Home Improvement March 28, 2013

SpringHome Improvement

Solar power choices, Page 2C

Plugging the holes in your home, Page 9C

PAGE 2C — Addison Independent, Thursday, March 28, 2013

Homeowners getsolar panel optionsManufacturers offer various ways to pay

Housing agency

NeighborWorks

recognized as a

green business

(See NeighborWorks, Page 5C)

WEST RUTLAND — Neighbor-Works of Western Vermont in West Rutland, a NeighborWorks America member organization, is one of 16 organizations to receive the Neigh-borWorks Green Organization desig-nation for a comprehensive commit-ment to sustainable operations from NeighborWorks America. The des-ignation is based on adherence to a set of green business practices across the organization’s operations and all of their program areas. N e i g h b o r -

Works America CEO Eileen Fitzgerald pre-sented Neighbor-Works of Western Vermont (NW-WVT), which serves Addison, Rutland and Ben-nington counties, with the award this winter in Washington, D.C.

time Neighbor-Works has rec-ognized organi-zations for their efforts to create healthier, energy-

-ronments for homeowners, renters, community residents, and employ-ees.NWWVT’s mission is to promote

and is committed to green practices. They have designed programs, such as the NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad, to help homeowners make

which saves the over 500 home-owners in the program an average of 375 gallons of heating fuel every year. In addition to green programs, NWWVT also has solar hot water panels on its building roof to pro-

composting and recycling, walking or biking to meetings when possible,

This is the

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By XIAN CHIANG-WAREN and JOHN S. McCRIGHTADDISON COUNTY — Spring is

in the air, the days are getting lon-ger and for some homes and busi-

may mean more than starting gar-dens, wearing shorts and slathering on SPF-65. A growing number of homeowners

around Addison County are consid-ering putting photovoltaic solar pan-els on their rooftops or in their yards, which until recently constituted a substantial up-front invest-ment — from $10,000 to $100,000, depending on the size of the home and the location. “Just a few years ago,

across the country and in Vermont, the vast majority of homeowners who tran-

themselves,” said Andrew Savage, a spokesman for AllEarth Renewables, a manufacturer of solar col-lectors based in Williston. But AllEarth and other

companies like the Acorn Renewable Energy Co-op and SunCommon, among others, have recently

-tives designed to ease the burden on homeowners in-terested in transitioning to solar electricity. The goal is to make the cost manageable and non-pro-hibitive, since the demand for solar energy is high at the moment. With rising electricity costs, many

believe that solar energy is a smart long-term investment, and many who were concerned about the envi-ronmental impacts of burning fossil fuels have been eager to transition to affordable clean energy.To make the transition, some ba-

Middlebury and author of several books on energy including 2012’s “Power From the People: How to Organize, Finance, and Launch Lo-cal Energy Projects.”

house is well oriented for solar,”

Pahl said. “There can’t be trees or other buildings that would shade the panels.”The second question is how best

a plan and a company to help with the move to solar power can be con-fusing. All common-sense home improvement practices, like investi-gating several options and carefully

-cised with solar.

-ket has done a complete 180-degree

turn in the past few years. Whereas a few years ago, Savage estimated, roughly 80 percent of homeown-ers nationwide moving to

installation up front, now that percentage of home-owners are leasing panels instead of buying outright, he said.Luckily for Addison

County residents, sev-

available from local com-panies.The Acorn Energy Co-

op boasts of a new owner-

members, in partnership with the National Bank of Middlebury, which will provide home-equity loans designed to be paid

off within 15 years. The photovoltaic (PV) panels are installed by Bran-don-based Green Earth Energy. “The electricity generated by the

your home’s needs will be fed into the electric grid, causing the elec-tric meter to spin backwards and generating a credit on the electric bill equal to the regular energy bill-ing rate plus a premium of 6 cents

-plained in a press release. “At night, when the sun isn’t shining, the home will draw electricity back from the grid reducing the credit generated by the PV system. The idea is to gener-ate as much electricity as the home uses over a year’s time to reduce the amount paid to the utility for elec-tricity as close to zero as possible.”

