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Incentives
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What's New in Park County?
Governor's Energy Office
Federal Tax Credits
Xcel Energy Incentives
Summary by Item
What's New in Park?
What's New in Lake?
- Some federal tax credits for energy efficiency have been extened (through the recent tax package passed by congress).
- The treasury cash grant program for renewable energy companies has been extened.
Governor's Energy Office Rebates:
Rebate program: closed.
Federal Tax Credits: Energy efficiency tax credits have been reduced to 10% of total cost of upgrades purchased in 2011. Renewable energy credits last until December 2016. Go to www.energystar.gov to learn more about federal tax credits, what is eligible, what forms you need, etc.
Step 1: Check the requirements on www.energystar.gov.
Step 2: Do the job (install the insulation, get the furnace). Keep the receipts.
Step 3: File IRS Form5695 with your taxes, available on www.energystar.gov site.
Step 4: Recieve tax credit.
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Xcel Energy Incentives (contractor must be registered with Xcel)
Step 1: Check the Xcel website for most up to date rebate info. Then contact your local Xcel Contractor to ensure you are eligible for the rebate in question.
Step 2: The Xcel contractor comes to you home and does the job. Work with the contractor to submit rebate paperwork.
Step 3: You receive rebate.
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Energy Assessments
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(Note: HC3 has an easy-on, easy-off listing of contractors. In order to be listed here, contractors must do business in Lake County. We will remove anybody from the list if complaints are made about service. *** = comes recomended by multiple sources)
Local Energy Auditors:
***High Country Conservation Center - Building Performance Institute certified auditors, call us at (970) 668-5703, or stop by 518 E Main Street in Frisco.
***Headwaters Energy - Xcel Energy certified auditor- email Chris@headwatersenergy.com or call 719-395-9255
***Brian Greene - Building Performance Institute certified - Leadville (719) 213-5894. Email Brian.
***Comfort by Kodiak - (Building Performance Institute and Xcel Energy certified auditors), call 970-468-2446, or email Dave.
Remember, if your household income is or below 200% of the poverty level ($29,140 for a household of 2) you are eligible for a free audit and weatherization services through Northwest Colorado Council of Governments. This is GREAT and FREE program. Renters are eligible.
Audit rebates are available from the Govenor's Energy Office. They range from $25-$100 depending on the price of the audit. Note, Xcel Energy certified audits are generaly cheeper than other audits (because they are subsidized by Xcel), but the rebate amount is signifiacantly less. Audit prices generally range from $120 from Xcel, to $250 from non-Xcel auditors
You should consider an audit if:
* Your preparing to remodel or add-on to your home.
* You have high utility bills.
* Your home has noticeable cold or hot spots.
* You are interested in adding renewable energy features to your home.
* Your home experiences frozen pipes.
* Ice dams build up on the roof of your home.
* You would like to make your home more efficient and reduce your impact on the planet.
* Your home has indoor air quality issues such as condensation on the windows, mold or other respiratory toxins.
What is an audit and why get one?
Need help interpreting your audit results?
Call us (970) 668-5703. We'll coach you for free.
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Energy Upgrades
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Local Contractors - For Energy Upgrades
(Note: HC3 has an easy-on, easy-off listing of contractors. In order to be listed here, contractors must do business in Lake County. We will remove anybody from the list if complaints are made about service.)
COMING SOON...
The best way to determine what upgrade would be best for your home is to get an energy audit. Some common recommendations for cost-effective energy improvements are:
Sealing Air Leaks and Adding Insulation
Many air leaks in homes are fairly obvious, such as around windows, doors, and electrical outlets. But others, like those in attics, fireplaces, around chimneys, and through recessed lighting fixtures, are often the more significant sources of energy loss in a home. Sealing air leaks is critical to improving the overall efficiency of your home and will make your heating and cooling system perform better. Along with air sealing, your Auditor may recommend that you add insulation. Many older homes are not well-insulated, and some have no insulation at all. Properly installed insulation in walls, floors, and attics provides for more even temperatures throughout the house and results in a quieter, more comfortable home that is easier to heat.
Sealing Ductwork
Many homes have leaky ductwork and poor air flow, resulting in stuffy and uncomfortable rooms — regardless of the thermostat setting. The Energy Auditor may recommend sealing your home’s ducts with mastic, metal tape or spray-on sealant, and balancing the duct system to optimize air flow to all rooms. Insulating ductwork in attics, crawlspaces, and some basements can also help to ensure that your home will be more comfortable.
Improving Heating Systems
If your furnace or boiler is more than 10 years old, your Auditor may recommend that you replace it with a unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR label. Installed correctly, these high-efficiency units can save up to 20 percent on heating costs. But when it comes to heating equipment, bigger is not always better. A properly-sized unit will make your home more comfortable by providing more consistent temperatures control.
