Transcript Slide 1

VERMONT HOME ENERGY CHALLENGE
VOLUNTEER TRAINING
Implemented in Partnership with the
Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network
February 2013
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Training Agenda
Welcome and Agenda Review
Overview of the Vermont Home Energy Challenge
Building Science 101
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®
program
Message and Pitch
Recruiting Volunteers
Conducting Home Energy Visits
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VERMONT HOME ENERGY CHALLENGE
Overview
•
Implemented by Efficiency
Vermont, in partnership with
Vermont Energy and Climate
Action Network
•
Town-by-town challenge
•
Turnkey programs for local
partners
•
Support for local partners from
Efficiency Vermont, VECAN, and
regional partners
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VERMONT HOME ENERGY CHALLENGE
Why Challenge Now?
•
State falling short of residential thermal efficiency
goals
•
80,000 homes by 2020, achieving average savings
of 25%
•
Requires 3% of homes annually; currently we are
reaching 0.5 - 1%
•
Energy prices continue to rise; e.g., fuel oil has
increased 350% since 1999
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VERMONT HOME ENERGY CHALLENGE
The Challenge Part of the Challenge
•
Each town has target of 3% of yearround occupied homes weatherized
in 2013
 Home Performance with ENERGY
STAR
 Vermont Gas Systems
•
Each town is also challenged to
achieve high outreach levels around
efficiency
•
To date, 67 towns signed up
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VERMONT HOME ENERGY CHALLENGE
Awards and Recognition
•
All local partners that achieve
targets will be recognized
•
Towns in each region that achieve
highest % of homes weatherized
•
Towns in each region that achieve
highest % participation
•
Awards to be used for public
benefit and efficiency
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VERMONT HOME ENERGY CHALLENGE
Turnkey Programs
•
Range of programs that local partners can
tap into
•
Each local partner develops own unique
plan for achieving targets
•
Turnkey programs are:
 Home energy visits (also known as
VCEM)
 Door-to-door outreach
 Workshops on saving energy (aka Button
Up)
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VERMONT HOME ENERGY CHALLENGE
More about Turnkey Programs
Turnkey programs also include:
• Home energy parties
• Phone-a-thons
• Town Meeting Day
• Partnerships between communities and energy
contractors
Other support programs:
• Kits for saving energy
• PACE
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VERMONT HOME ENERGY CHALLENGE
Behavioral Change Tools
• Commitment
• Social norming
• Social diffusion
• Incentives / awards
• Effective messaging
• Reciprocity
• Feedback
• Goal-setting
• Prompts
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VERMONT HOME ENERGY CHALLENGE
Support for Local Partners
Efficiency Vermont and VECAN
will:
•
Provide marketing and educational
materials
•
Conduct workshops and trainings
•
Track results and maintain website
•
Support regional coordinators
•
Provide awards and recognition
•
Provide information for case studies
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VERMONT HOME ENERGY CHALLENGE
More about
Support for Local Partners
Regional partners will:
•
Organize regional workshops and trainings
•
Encourage participation of local partners
•
Support media outreach
•
Provide ongoing outreach and support
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VERMONT HOME ENERGY CHALLENGE
Local Partner Roles
•
Sign up!
www.efficiencyvermont.com/
homeenergychallenge
•
Establish local team
•
Develop local plan of action
for the year
•
Implement selected projects
•
Check on your status
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VERMONT HOME ENERGY CHALLENGE
Timeline
Challenge launched
Jan. 1, 2013
Kick-off conference
Jan. 12, 2013
Volunteer trainings
Early Feb. 2013
Communities conduct initial outreach
Feb. – June 2013
Regional workshops held
Feb. – Oct. 2013
Communities conduct 2nd round
of outreach
July – Dec. 2013
Challenge concludes
Results and awards announced
Dec. 31, 2013
Feb. 2014
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BUILDING SCIENCE 101
How Buildings Lose Heat
Conduction: Heat flows through solids
Convection: Heat is carried by moving
air or fluid
Radiation:
Heat flows through space as
infrared light waves
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BUILDING SCIENCE 101
How Buildings Lose Heat
•
•
Convection drives heat loss
•
Warm air leaks through the
top, creating negative
pressure that sucks in cold
air through holes at the
bottom
Warm air pushes upward,
through holes at the top of
house
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BUILDING SCIENCE 101
Air Leakage
Air leaking into the
attic wastes heat,
melts snow, and
causes roof ice.
