City Partners With USGBC to Offer Free Home Energy Assessments to Bloomington Residents

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2011

For more information, please contact:
Jared Schlemmer, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349.3406, [mailto:schlemmj@bloomington.in.gov]
Jacqui Bauer, Sustainability Coordinator, City of Bloomington, 349.3837, [mailto:bauerj@bloomington.in.gov]

Bloomington, IN -- In an effort to reduce energy consumption of residential buildings in the community, the City of Bloomington announced today its partnership with the local U.S. Green Building Council to conduct the second annual "Beat the Meter Blitz" in late November and early December this year. The limited-time program will provide free energy assessments to interested Bloomington homeowners via a lottery system.

As a result of last year's program, over 60 percent of participating households completed at least one improvement, and 25 percent completed all of the improvements included in their pledge, which they signed as part of the program.

"Most home energy assessments cost hundreds of dollars-a possible deterrent to people who are interested in making improvements," said Lisa Abbott, director of the City of Bloomington Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND) Department. "Our aim in this partnership is to help residents overcome the affordability obstacle of this critical first step toward energy efficiency."

HAND, the City's Economic and Sustainable Development (ESD) Department and the local chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) are the partners behind the program.

While the initiative is focused on reducing the environmental footprint of residential buildings, to ESD staff, it's also about the money.

"Investing in energy efficiency makes tons of sense," said Jacqui Bauer, the City's sustainability coordinator. "Many of these investments pay for themselves within a few years, the equivalent of a 10 or 20 percent return on your investment. It's hard to find a better deal than that - and it makes your home more comfortable too."

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, residential buildings use about 20% of all energy consumed in the United States, and roughly 54% of that total is for space heating and air conditioning.

The free assessments, awarded via a lottery system and conducted by HAND and ESD staff and USGBC volunteers, will help homeowners determine where to put their money first when it comes to making their homes more energy efficient. The only eligibility requirements are that the home is owner-occupied and located within the Bloomington city limits. In exchange for the free assessment, participating homeowners will be asked to sign a pledge committing to implement some of the suggested improvements.

Interested homeowners can enter the lottery for a free assessment by emailing their name, phone number and address to [mailto:energy@bloomington.in.gov] or by calling HAND at 349-3420. All lottery entries must be received before noon on November 15.

For more resources on saving energy in your home, visit [www.bloomington.in.gov/energyresources|www.bloomington.in.gov/energyresources]

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