Thursday, September 18, 6pm

Greenfield Community College , Downtown Center , 270 Main Street .

 

FREE workshop for Homeowners

Offered by Greening Greenfield Energy Committee

 

With oil prices soaring, and the next heating season looming -- are you looking for ways to cut your energy costs?

Two experts in the field, David Knowles and Marc Kaufmann, will give you the information you need to reduce your heating bills. They will talk about how a house works, what to ask for and expect from an energy audit, how to decide what to do first, and how to choose a new heating or hot water system. Utility representatives, energy auditors, insulators, heating contractors, and bankers will be on hand to talk with you. Take-home handouts give you the tools you need to take action.

 

For more information see below or

go to www.GreeningGreenfield.org or call 413-774-5667

"When upgrading your home, the first thing you want to do is get a high quality energy audit to help you prioritize how to cut your energy bills.," says David Knowles , energy consultant. "Implementing the recommendations can cut your heating bill substantially." David has worked as an energy auditor and trained hundreds of auditors for utility companies.

"Upgrading your heating system can reduce your heating costs by 10-25%," says Marc Kaufmann of MRK Associates. "There is a lot you can do without buying a new system. But if you want to buy a new system, you will want to make your home as energy efficient as possible before you make that investment." Marc has over 25 years of experience as a heating consultant, designing and installing high efficiency oil and gas systems as well as solar and bio-mass systems.

In Massachusetts , utility companies offer energy audits, also referred to as "home assessments." These audits, valued at $200 or more, are offered to you for free. Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO) also offers a "complete diagnostic audit" valued at over $300 for a nominal fee of $75. If your home is already insulated, this audit is a must. Using modern diagnostic equipment such as a "blower door" and an infrared camera or smoke stick, they will find the source of all those pesky drafts. By "air sealing" your home, they will be able to make your home more comfortable while reducing its energy use.

"I was really impressed with the WMECO auditors," says Gregg Crawford, homeowner and member of the Greening Greenfield Energy Committee. "After auditing my home, they came back and spent several hours caulking air leaks in my attic and basement. I could see by their equipment that they had cut air leakage by 20%."

At the workshop, in addition to hearing David and Marc speak, you will also have the opportunity to talk with utility representatives, energy auditors, insulators, heating contractors, and bankers offering home improvement loans. Take-home materials developed by Greening Greenfield will give you the resources you need to sign up for an energy audit, and find the funds you need to make upgrades on your home. There will also be information on programs for solar hot water and electricity systems.

This workshop is the second in a series being offered by the Greening Greenfield Energy Committee as part of the Greening Greenfield campaign. "Reducing energy use is key to meeting our goals," says Nancy Hazard , Greening Greenfield campaign co-chair. "When you sign up for an audit, please be patient. Demand for audits has skyrocketed, and they are scrambling to train new auditors to meet the demand." To sign up for an energy audit go to MassSAVE.org or call 866-527-7283. Greening Greenfield is also offering a new energy analysis tool and opportunities to join with others working on reducing their energy costs.

The Greening Greenfield campaign is a collaborative effort of the citizen committee, the Greening Greenfield Energy Committee (GGEC) and the Town of Greenfield . The campaign is building a sustainable Greenfield so that current and future generations can enjoy life in this beautiful abundant valley. To find out more about the Greening Greenfield campaign, go to www.GreeningGreenfield.org or call 774-5667.

Nancy Hazard, for GGEC

WorldSustain

413.774.5667

nhazard@WorldSustain.net

30 Spring Terrace, Greenfield , MA 01301