Moisture condenses
and promotes mold
growth.
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Image courtesy of Efficiency Vermont
BUILDING SCIENCE 101
Air and Thermal Barriers
The Building Envelope
Efficient homes—wrapped in a continuous
building envelope
Air barrier—stops air leaks coming through the
attic and basement; the shell
Thermal barrier—resists conductive heat loss;
the sweater
• less effective if air flows through it
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BUILDING SCIENCE 101
Air Leakage
Finding Leaks
A blower door test quantifies air
leakage and prioritizes air
sealing
• Infrared imaging
(thermography)—helps
highlight heat loss locations
• Especially effective if used in
combination with blower door
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Images courtesy Patullo Consulting, Inc.
BUILDING SCIENCE 101
Air Leakage
Air Sealing Priorities
 Attic: Stop warm air from leaking out
 Basement: Stop cold air from being
sucked in
 Center of house: Tougher to work on
and might be costly
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BUILDING SCIENCE 101
The Attic
Attic Hatch
Weather strip creates an effective seal and an
insulated hatch; very cost-effective
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Images courtesy of EnergySmart of Vermont
The Attic
• Electrical and plumbing
penetrations
• Interior wall partitions
• Chimney by-pass
• Recessed lighting
• Bathroom exhaust fans
• Exterior walls, especially
in balloon frame homes
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Images courtesy of Efficiency Vermont
BUILDING SCIENCE 101
The Basement
Bulkhead Door
Air sealing and
insulating the bulkhead
door is highly costeffective
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Image courtesy of EnergySmart of Vermont
The Basement
Box Sill and Foundation
Insulate and seal out the cold air coming in
• Junction of sill and foundation
• Foundation windows, plumbing, and wiring
penetrations, and miles of small cracks of the
foundation
• Look for caulk or spray foam around rigid
foam
Untreated
Treated
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Images courtesy of EnergySmart of Vermont
BUILDING SCIENCE 101
The Middle of the House
Fireplace
Fireplaces lose more heat than they generate (in cold
weather); they suck in cold, outside air for combustion
• Fireplace closed off with tight seal? Fireplace insert with
sealed doors installed?
Windows
• Replacing windows: One of the least cost-effective energy
saving strategies
• Sealing most windows costs far less than new windows
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BUILDING SCIENCE 101
Thermal Barriers - Conduction
and R-Values
• Conduction: Movement of heat through a
solid object
• R-values: Measure material’s resistance to
conductive heat transfer
• Materials with lower resistance to heat
transfer have low R-values; e.g., glass, steel,
concrete, wood, and wallboard
• Materials with higher resistance to heat
transfer have higher R-values; commonly called
insulation
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Thermal Barriers
Insulation
If the home has been air sealed, has the conductive
heat loss been addressed by adding insulation?
• Thermal barrier should always be in contact with air
barrier
Loose-fill cellulose
Dense-packed cellulose
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Photo courtesy of Efficiency Vermont
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR
A network of certified contractors who take a whole-house,
comprehensive approach to help customers solve health
and safety issues, increase comfort and indoor air quality,
and lower energy bills through high-quality installations
A national program that is managed in Vermont
by Efficiency Vermont
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HOME PERFORMANCE WITH ENERGY STAR
Home Energy Audit
Involves:
• Detailed inspection of the building envelope
• Blower door test
• Combustion efficiency test, and others, as needed
• Written assessment of priority list of improvements
Energy audits
typically cost $300 - $500
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HOME PERFORMANCE WITH ENERGY STAR
Comprehensive Retrofit
Typically involves:
• Air sealing and insulation
• Heating system
improvements and tune-ups
• Moisture control and
ventilation
• Health and safety
improvements
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HOME PERFORMANCE WITH ENERGY STAR
Incentives
• Efficiency Vermont offers up to $2,000 in
customer incentives, depending on the work that
is completed
• Efficiency Vermont is offering $100 discounts on
all energy audits for 2013
• Efficiency Vermont also supports do-it-yourselfers
who go through an HPwES contractor
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HOME PERFORMANCE WITH ENERGY STAR
Incentives
• Vermont Gas provides free energy audits and
covers 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of retrofits for qualifying
homes
Contact Efficiency Vermont,
Weatherization Assistance Program, Vermont Gas
Systems, or NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad for energy
audit and retrofit info
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HOME PERFORMANCE WITH ENERGY STAR
NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad
• Works with Home Performance with ENERGY
STAR
• Offers $100 energy audits in selected regions
• Energy Advisors
• Flexible financing
• Project Management
• Available in Addison, Bennington, and Rutland,
counties
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MESSAGE AND PITCH
Giving Your Pitch
Vermont Home Energy Challenge emphasizes
personal interaction with neighbors and friends
• Door-to-door campaigns
• Phone-a-thons
• Vermont Town Meeting Day
Friends and neighbors have menu of options for
improving efficiency
• Meeting people where they are at
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MESSAGE AND PITCH
Key Messages
Why Energy Efficiency?
