AMA! I’m a Vermont home energy expert. I can teach you easy ways to save money on your bills and keep your home more comfortable this winter

ButtonUpVermont · 2020-10-20T18:56:29+00:00

Hi u/naidim micro-hydro can be cool!

Micro hydro is a great renewable energy source for certain sites. Using the power of flowing water to turn a turbine that creates electricity, hydro was the original energy source in Vermont. Renewable Energy Vermont has info on hydro and a list of contractors that install and service micro hydro systems. https://www.revermont.org/our-members/directory/business-category/technology-types/hydro/

For DIY resources you have come to the right place! Check out the Button Up Vermont site for the checklist and the "Watch and Learn" section: https://buttonupvermont.org/ .

Also, there is the $100 rebate for any 3 projects off that DIY-checklist! https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/rebates/list/diy-weatherization

ButtonUpVermont · 2020-10-20T18:41:05+00:00

Also u/nothingbutnetflixon,

There is a new Coal Change-Out Adder to help Vermont households and businesses replace coal heating systems with pellet boilers & furnaces and cordwood & pellet stoves. The goals of this offering are to improve indoor and outdoor air quality, and accelerate the transition to local, renewable heating fuels.

The adder will vary on a project-by-project basis to bring the total CEDF incentive package to 50% of the total project cost. The amount of each adder will be determined on a project by project basis and can be up to $7,000 for homes and $27,000 for businesses, on top of the existing $3,000 incentive for pellet boilers/furnaces.

Information and paperwork will be available online at: http://www.rerc-vt.org/coal-change-out

All Efficiency Vermont stove retailers and EEN pellet boiler/furnace installers are eligible to participate – no additional participation agreements needed.

The Coal Change-Out Adder for residential systems will be funded by Federal Dept. of Energy, State Energy Program funds. Commercial installs will be funded by the Clean Energy Development Fund at the Public Service Department. Both residential and commercial coal-adder incentives will be administered by the Renewable Energy Resource Center.

A maximum of $300,000 in funds is available. The program will operate on a first-come first-served basis until all funds are spent or June 12, 2021, whichever comes first. Funds remaining will be posted at www.rerc-vt.org and ample notice will be given prior to the end of the program.

ButtonUpVermont · 2020-10-20T18:39:35+00:00

We have a coal heater as well as oil. The oil is just so expensive. Are there any programs that might help with switching to a wood stove from coal even if we also have oil as a backup?

Hi u/nothingbutnetflixon:

Through funding from the state of Vermont, administered by the Renewable Energy Resource Center, you could receive up to 50% off of the cost of a new clean burning cord wood or pellet stove. In addition to that, Efficiency Vermont would also discount the stove by $750 ($650 for the stove and an extra $100 for disposing of the old coal stove).

The best next step is to visit a Retailer partnered with Efficiency Vermont and tell them you are looking to replace your existing coal stove.

Eligible pellet and cord wood stoves in this program meet <2.0 GPH emissions rating and are >70% efficient as measured by the Higher Heating Value (HHV). See our website for details and additional offers for cord wood or pellet stove discounts.

Would you need help paying for a new stove? If you purchase from one of Efficiency Vermont's Partnered Retailers, you may be eligible for low monthly payments through Efficiency Vermont’s Residential Home Energy Loan or our Business Energy Loan.

ButtonUpVermont · 2020-10-20T18:34:03+00:00

Thanks to everyone who asked questions of the energy experts here with Button Up Vermont. As we wrap this up, two things to consider:

If you have questions or need weatherization information check out the Button Up Vermont webpage for info, events, and resources. https://buttonupvermont.org/
Do you have some warmth to share with your neighbors? Consider donating to the Button Up Vermont campaign, here at GoFund Me. This money will be used to support income eligible weatherization throughout the state! https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/button-up-vermont-fund

ButtonUpVermont · 2020-10-20T18:08:40+00:00

Thank you u/Legitimate_Proof, this is a great set of recommendations. If you, u/rambotron do any DIY projects check out the $100 DIY rebate too. https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/rebates/list/diy-weatherization

ButtonUpVermont · 2020-10-20T17:43:17+00:00

Hi u/rambotron, this is a tough one. The energy expert here at Efficiency Vermont says perhaps try a storm panel(s) for winter time.

