Conservation program aims to help homeowners, kids

The path to making America energy independent begins at home, officials said Tuesday.
During a visit Tuesday to the Bristol Boys and Girls Club, U.S. Rep. John Larson, an East Hartford Democrat whose 1st District includes Bristol, plugged a new partnership Tuesday between the club and Victory Energy Solutions of New Britain that aims to help homeowners conserve energy.
Larson called the partnership “a terrific idea” that can pay dividends for the children served by the club while helping wean the country off foreign oil.
The program allows homeowners to get an energy audit of their homes for $75, with two-thirds of the money going into the club’s coffers. During the audit, technicians will seal up drafty windows, install efficient light bulbs and more, officials said.
Mayor Art Ward said that he had Victory Energy come to his house and was happy to return from work one day to find a drafty window fixed, just one piece of the company’s work to save money for homeowners.
Michael Suchopar, the chief professional officer at the club, said this is probably the first partnership in the country between a boys club and an energy-saving group.
He said the alliance makes a lot of sense.
“We save money. We save energy. And we end up saving kids’ lives,” Suchopar said.
Ronald Araujo, who manages the conservation program for Northeast Utilities, said that for every dollar spent on conservation efforts, people get back about $4, one of the best deals around.
Raquel Kennedy, a Victory Energy representative, said the partnership offers a unique opportunity for her company, the club and homeowners.
The work done for homeowners is worth $800 or more, according to Victory, but is offered for $75 because the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund subsidizes it. It typically leads to savings of $400 or more annually, officials said.
To participate, contact Victory Energy at (877) 306-4483 or go online to www.victoryenergysolutions.com. Be sure to indicate that you want to benefit the club when you sign up. It is not necessary to live in Bristol to take advantage of the program.

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Energy panel delivers report

A report by the city’s task force on energy consumption urges Bristol to create a new energy manager to oversee municipal efforts to conserve.
The panel also recommends the city take a range of steps to encourage more walking, bicycling and mass transit in town.
The city should also pursue alternative energy options, including photovoltaic cells to turn sunlight into electricity, the report recommends.
The task force, created two years ago at the urging of former city Councilor Craig Minor, has been looking into ways the city could reduce its carbon footprint, save money on energy and become a greener community in general.
Click here to see a PDF of the report.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

City saves on heating costs

Thanks to new boilers at City Hall and a decision to turn down the thermostat in municipal buildings, the city shaved nearly $200,000 off its winter heating bill this year.

A reasonably mild winter also helped, officials admit.

City Councilor Cliff Block said heating costs a year ago totaled $396,000. This year, the cost fell 49 percent to $203,000, he said.

The new boilers are responsible for $134,000 of the savings, Block said, while turning down the temperature for city offices produced the rest of the savings.

“It goes to show we can save money just for turning a thermostat down,” Block said. Click here for the complete story.

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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

City fuel usage shrinks

The city used 36,206 gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel in December 2008, according to Mayor Art Ward.
He said the city used just 19,711 last month, a rather stunning drop.
The mayor credited more conservation among departments and employees. But, wow, that's quite a change.
I'll see if I can get more complete data for the year soon.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

City snags $557,500 energy grant

The city snagged a $557,500 energy conservation grant this week that will provide federal cash to pay for new boilers at City Hall and energy audits of many municipal buildings.
“This is pretty exciting stuff,” said Robyn Bugbee, the city’s grants administrator.
The energy efficiency and conservation block grant, which the city asked for last spring after one of its boilers blew up, should allow for the reduction of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions, energy use and costs, officials said.
Justin Malley, the city’s assistant grants administrator, said the federal cash will cover the tab for replacing the two aging boilers that a contractor is already in the process of yanking out of City Hall.
The new natural gas boilers that will take their place are more energy efficient and cleaner, Malley said.
In addition to paying for the badly needed boilers, the money will be used for energy audits of city buildings to come up with a list of proposals for slashing utility expenses, Malley said.
Malley said that officials hope there will be some money left over after the audits to pay for the implementation of the energy conservation suggestions.
City councilors unanimously approved a contract last month with East Hartford’s H.H.S. Mechanical Contractors for $147,000 to get the boiler work done before winter sets in.