• Save money by lowering energy bills
• Make your home more comfortable
• Reduce the environmental impact
• Solve problems like ice dams and mold
• Help your town win community prizes
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MESSAGE AND PITCH
Giving Your Pitch
• Give your name and explain whom you are with
• Explain why you are calling / visiting
• Explain why efficiency makes sense
• Completed comprehensive efficiency work?
• Interested in an energy audit?
• Interested in a home energy visit?
• Interested in energy-saving kit?
• Sign a pledge card?
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BREAK
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RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS*
How to Recruit
• Utilize pledge forms to identify volunteers and gather
information
• Have a core volunteer in charge of volunteer
management who:
• Create tangible volunteer events that have a clear time
commitment
• Keep volunteers posted on progress
• Thank people early and often
*Thanks to Liz Edsell from VPIRG – [email protected]
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RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS
Outreach Methods
Events
Advertising
Posters/flyers
Phone banking
Media
Email messages/alerts
Speaker talking to a group
Social media
Tabling
Mail
Leafleting
House party
Friend to friend
Door knocking
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RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS
Characteristics of an Ideal Group
1. Clear goals established
2. A concise, compelling and consistent message
3. Ongoing recruitment
4. Depth and breadth of activities ongoing
5. Clear decision-making process and structure
6. Skills trainings incorporated into activities
7. Have fun and celebrate often
8. Allows people to get involved at different levels
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RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS
Group/Volunteer Roles
• Core: A group to plan, coordinate, lead and make
decisions
• Volunteers: A larger pool of people who will volunteer
and do things
• Supporters: People to come to public events
• Public: A majority of general public that understands the
benefits
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Home Energy Visits
Trained volunteers conduct home visits
to help residents identify opportunities
for saving save energy in their homes
and to provide information on how
to move ahead
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HOME ENERGY VISIT
Key Components
•
Walk-through energy assessment
•
Kitchen table talk with residents
•
Identify candidates for comprehensive energy
retrofits
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HOME ENERGY VISIT - INTRO
Energy Costs by End-Use
• Heating costs comprise the
single largest home energy cost
in Vermont
• More than 1/4 of energy used in
homes is for lighting and
appliances.
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HOME ENERGY VISIT - INTRO
Space Heating – #1 Energy User
• Space heating accounts
for 41% of household
energy use
• Energy is lost through
inadequate air and thermal
barriers
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HOME ENERGY VISIT - INTRO
Space Heating —
Role of Volunteers
Identify opportunities for:
• Thermal energy savings
• Examine basement and attic, where feasible
Inform about:
• Basic energy-saving opportunities
• Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program
(or Vermont Gas/NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad,
where applicable), contractors, incentives, and
services
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HOME ENERGY VISIT - INTRO
Appliances, Lighting, and
Consumer Electronics – #2 Energy User
• Appliances and lighting account
for 26% of household energy use
• Large electrical devices are clothes
dryers, older refrigerators, air
conditioning units, dehumidifiers,
home entertainment centers,
computers, non-fluorescent light
bulbs
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HOME ENERGY VISIT - INTRO
Appliances / Lights / Electronics
– Role of Volunteers
Identify opportunities for:
• CFLs and LEDs
• Replacing inefficient appliances
• Home entertainment and computer stations
Inform about:
• Incentives for efficient lighting and appliances
• Advanced power strips
• Monitoring appliance use through a kilowatt meter
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HOME ENERGY VISIT - INTRO
Domestic Hot Water - #3 Energy User
• Hot water accounts for
20% of household energy
use
Gas
Electric
• Many different types –
electric, oil, natural gas,
solar, instantaneous
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HOME ENERGY VISIT - INTRO
Domestic Hot Water – Role of Volunteers
Identify opportunities for:
• Low-flow showerheads and faucets
Inform about:
• Inform about solar hot water option
• Hot water pipe wrap
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HOME ENERGY VISIT
Walk-Through Assessment
• Identify heat loss indicators that point toward energysavings opportunities
• Conduct walk-through with homeowner
• Do only the activities you are comfortable with
Remind homeowner that a home energy visit
is not an energy audit!