The Energy Auditor should also test combustion equipment, such as your furnace and hot water heater, to ensure that it is operating and venting properly.
Upgrading Lighting and Appliances
Energy used for lighting, entertainment equipment and appliances can account for half of your home's total utility bill. As a result, the Energy Auditor may recommend ENERGY STAR qualified products, such as refrigerators, dishwashers, electronic equipment, light fixtures, and compact fluorescent bulbs. An energy- and water-efficient hot water heating system may also be recommended.
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Renewable Energy
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What's the difference between solar thermal and solar PV? Typically, solar photovoltaic panels, or PV panels, are used to displace electricity used for lighting and appliances. Solar thermal is typically used to heat water, but can also be used to displace natural gas use in other forms. Solar thermal, while it has received less attention in the past several years, is an up and coming field. Colorado is ranked as the #1 state for soalr thermal potential in the U.S., however, due to the perfect combination of warm sunny days and cool nights.
You can do both, of course. Solar PV and solar thermal panels can share space on roof-tops.
CONTRACTOR LISTING
(Note: HC3 has an easy-on, easy-off listing of contractors. In order to be listed here, contractors must do business in Lake County. We will remove anybody from the list if complaints are made about service. *** = comes recomended by multiple sources)
Solar PV
Regional installers serving Park County:
Alpine Solar Design, Alpine Earth Center
998 Blue River Parkway
Silverthorne, CO 80498
(970) 468-0890
Innovative Energy***
1760 Airport Road
Breckenridge, CO 80424
(970) 453-5384
Peak Solar***
Salida, CO
(719) 539-3918 or email Tim
Other Colorado Installers serving Lake County:
Astralux Solar, LLC
2500 Central Avenue, Suite K
Boulder, CO 80301
(303) 413-1440
Concept Solar Co.
PO Box 1501
Palisade, CO 81526
(970) 623-9814
Eco Depot USA
Salida
, CO
(877) Eco Depot
Eco-Tech
PO Box 407
Eagle, CO 80631
(970) 328-3333
SolSource
6850 Broadway, Suite D
Denver, Colorado 80221
(303) 297-1874
Vibrant Solar Inc
4321 Broadway
Denver, CO 80216
(303) 604-6696
Solar Thermal Design
Rader Engineering, Inc.
40690 Highway 6, Suite E1
P.O. Box 8610
Avon, CO 81620
970-845-7910 (ext. 116)
970-470-0116 (cell)
970-845-7522 (fax)
www.raderengineering.com
RE-Align Technology - Breckenridge, 970-333-8318, Bob Kingston*
Solar Thermal Installers
Mechtech - Breckenridge, 970-390-8254, Mark Stearns
Sunshine Solar and Mechanical - Breckenridge, 970-418-0569, William Frew
Paragon Solar and Mechanical - Breckenridge, 970-389-6677, Corey Burrus
Dominator Plumbing and Heating - Breckenridge, 970-406-0803, Andrew Leonardi
Vowel Plumbing - Silverthorne, 970-468-5529, Kelly Vowel
Heatmeister - Silverthorne, Richard Graves, 970-513-0697, Richard Graves
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For Auditors and Contractors
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Key energy certifications for contractors and auditors:
RESNET-certified Home Energy Rating
Building Performance Institute (BPI)
Scheduled Trainings:
ENERGY STAR talks, coming soon in Summit, Lake and Park County. Call us to find out when.
Assistance is available for energy trainings, from the Leadville workforce center. Call us to find out more, or contact the Leadville Workforce Center at (719) 486-2428.
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For Businesses
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Free lighting audits are available through Xcel Energy's contractor Franklin Energy. Call us to sign up, you just need to give us your premise number (listed on your Xcel Energy bill). Or contact them directly (303) 297-3410.
We are starting a new energy efficiency and green business program in Fairplay in February, thanks to a grant from the Governor's Energy Office. If you are a business you can receive a discounted energy audit ($100) and 50% off any lighting, HVAC upgrades or installed programmable thermostats. We will unveil this program soon. Call or email us with questions.
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Track Your Energy Use
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Free online tracking tools:
Greenquest is a free online tool that will give you simple analysis of your energy use. It works best when you have one building to manage.
For multiple buildings and especialy if you are a public entity, try EPA Portfolio Manager.
Don't mind paying? Try Energy CAP.
Understand your energy bill:
Natural gas is measured in therms, Electricity in Kilowatt hours.
Here are some averages to compare your bill to:
U.S. averages: 920 kWh/month, 82 therms/month
Summit County averages:803 kWh/month, 111 therms/month
Lake County averages: 630 kWh/month, 80 therms/month
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