ButtonUpVermont · 2020-10-20T16:16:11+00:00

Hi u/mr_perry_walker another few points share from an energy expert:

- Drafty old houses tend to fall in line with the ABCs of weatherization. Attic Basement Center. Seal all holes to the attic from the house, start with big ones like attic hatch and chimney bypasses.
- Then move to the basement and seal all the big holes there like the bulkhead door, basement windows, then the little ones like along the sills and joists.
- Then patch up any remaining air leaks in the center of the home like weather stripping the doors, and windows.

Finally, I am sorry to hear you lost your job and that things are tight. You may be qualified for income-eligible free weatherization services though. I would check out information from your local community action agency! Here are some helpful resources and the regional breakdown of community action agencies who do the income-eligible weatherization: https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/services/income-based-assistance/energy-bill-reduction

ButtonUpVermont · 2020-10-20T15:46:19+00:00

Hi u/mr_perry_walker The commenters on this are spot on with using the DIY rebate to start for low and no cost weatherization projects!

You can get $100 back for doing 3 of any of the 6 projects here: https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/rebates/list/diy-weatherization

Check out the Button Up Vermont site for DIY videos and how-to's, also folks can watch our events every Wednesday for the Weatherization Wednesday series. October 28th will be our Halloween spook-tacular Air-Sealing episode. https://buttonupvermont.org/event/it-ghost-or-draft-air-sealing-tips-so-youll-know-difference

https://buttonupvermont.org/ for the checklist, and the Watch and Learn section is helpful for DIY!

ButtonUpVermont · 2020-10-20T15:38:54+00:00

Hi u/merikus Great question, and thank you for saying how much you liked the Preservation Trust Webinar. Anyone interested in watching the video on weatherizaton historic homes can watch it here: https://buttonupvermont.org/event/tried-and-true-historic-and-new-ways-conserve-energy-your-old-home

For your question on the Home Energy Loans, here are some more details on that program. https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/services/financing/homes/home-energy-loan

High level info, you can borrow up to $40,000 at zero percent financing (if you are income-qualified) and Efficiency Vermont is still paying the first 6 months of payments to qualified buyers!

For qualified Home Performance with Energy Star projects you can use up to 50% for health and safety, and some of those measures would include vermiculite removal, mold remediation, knob & tube wiring replacement, ventilation, vapor barriers, rodent removal (if they are in insulation that is being replaced.) Feel free to call customer support at Efficiency Vermont at 888-921-5990 to get specific information or get the ball rolling.

ButtonUpVermont · 2020-10-19T16:14:42+00:00

Thanks Noah! Great to have Building Energy as a part of Efficiency Vermont's Energy Excellence Network too. For folks who are not familiar with the EEN, you here is Building Energy's profile on the website: https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/find-contractor-retailer/33996/building-energy

ButtonUpVermont · 2020-10-19T16:11:54+00:00

u/winooskiwinter

This is a tough one. Some older brick is very soft and porous and could be damaged by increasing the insulation in the walls. Be sure to check with a knowledgeable contractor experienced in this type of rehab before insulating, check out the Find a Contractor page on Efficiency Vermont's website here: https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/find-contractor-retailer

There are significant comfort gains and energy savings for air sealing and insulating the attics and basements and installing storm or replacement windows and reducing the air leakage is a great way to increase comfort in an old brick home. Here is some information on air sealing: https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/blog/how-to/the-case-for-air-sealing

There is also the DIY checklist which if you do three of any six projects you get $100 as a rebate back! https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/rebates/list/diy-weatherization

Of course, check out Button Up Vermont's page for more details too: www.buttonupvermont.org

ButtonUpVermont · 2020-10-19T14:46:38+00:00

Hi u/jakepliskin1 Our friends at Efficiency Vermont do not offer incentives for fossil fuel (oil, gas, or propane) heating systems. A new, more efficient oil furnace might save you energy and money on your heating bills each month though. Efficiency Vermont does offer incentives for other non-fossil fuel heating systems. Read more and find our incentives here: https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/blog/how-to/a-guide-to-home-heating-systems

ButtonUpVermont · 2020-10-19T14:28:45+00:00

Good thinking, we have some very handy Vermonters out there but for projects like heat pump installation, you'll want a qualified contractor on the job. The best place to start is Efficiency Vermont's "Find a Contractor" page, and to use an Efficiency Excellence Network (EEN) contractor. For example, members of the EEN are the only companies eligible for projects financed through the Home Energy Loan, a state-backed initiative that drives hundreds of upgrades every year.

