Home energy audit now can save homeowners ice dam problems this winter
Eliminate the problem of ice dams before it reappears this season. Ice dams form when hot air escapes into improperly air-sealed attics. A visit from the Community Energy Services pros can identify if hot air is escaping—the culprit to creating ice dams—and can suggest proper attic insulation and air sealing. Icicles, although festive, can be costing homeowners thousands of dollars in damage, and they are preventable!
Minneapolis homeowners can also discover ways to save energy that will leave more money in their pockets. Homeowners can attend a one-hour energy presentation, schedule a one-on-one home energy visit and receive $400 in services and materials for just $30. Thousands of Minneapolis homeowners have already participated and have improved their homes’ energy efficiency for minimal costs.
Attending a free energy workshop qualifies homeowners for a home visit from a team of energy pros. They will:
- Identify a home’s unique energy needs, provide a blower door test to measure air leaks;
- Help homeowners install materials in the home such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, programmable thermostat, , low-flow showerhead, faucet aerators, gasket seals, pipe wrap and water heater thermometers;
The program also provides:
- A personalized energy use inventory for the past 12 months and feedback for the next 12 months to show homeowners how these low-cost/no-cost measures resulted in decreased energy use, as well as allowing participants to compare their energy use to that of similar homes;
- Access to 0% energy financing, incentives, and rebates for those wishing to complete larger projects.
The Community Energy Savings program is available for owner-occupied, one to four unit properties in the city of Minneapolis. Scholarships are available for qualified participants. For information on upcoming workshops in your neighborhood, contact Ashley Robertson at (612) 335-5869 or arobertson@mncee.org or visit www.mnces.org.
The program is a collaboration with the City of Minneapolis and the Center for Energy and Environment. The pilot program has already reached 59 neighborhoods and over 4,500 homeowners. The goal is to reach 6,000 total homeowners, saving $762,000 in energy costs annually and reducing CO2 emissions by more than 5,000 tons per year. The program is funded, in part, by a $705,000 grant the City received from the Department of Energy through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The City of Minneapolis has an eco-focused goal, embracing sustainability to support the city’s quality of life now and in the future. For information on Minneapolis’ sustainability initiatives, visit www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/sustainability.
Nov. 3, 2011
Published Nov. 3, 2011