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The campaign, being headed by the Westport Green Task Force, encourages homeowners to complete a Home Energy Solutions assessment — a service that lowers energy bills by boosting a home’s efficiency. Fees for all assessments completed before Oct. 31 will be donated to the Westport Warm-Up Fund, a program that helps income eligible residents heat their homes during the winter.
“This is our way of promoting the Home Energy Solutions program now that the Neighbor to Neighbor Home Energy Challenge is over,” said Westport Green Task Force member Pippa Bell Ader. “So many residents completed HES assessments during the Neighbor to Neighbor Challenge — which helped Westport finish the challenge in first place — and we wanted to figure out a way to keep that ball rolling.”
During a Home Energy Solutions audit, an authorized contractor will come to your home and perform an energy assessment. After the assessment, the specialist will make on-the-spot improvements, like sealing critical air leaks, replacing incandescent lights with energy-saving bulbs and insulating hot water pipes. The specialist will also recommend other ways to make your home even more energy efficient.
For the “Stay Cool Westport” campaign, the town is partnering with two HES contractors: New England Smart Energy Group and New England Conservation Services.
The HES assessment costs $75 for homes heated with electricity or natural gas, and $99 for homes heated with oil or propane. The fee for every assessment completed by Oct. 31 will be donated to the Warm-Up Fund. So far, 16 HES assessments were completed as part of the campaign, Bell Ader said.
The assessment fee will be waived for income-eligible residents.
Organized by the Westport Human Services Department, the Westport Warm-Up Fund is funded entirely by community donations, said Sue Lebrija, who oversees the program. Last year, the program served approximately 40 Westport households, she said.
The Westport Green Task Force is hosting a Home Energy Solutions presentation Thursday, Sept. 19, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Center for Senior Activities, 21 Imperial Ave. Pre-registration for the meeting is requested. To RSVP, call 203-293-6320 or email GTF@westportct.gov.
The HES program is supported by Connecticut Light & Power, United Illuminating and the state's natural gas companies in partnership with Energize Connecticut, a program that incentivizes cities and towns to improve energy efficiency, and promote the use of clean and renewable energy. For more information on HES, or to sign up for an assessment, call 877-947-3873.
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