeowner Craig Taylor described his experience weatherizing his Craftsbury home.
Presenters emphasized the need to carry out a home energy audit to assess the whole house, especially the air tightness of the exterior walls, attic and basement.
Craig Taylor confessed that he thought he should just add more insulation in his attic to minimize the heat loss he was experiencing. However, after reviewing the project with Bill Chidsey, Taylor realized that the existing insulation was actually part of the problem as it was concealing air leakage and ventilation issues.
“Only after removing the existing insulation, vacuuming the attic to remove the evidence of animal life, sealing the air holes and connecting the ventilation ducts properly, was I able to get to adding insulation” said Craig. “We experience fresh air all year and the indoor temperature stays remarkably stable as the outside temperature fluctuates through the daily cycle,” Taylor added.
The event was sponsored by $ave Energy NEK, a group of volunteers from six neighboring towns, Albany, Craftsbury, Glover, Greensboro, Hardwick and Stannard, whose mission is to enable homeowners to take concrete steps towards improving the comfort of their homes while reducing energy bills.
In addition to the presentations, attendees could visit with the panelists and local energy efficiency experts from NETO, Rural Edge and Window Dressers. Learning about low cost financing options, especially NETOs free income-qualifying weatherization financing, was important for many of the participants.
The event was recorded by Hardwick Community Television and will be available at hctv.us/
To find a local $ave Energy NEK representative go to greensborofreelibrary.org/save-energy-nek/ or for or more information and resources on weatherization incentives, financing and services linktr.ee/saveenergynek
Liz Steel is a community journalist from Greensboro.