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HOME ENERGY VISIT – WALK-THROUGH ASSESSMENT
Attic
• Note amount and type of insulation
Less than 8 inches might be an opportunity
• If it’s easy to get into, take a look
If not, don’t stress about it
Homeowner might know
• Is the attic hatch or pull-down stairs
weather-stripped and insulated?
Please do not walk around in the attic!
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HOME ENERGY VISIT
Basement
•
Are there visible gaps and cracks in the
outside walls?
•
Have band joists been sealed and
insulated?
•
Is there a leaky bulkhead door?
•
Stone walls tend to leak a lot of air
•
Uncovered dirt floor and moisture
problems are indicators
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HOME ENERGY VISIT
Middle of the House
Walls
• Post-1950 construction probably has insulation
• Older houses might be good candidates for wall
insulation
• Look for “plugs” on outside of house
• Ask homeowners if they know if insulation has been
added
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HOME ENERGY VISIT
Middle of the House
Fireplaces
• Fire place closed off with tight seal?
• Fireplace insert with sealed doors installed?
Windows and Doors
• Have windows and doors been weather-stripped?
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HOME ENERGY VISIT
Other Efficiency Opportunities
• Are there incandescent light bulbs?
• Is there a home entertainment center or computer
system that does not have an advanced power
strip?
• Is there an old, inefficient appliance, such as a
refrigerator?
• Is there a second, “beer” refrigerator?
• Does the showerhead use more than 2 gallons of
water per minute?
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HOME ENERGY VISIT
Kitchen Table Discussion
• Review “How Energy Efficient Is Your Home”
worksheet
• Ask questions about comfort levels and efficiency
levels
• Share basic information on how homes lose heat
• Review findings of walk-through assessment
• Explain difference between audit and home energy
visit
• Review tips for simple energy saving
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HOME ENERGY VISIT
Energy Tip: Thermostats
• For every 5⁰ a thermostat is lowered, it is estimated that
5% or more is saved on your energy bill over the heating
season
• A programmable thermostat makes setting back the
temperature more convenient and comfortable
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HOME ENERGY VISIT
Energy Tip: Phantom Power
Many modern products consume energy after being
turned off
• from 5% to 8% of your electricity bill
Major culprits: Home entertainment systems and
computer systems
• Plug systems into “advanced powerstrips” that
automatically shut down electronics when not in use
Other phantom power: Products with transformers (little
boxes that plug into an outlet) such as phone chargers;
unplug when not in use
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HOME ENERGY VISIT
Energy Tip:
Keep Furnaces and Boilers Tuned
•
•
•
•
Maintain furnaces and boilers
Seal ducts outside heated space
Keep air registers clear
Consider investing in a more
efficient heating system
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Images courtesy Efficiency Vermont
Home Energy Visit
Resource Folder
Walk participant through educational
materials
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Energy Efficiency Knowledge Guide
Energy-Saving Tips
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program
Electrical use brochure
Worksheet on “How Efficient Is Your Home?”
Contractor list for Home Performance with ENERGY
STAR
Financing options
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HOME ENERGY VISIT
Expectations of Volunteers
•
Training critical for volunteers
•
Volunteers asked to commit to 6-8 hours
(approximately 3 to 5 home energy visits)
•
Complete and return home energy visit forms; this is
critical to helping Efficiency Vermont track results
•
Sign Confidentiality Agreement Form
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Contact Information
Thanks for assisting others to learn more
about energy-savings opportunities!
For more information
Paul Markowitz, Efficiency Vermont
[email protected]; 802 540 7608
Regional Contact: see contact information sheet
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