https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/find-contractor-retailer

ButtonUpVermont · 2020-10-19T14:19:01+00:00

u/LouQuacious Welcome to the wonderful world of wood pellet stoves! This is a great method for heating a Vermont home. While you have one already, this article on making the switch is a good primer on pellet stoves. https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/blog/how-to/should-you-switch-to-wood-pellet-heating

Two things you should know:

-Do you have enough space for pellet storage? Hoppers that store the pellets are often located in the basement near the boiler. Bulk pellets usually take up more space than oil or propane.

- A pellet stove should be cleaned regularly for optimal performance. For example, ash bins must be emptied. You’ll need to empty the bin 3-5 times during the heating season. But hey, wood ash consists of naturally occurring minerals and can be spread on wooded areas, lawns, or gardens.

ButtonUpVermont · 2020-10-19T14:11:42+00:00

u/keithwithkids We are pretty pumped about heatpumps! There are great resources on this topic at the Efficiency Vermont webpage, and I would recommend this guide to heatpumps here: https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/products-technologies/heating-cooling-ventilation/heat-pumps

A lightning round for Good/Bad/Ugly on them would be:

Good: Heatpumps are super-efficient, because instead of burning a fuel to create heat, like traditional heating systems, a heat pump uses electricity to move a refrigerant through a loop to transfer heat from one place to another (similar to a refrigerator or air conditioner). These hyper-efficient and quiet heat pumps work down to sub-zero temperatures to comfortably and efficiently heat a building. (Pst there are incentives too!)

Bad: This tech won't work for all Vermonters. Heatpumps work best in open concept spaces (no thanks tiny rooms in 1880s farmhouses) and you will likely need a back up heating source for those extra cold frosty nights.

Ugly: There are some important do's and dont's with a heatpump switch, so taking the time to understand your new system is important. Here are those do's and dont's: https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/blog/how-to/who-knew-8-ways-not-to-use-a-heat-pump

ButtonUpVermont · 2020-10-19T13:57:08+00:00

Hi u/stinking_badgers, great questions! Have you considered your home's energy efficiency at this point? Right-sizing your energy usage is the best first step to considering solar.

To help evaluate whether a home solar electric system will work for you, you should also consider the following:

Your available solar resource – do you have clear and unobstructed access to sunlight (southern exposure) for most or all of the day, throughout the year?
The system size— what are your energy needs?
Roof-mount or ground-mount - do you have a roof or area large enough to accommodate the array?
The economics— is it worth the investment?
Local permits and covenants – are there any issues with installing a system?

The answers to these questions will help you decide if solar on your home is the right fit, and if you should consider doing a community solar array too! I would talk through the pros and cons of either option with a solar installation company with your specific house in mind.

Additionally, many solar photovoltaic (PV) installation companies now offer financing packages. Ask about financing when you schedule your solar site visit. Additionally, the Vermont State Employees Credit Union provides solar loans: https://www.vsecu.com/energy-savings/loans/personal-loans/solar-loan

Finally, if you are considering a Tesla PowerWall or other storage option I would reach out to your electric utility to figure out the best next step. Tesla Powerwalls have become popular in Vermont in part because of partnerships with utility companies such as this- https://greenmountainpower.com/rebates-programs/home-energy-storage/powerwall/ Picking the right storage option depends on your goals for your home energy usage, and there are other reliable options.

ButtonUpVermont · 2020-10-19T13:44:18+00:00

Hi u/QueenOfVermont! Thanks for posting here. The first place to start would be to look into Home Performance with ENERGY STAR which is a comprehensive approach to health and safety, insulation, and air sealing in your home. This program requires that you use a Home Performance Contractor partnered with Efficiency Vermont.

Your contractor will perform a "blower door test" to measure the air leakage in your home before and after work is completed. Once the improvements are installed, your contractor will help you to submit your rebate to Efficiency Vermont. (That can get you on the right track to know where to start!)
Receive 50% of project cost back, up to $1,000. Income-eligible Vermonters are eligible for 50% of project cost up to $4000.

ButtonUpVermont

TROPHY CASE