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Bristol in line for $557K in federal energy efficiency cash

Press release from state Rep. Chris Wright, a Bristol Democrat:

REP. WRIGHT ANNOUNCES STIMULUS MONEY AVAILABLE TO

BRISTOL FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS

$557,5000 Earmarked For Bristol

 

State Representative Chris Wright (D-Bristol) announced that federal stimulus money is available and can go directly to municipalities for energy efficiency programs.

 

Bristol is slated to receive $557,500 from the stimulus package for energy efficiency projects.  In order to secure the funding local officials need only to provide the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) with a plan outlining the proposed usage for the funds.

 

According to the DOE, approved usage of the funds includes energy audits, retro fits, energy distribution, establishing financial incentives to encourage energy efficiency, or developing a conservation and efficiency strategy.  Municipalities are able to utilize the money that works best for them to increase efficiency and conservation.

 

“ This is good news for Bristol because the infusion of funds from the federal government, not only increases high tech jobs in the green energy field, but can also help reduce municipal costs by lowering operating expenses,” Rep. Wright said. “In addition, the federal program helps us make our cities and towns more efficient without straining the state’s existing funds.”

 

Towns with a population over 35,000 must submit their plan directly to the U.S. Department of Energy by June 25^th in order to secure their allocated funds.  Smaller towns can apply to the Office of Policy and Management for a portion of the lump sum designated for small towns.

 

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Cheap home energy audits available

Press release from Gov. Jodi Rell:

Governor Rell: Vendors Signing Up for Energy Audit Program

for Homes with Oil and Propane Heat

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that 14 Connecticut vendors have signed up for a new program to help Connecticut residents save money by making their heating systems and homes more energy efficient.

The new program starts with the cleaning, tuning and testing of a customer’s furnace. The efficiency of the heating system is then audited. The program is a $500 value but costs the consumer just $75.

Participating licensed heating, piping and cooling contractors are:

· Deep River Oil Company, Inc. (Deep River) 860-526-5415
· Somers Oil Service Inc. (Somers) 860-749-4490
· Beacon Mechanical Service, LLC (Granby) 860-844-0111
· Gault, Inc. (Westport) 203-227-5181
· R & W Heating LLC (Uncasville) 860-848-9993
· Link Mechanical Services, Inc. (New Britain) 860-826-5880
· Fox Heating Service Inc. (Stafford Springs) 860-684-9113
· Edgerton, Inc. (Monroe) 203-268-6279
· Rich's Oil Service (Enfield) 860-763-2015
· Brooks Oil Service (Bristol) 860-585-1515
· Stafford Mechanical Services Inc. (Stafford Springs) 860-684-9485
· Wesson Energy Inc. (Waterbury) 203-756-7041
· Tracey Energy Services LLC (New Haven) 203-777-5747
· JR Heating and Cooling LLC (Plainville) 860-793-2686

“This program will help people to achieve both short- and long-term savings on their energy bills,” Governor Rell said. “We want to provide consumers with a range of energy services at a tremendous value – helping with immediate out-of-pocket costs as well as with ongoing energy expenses.”

Once the oil system audit is complete, the customer will be referred to the existing Home Energy Solutions program, which performs a whole-house energy audit as well as some weatherization measures. The Home Energy Solutions program is administered by the state’s electric and gas utilities.

The program will also work in the reverse. When oil-heated households receive a Home Energy Solutions audit will be referred to one of the participating heating, piping and cooling contractors to have their systems cleaned, tuned and tested. In either case, the customer will be asked to pay only $75 for both services. The state and the ratepayer-funded Home Energy Solutions program will pick up the rest of the costs.

To qualify for the program, consumers need to schedule whole-house audit services with their electric utility or contact one of the participating heating system service companies to schedule clean, tune and test services between now and June 30, 2009. The customer will pay $75 for the first audit service and the rest will be paid for through the program.

The list of participating heating system contractors is updated on a weekly basis. An up-to-date list can be found at www.ct.gov/opm. Consumers are encouraged to check this website for the latest information on this program.

For more information about the program, call 1-866-940-4676.