AllEarth Renewables is taking a different tack. Savage said his com-pany offers a plan in which home-

owners have no upfront costs and monthly payments targeted to be around the price of the current elec-

tricity bill.The company says its residential

(See Solar, Page 5C)

JON SATZ, SEEN here with his dog Willa, had a solar array installed on his Woods Market Garden property in Brandon late last year. Satz will see a small break on his electricity bill for the next six years, at which point he has an option to buy the system and see much bigger savings.

Independent photo/Trent Campbell

Addison Independent, Thursday, March 28, 2013 — PAGE 3C

By CHRISTY LYNN

Volatile Organic Compounds, or

VOCs, are a large group of carbon-

based chemicals that evaporate eas-

ily at room temperature. Commonly

found in many household products

including carpets, cleaning products

and adhesives, they emit potentially

harmful levels of chemicals into the

air for many months after applica-

tion.

According to the Natural Re-

sources Defense Council, research

has shown that high or prolonged

exposure to VOCs can yield adverse

effects, including eye and throat ir-

ritation, headaches, asthma, liver

damage, complications to the central

nervous system and cancer.

VOCs are also a principal con-

tributor to ground-level ozone, a ma-

jor factor of urban smog. As if that

weren’t close enough, when VOCs

-

properly disposed of, they can leach

into the water supply.

-

posure to VOCs is identifying the

sources of these toxins within your

living environment. Some com-

mon sources are building materials

and home and personal care prod-

ucts;; they also come into the home

from common hobbies or behaviors.

Formaldehyde, which is responsible

for high VOC levels in some homes,

is a common component in carpets,

particle board and many cleaning

products and preserving agents.

likely sources of

Building Materials

Installations (tubs, showers, etc)

Home and Personal Care Products

disinfecting chemicals

in an attached garage

Behaviors

door and make sure that the thresh-

old gasket is snugged up tight.

-

dows and run exhaust fans when

you’re working with paints and pun-

gent cleaners. Trust your nose — if

VOCs. That includes any time you

bring vinyl or plastic items (say, a

new shower curtain) or dry-cleaned

clothes into the house. If weather

permits, remove covers and packag-

ing from items and set them outside

for a while to off-gas — at least until

they don’t smell. Schedule major in-

terior paint jobs for good weather so

you can open up windows.

great for removing VOCs from the

air, especially because cooking and

cleaning can release some potent,

if you run exhaust fans constantly,

you create negative air pressure in-

side the house that may draw air —

and VOCs — from your attached

garage into your home. Run fans

until any chemical or smoke smell

dissipates, then turn them off. If

you use your garage as a regular

work area for VOC-generating

hobbies, such as woodworking, in-

stall an exhaust fan to the outside.

Exhaust fans cost $250 to $400, in-

stalled.

air fresheners (both plug-in and

-

ing out for a fragrant chemical

called terpene. Terpenes are com-

monly found in natural substances,

inside a house, terpenes react with

naturally occurring ozone in the

air and form compounds that can

negatively affect the respiratory

system and cause long-term health

problems.

Some household products

emit chemicals into the airVOCs in your home, you can choose

to replace or mitigate the off-gassing

effect of these products as you under-

take renovations or even in your

six helpful hints for limiting

the effects of VOCs in

your home, compiled

by the National Asso-

ciation of Realtors on

-

ogic.com:

of buying household

c l e a n e r s

or other

c h e m i -

cals in

b u l k

to save

m o n e y

and sim-

ply buy

what you

n e e d .

S t o r e d

c h e m i -

cals are

a major

source of

VOCs.

and gas cans are a major source of

VOCs. If possible, store these items

away from the house in a detached

storage shed or garage. This is a

great place to also store gas-powered

tools such as lawn mowers, snow

blowers and chain saws. If you have

leftover pesticides, paint and other

chemicals, contact your municipal

you can dispose of them safely.

to the house, seal up any connections

between your garage and living area.

Common sources of VOCs in your home

Escaping

heat is a

waste of

energyAudits are good for homeownersI love my home and wanted

it to perform better. So I sched-

uled a professional energy au-

c o n t r a c t o r

(also known

as an energy

auditor). You

listed by zip

code at the

E f f i c i e n c y

V e r m o n t

website. Ef-

-

mont and oth-

ers launched

a Vermont

-

gy Challenge

this year to

m o t i v a t e

more of us to

take this step.

I urge you to

take it. I had

no regrets.

