‘Button Up’ campaign encourages Vermonters to stay warm with new weatherization offers
Winooski, VT
Annual effort to weatherize homes launches with increased incentives and financing up to $20,000
WINOOSKI, VT— Winter is just around the corner, and heating fuel prices remain at historic highs. Button Up Vermont is encouraging Vermonters to weatherize their homes so they’ll be warm and comfortable in the cold months ahead. And increased weatherization incentives and financing options make buttoning up your home more affordable than ever.
Button Up Vermont, the campaign every autumn to raise awareness around weatherizing homes, launches this week. The effort aims to help Vermonters get the tools, rebates, and resources they need to prepare their homes for winter.
“Buttoning up a home helps Vermonters save money, use less energy, and stay warm this winter,” said Gov. Phil Scott.
“It can also help lower heating bills at a time when fuel prices remain high,” the governor continued. “These offers can help more Vermonters live in more comfortable and affordable homes. It truly is a win-win.”
There are some telltale signs that your home is losing heat. "Drafts, snow melting unevenly on your roof, and icicles are all signs heat is escaping from your home and wasting energy,” said Robyn King. She's the home weatherization program manager for Efficiency Vermont. “Insulating and air-sealing your home can solve these problems and avoid mold. Weatherizing your home now will keep you warm this winter, save money on heating bills, and create a healthier space.”
Comprehensive weatherization can button up any home ahead of winter. Flood-impacted Vermonters can also weatherize as they rebuild from this summer’s devastating floods. Extra financing is available for weatherizing flood-damaged homes. That’s on top of offers to help Vermonters rebuild if their homes were hit in the floods.
Here’s how Vermonters can Button Up ahead of winter:
- Attend a Button Up event to learn more about stopping heat loss and buttoning up your home.
- Schedule a free Virtual Home Energy Visit with an Efficiency Vermont energy expert. (Vermont Gas customers with high energy use may also qualify for a complementary energy audit.)
- Complete DIY projects to stop drafts—and get $100 back.
- Find a qualified contractor through Efficiency Vermont's Efficiency Excellence Network.
- Join one of two webinars covering “Weatherization 101,” on Oct. 4 at 12 p.m. and Oct. 11 at 6 p.m.
- Join one of two webinars covering "Heat Pumps 101,” on Oct. 18 at 12 p.m. and Oct. 25 at 6 p.m.
- Complete a comprehensive weatherization project to insulate and air seal your home.
Increased incentives from Efficiency Vermont make buttoning up your home more affordable. Customers can receive up to 75 percent of a project’s cost back, up to $4,000. Vermonters who qualify as low- and moderate-income can recoup 75 percent of costs up to $9,500. Low- to no-interest financing is available for projects up to $20,000. On-bill financing through participating utility providers can also spread out the cost of buttoning up your home over time.
Vermont Gas Systems customers can receive 50 percent of costs back, up to $3,500. Income-qualified households can qualify for 75 percent back, up to $5,000. Other weatherization rebates are available for multi-family properties. There are also offers for townhouses, condos, and manufactured homes.
“The sooner you apply, the sooner we will be able to bring comprehensive weatherization and energy efficiency services to your home,” said Shannon Collins. She’s the Lead Administrative Coordinator and Intake Specialist at Northeast Employment Training Organization. NETO serves the Northeast Kingdom as one of Vermont’s five regional Weatherization Assistance Programs. The programs are available at no cost to eligible customers. “If you’ve been impacted by the recent flooding and need help re-weatherizing your home, we urge you to apply as soon as possible. But all Vermonters can take advantage of their local Weatherization Assistance Programs.”
Flood-damaged homes weatherized in the past are eligible to re-apply. That's provided a state weatherization agency weatherized the home in the past 15 years. Many programs are prioritizing flood-impacted residents ahead of winter. Contact your local weatherization agency to learn about programs and wait times in your area.
About Button Up Vermont
Button Up Vermont is supported by a partnership of energy services providers and clean energy champions. The annual campaign runs each fall to raise awareness around the importance of weatherization. From tips on air sealing and insulation, to weighing the benefits of upgrades like energy efficient heat pumps, Button Up Vermont provides Vermont residents with the tools and resources it takes to weatherize their homes and save. Button Up Vermont is sponsored by Efficiency Vermont.
About Efficiency Vermont
As the nation’s first Energy Efficiency Utility, Efficiency Vermont has helped Vermont avoid over 13.2 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions and has received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence award for the last eight consecutive years. Efficiency Vermont works with partners to help our state transition to more affordable, low carbon energy use through education, incentives, and support for our clean energy workforce. Learn more at www.efficiencyvermont.com.
Efficiency Vermont Press Contact
Matthew Smith
Phone: (802) 540-7662
[email protected]