Vermont continues to make progress on comprehensive home energy efficiency
Burlington, VT
On the day before a newly-formed energy efficiency contractor trade association – the Building Performance Professionals Association of Vermont (BPPA) - is scheduled to hold its inaugural meeting, Efficiency Vermont provided an update on the recent growth of the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR ® program.
Efficiency Vermont supports a network of private-sector Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractors serving Vermont homeowners. These independent contractors are certified by the Building Performance Institute to perform energy audits, diagnose building problems such as moisture and ice dams, and install recommended energy efficiency improvements such as air sealing and insulation. Efficiency Vermont provides contractor training, quality assurance, and customer incentives, as well as technical expertise and guidance for homeowners.
The Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program is designed to leverage the market - and a deep partnership with private contractors - in making cost-effective progress towards achieving state energy efficiency goals. According to a recent analysis commissioned by the Vermont Department of Public Service, every dollar spent on energy efficiency provides nearly $5 in benefits to Vermonters.
Highlights of Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program results to-date include:
- 70 active BPI-certified contractors – the number of active contractors has increased 75% in the last 4 years
- Vermont has one of the highest concentrations of contractors certified by the Building Performance Institute (BPI) of any state in the country
- 3,075 comprehensive home energy efficiency improvement projects completed since 2005, including 831 which received support from the Green Mountain Power Energy Efficiency Fund
- Energy savings from Home Performance with ENERGY STAR projects will generate $31.9 million in economic benefits over their lifetime ($1.1 million from electric savings, $30.8 million from heating cost savings)
- 21,824,708 lbs. of avoided carbon dioxide emissions due to the program
- Based on a recent survey of Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contracting firms, conducted by Efficiency Vermont, these businesses employ an estimated 170 people, generating revenues of $40 million
Jonathan Dancing, Interim Director of BPPA, noted that a top priority of the new association will be to develop a strong system of collaboration between contractors, Efficiency Vermont, and other stakeholders to continue growing the industry and meeting demand from homeowners and commercial building owners. “Because these jobs put so many people to work, and the potential savings from improving the energy efficiency of our homes and commercial buildings is so substantial, this is among the best means we have for stimulating the state economy,” he said. “We still have a lot of work to do to help ensure that we can meet increasing demand. Our new trade association was formed to facilitate the collaboration between all industry members.”
BPPA is scheduled to hold its founding meeting at Vermont Technical Center in Randolph on Wednesday, September 12, 2012.
“Over the last several years, we have begun to see a lot of enthusiasm from Vermont homeowners who want explore ways of reducing their energy costs in the long term,” said Jim Merriam, Director of Efficiency Vermont. “The Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program is designed to meet that demand by ensuring that Vermonters have access to expert guidance and highly qualified contractors who can help them make comprehensive upgrades to their homes, and start benefiting from energy savings right away. Efficiency Vermont is looking forward to continuing our work with the contractors of BPPA, and all of our partners, to help the state meet its ambitious long-term energy goals, and help grow more green jobs in our state.”
For more information on the Building Performance Professionals Association of Vermont (BPPA), visit bppa-vt.org
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]