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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Rell comes to Bristol to promote new energy savings program

Standing behind a broken podium in a Camp Street carport Thursday, with seven bird feeders dangling in the background, Gov. Jodi Rell announced a new program to help homeowners conserve energy and save money.
Rell said a new $5 million program will provide rebates for homeowners who replace their old furnaces with efficient new ones and another $2 million to provide loans for those seeking to pay for other energy conservation improvements.
The governor said they’re “a good deal for people who are improving their homes and trying to be fuel efficient.”
With soaring costs for everything from oil to food, Rell said that “some of our homeowners are going to be hard-pressed to make it through the winter” so she’s trying to find ways to lend a hand.
“Every day it seems like we’re getting additional hikes in everything,” the governor said.
Reggie Gorneault, 70, said he was happy to have the small ranch home that he’s lived in for 42 years serve as a prop for Rell’s announcement.
He said government loans made it possible a year and a half ago for him to replace leaking windows, replace a roof and put siding on the house – steps that cut heating bills and eliminated some mold that had grown beneath one bathroom window.
“This really saved us,” Gorneault said.
The new programs, he said, offer a helping hand for other residents across the state.
“There’s no one that couldn’t benefit from it,” Gorneault said.
“This is wonderful,” declared his wife, Fran. “I think this is something really great for the state of Connecticut.”
The new furnace rebate program, which is slated for approval at the next State Bond Commission meeting, will provide rebates of up to $500 to homeowners who buy Energy Star-rated natural gas furnaces or oil or propane furnaces that are at least 84 percent efficient. The rebates vary depending on the income of the homeowner.
“We’re really excited about this program,” Rell said. She said it is “a win-win situation” for both the taxpayers and residents who take advantage of it because of the energy conservation it will spur.
The $2 million for the loan program is meant to recharge the Energy Conservation Loan Fund that helps the owners of single and multi-family homes pay for energy saving improvements such as heat pumps, windows, thermostats and more.
Fran Gorneault said the program made it possible for them to do so many needed improvements. They pay a small amount monthly to cover the loans, she said.
Rell said that her family replaced an older oil furnace four years – without state aid – and “it’s been a godsend for us” in cutting heating bills.
She said she hopes that eligible homeowners will take advantage of the new opportunity.
“We’re doing our part,” Rell said. “Now we want everyone to step up.”
The rebate program will be administered by the state’s Office of Policy and Management.

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Schools saved $1.8 million through energy conservation over past decade

During the past decade, an energy savings program adopted by the Board of Education has saved more than $1.8 million, officials said Wednesday.
The energy program has reduced the expected outlay for utilities through a wide range of conservation measures, some as simple as turning off the lights at the end of the day.
“We’ve been helping Al Gore in his quest to make this a green world,” said William Smyth, the assistant superintendent for business.
Smyth said that by slicing the use of electricity, natural gas and heating oil, the city’s schools have reduced energy use as much as getting 4,614 cars off the road or planting almost 10,000 acres of forest.
But the quest to save energy is far from over.
Smyth told the Board of Education Wednesday that the two new schools eyed for Bristol will be designed with energy efficiency in mind.
He said they are likely to have passive solar panels on the roof and “green design” ideas incorporated throughout the 900-student structures.
Almost a third of the energy savings occurred in just one school, Bristol Central High School.
Smyth said its design proved the most conducive to reducing the use of electricity and heating oil.
For example, even though it has about the same number of students as Bristol Eastern High School, it costs $337 a day for electricity at Central and $407 a day at Eastern.
The cheapest daily use is at Chippens Hill Middle School, the newest building, where the tab is $266 a day for electricity.
Stafford Elementary also saw a large reduction in its expected use, probably because it was so inefficient to begin with. Smyth said that officials have made changes that included changing steam traps there.
The city hired a half-time energy consultant to lend a hand with its efforts to pare utility bills back in 1997. The effort hasn’t waned as prices soared.
Smyth said the savings would be even higher except that the school system gets comparatively cheap natural gas and electricity through consortiums to which it belongs.
Reducing energy use, Smyth said, is basically a cost avoidance program.
Replacing four older schools with two new ones as soon as 2011 will further cut energy use since the new buildings will be more efficient than Memorial Boulevard Middle School and three aging elementary schools targeted for closure, officials said.
The only building in the school system that has seen its energy costs rise is the central administrative office.
Smyth said that it has much more use these days, because there are more administrators and because of the many professional development programs conducted there.

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com