Energy auditors know their

building science. These profes-

sionals use diagnostic equip-

ment valued at thousands of dol-

lars to precisely measure your

home for heat loss. It starts with

a blower door test called a “test

in” that measures the rate at

which air leaks from your home

They use an infrared camera to

see missing insulation, but can

assess much of this through a

careful visual inspection and by

taking measurements. They use

combustion analysis equipment

to test your heating appliances

-

tantly, for health and safety as

well as your ventilation equip-

ment for adequacy.

-

(See Audit, Page 5C)

Energy auditors know their building science. These pro-fession-als use diagnostic equipment valued at thousands of dollars to precise-ly measure your home for heat loss.

?Who elsewants tosave moneyon their electric bill

Energy prices are continuing to soar!

Join our solar photovoltaic customers

who now save an average of $900 per

year on their electricity bill and our solar

thermal customers who are saving an

average of 85% of their hot water costs.

Continue paying the electric company for

your electricity or do something different.

Solar is more affordable than ever!

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and use of green products. “Every day we at NWWVT are

committed to being green,” said Mary Cohen, Homeownership Cen-ter Director at NWWVT. “Not only do we support homeowners with our energy improvement program through the H.E.A.T. Squad, we practice being green in our work-place and in our homes. We are ex-

Green Organization Designees from NeighborWorks America.” The NeighborWorks Green Orga-

because it challenges organizations to be comprehensive in their green efforts. By embracing a sustain-able business culture, they produce

-als through homeowner education, housing development activities, and community engagement programs. Collectively, these activities help re-duce energy consumption and costs, create healthier living and working environments, and promote sustain-able communities. NeighborWorks America’s goal

is for two-thirds of NeighborWorks America member organizations to receive a green designation by 2016. As a result, more than 100,000 resi-dents in NeighborWorks rental prop-erties would have better information on managing healthy, energy-con-scious homes;; more than 25,000 families annually would possess the knowledge and skills to assess the homes they are buying for green, healthy features;; and 6,000 owner-occupants each year would receive

-pairs.

NeighborWorks(Continued from Page 2C)

lease is “unique in the state by offer-ing a no-cost lease for homeowners to net meter with solar at or below their electric rates and be given the opportunity to fully own the system

seven years.”Savage added that AllEarth Re-

newables — whose cus-tomers include Middle-bury College and Stark Mountain Woodworking in New Haven — is proud to use only Vermont-man-ufactured products.“That’s exciting for Ver-

monters, to buy a Vermont product and to be investing in solar,” he said. Waterbury-based Sun-

Common in December launched a campaign called “1,000 Panels in 100 Days” with the aim of increasing the num-ber of solar electricity panels in Ad-dison County by 50 percent within three months. Addison County met that challenge in only two months.The company offered a 20-year

lease of PV panels, which lowered the cost of the point of entry for cus-tomers.Dan Conant, a solar organizer

with SunCommon, explained, “At SunCommon, we’re committed to helping Vermonters make the switch to solar power without upfront cost and for no more than a homeowner is currently spending monthly on util-ity power.”According to Damon Lane, a se-

many homeowners are most con-cerned about having reasonable month-to-month payments for elec-tricity and PV systems, but buying outright can pay off in the long-term. He said this is especially true given state incentives and the federal gov-ernment’s 30 percent tax credit.

Savage pointed out that the solar companies get the tax credits when home-owners lease from them.But Lane adds that re-

gardless of how the tran-sition occurs, now may be the best time to take advantage of state and fed-eral incentives.“I wouldn’t plan on in-

centives going up,” Lane said. “We’ll be lucky if they stick around.”

