Vermonters can save $880M through energy efficiency investments

Source: Press Release from High Meadows Fund, 8/1/11, Contact: Gaye Symington, High Meadows Fund, 802-999-6309 New studies show homeowners want a streamlined process and measurable results “SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. — August may seem like an unusual time for Vermonters to be thinking about their heating bills. Most people are more concerned about keeping cool than worrying about how they will stay warm this winter. But new research indicates they could save cold cash – more than $800 million – over the next 20 years by improving their homes’ energy efficiency. Three studies, commissioned by the Middlebury-based High Meadows Fund, found that warm homes in winter and cool homes in summer are within reach if Vermont streamlines the process of making efficiency investments. “It is not lack of funding that stops many homeowners from improving their energy efficiency,” said Gaye Symington, executive director of High Meadows. “It is a lack of demand for what they consider a complicated process with unknown benefits. We need to make energy efficiency easier to see and do.” The study results were released today at the South Burlington home of Marc Companion, who expects his energy bills to decrease 30 to 50 percent after he invested $12,000 on air sealing, insulation and windows. While Companion spent $12,000, a typical investment would be closer to $7,000. “When we began this work, we expected homeowners’ biggest barrier would be finding the money to pay the upfront costs of energy efficiency improvements,” Symington said. “Instead, we found the biggest barriers are the lack of understanding about the benefits and the multiple steps that trip people up before they get it done. Many Vermonters have started down this path with a home efficiency audit but don’t go through with the recommended improvements because one step doesn’t easily lead to the next. Not only are they forgoing potential savings of $800 to $1,100 a year, they’re also missing out on the more comfortable home if they had finished the work.” In 2008, Vermont passed a law aimed at making 25 percent of its homes at least 25 percent more energy efficient by 2020. The High Meadows Fund commissioned this research to understand how best to reach that goal. It found demand could be increased by creating a simplified process with easily accessible financing and measurable results…” Reports and executive summaries are available online: http://www.highmeadowsfund.org/learningresources/ Full Press Release: Vermonters can save $880M through energy efficiency investments

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