“Most solar companies can guide homeowners through incentives,” added Pahl. “(At Acorn) we try to make it as easy as possible for the homeowner to move forward with the project.” Jon Satz, who owns Woods Mar-

ket Garden in Brandon, has found his transition to solar pretty straight-forward. He signed a deal with Al-lEarth Renewables — in partnership with Green Lantern Capital, Nation-al Life and Green Mountain Power — to bring solar power to the Route 7 market where Satz also lives on site with his wife and son.AllEarth installed several solar

panels mounted on trackers that fol-low the sun across the sky during the

day to maximize production of elec-tricity at the end of December. “They paid for the install,” Satz

said. “We didn’t put in a dime.”The panels have an output of 56

kW, with an estimated annual output of 78,000 kWh.Satz gets a little discount on his

electricity bills and has the option to buy the solar panels at the end of a six-year agreement. AllEarth gets a revenue stream from the tax credits and a potential sale at the end of the contract.Satz is sent a bill each month for

one-twelfth of his annual average electricity bill. The bill also shows his actual usage at 19.5 cents per kWh, and a credit of 6 cents per kWh. At the end of the year, if there is a mismatch between what he was billed and what he owed, he and the utility settle the account. He said the going rate for electricity as he under-stands it is 14 cents per kWh, which means he is getting a half-cent per kWh break. But the big payoff will come once

he owns the system and is getting

produces. At that point, Satz hopes, he won’t have to pay for much or any of his electricity. This will be particularly important in the sum-mer when his business draws more power — conveniently summer is also when the panels produce more electricity.“It’s all about getting a delayed re-

turn,” Satz said. “It makes sense for me because I’m going to be around for a long time.”

Solar(Continued from Page 2C)

tors must do what other professionals do and be monitored, take ongoing coursework and retest every three years. This is what you are paying for when you get an energy audit. Energy audits cost between $300 to $600 depending on the size and complex-ity of your home or small commer-cial building and are well worth it. I recovered every penny of it in fuel

-ing weatherization measures recom-mended in my energy audit report, which I spread out over a few years. It’s better to do it all at once if you can. I was burning as much as 800 gallons in my 1,700 square foot home before 2007 and was down to 375 gal-lons last heating season. Some of this was through conservation steps any of us can take like setting back my thermostat at night and doing a better job with sealing and covering my old windows. I learned the bigger bang for my buck was air sealing and insu-

rather than replacing my windows. I also learned that heating water was a major energy hog and added a solar hot water heater three years ago.

Energy auditors will often use the blower door equipment while air sealing is being done to be sure leaks are plugged adequately. They can’t always get all leaks due to ac-cess or expense constraints, but they typically reduce your heat loss by at least 10 percent and, in many older homes, by much more. On average about 380 gallons of fuel oil are saved annually by Vermonters after

test is done when work is complete to measure how much heat loss re-duction was gained. This is called a “test out.” You need a “test in” and

-tor to qualify for up to $2,000 in state

On average it costs about $6,000 to $8,000 for weatherization.You can now get an energy audit

for only $100 through Neighbor-Works of Western Vermont HEAT Squad. This offer has been extended by NeighborWorks from Rutland County to all homeowners in Addi-son County, regardless of income. Simply call 438-2302, ext. 227, and they will schedule it and work with you throughout the whole process,

which is outlined at their website. They assign you an energy adviser who coaches and advocates for you every step of the way and have a great loan. You can do all or some of the work yourself to save on these costs and still get a state rebate pro-vided you get an energy auditor to do a test in before you start work and a test out after you complete it. Give your home an energy check-

up (audit) as soon as you can this year. You’ll learn how your home performs, how much fuel you may be wasting to heat the sky, and what you can do to improve it. Contact me to ask questions, arrange for a free home energy visit to see if you

or to help with the Vermont Home Energy Challenge. Those of you who have completed projects could help by telling your neighbors about

and weatherization and how to get started so they can love their homes even more.

Laura Asermily

Middlebury Home Energy

Challenge Coordinator

Audit(Continued from Page 3C)

“I wouldn’t plan on incentives going up. We’ll be lucky if they stick around.”— Damon Lane

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How much energy can you save by dry-ing your clothes on a clothesline instead of using an electric dryer?What a great question. I’d estimate a

savings of about $10.20 per month or just over $122 per year.Here’s the math: Electric

clothes dryers demand be-tween 1,800 and 5,000 watts. If we calculate based on a 3,400-watt dryer and a drying time of 45 minutes per load, then one dryer load uses 2.55 kilowatt hours. Mul-tiply that by 322 (the aver-age number of loads per year in an American home), divide by 12 months, and you’re looking about 68 kilowatt hours of use per month. Last thing: Multiply those monthly kilowatt hours by the current average Vermont electric rate of 15 cents per kilowatt hour and you get that monthly estimate of about $10.20 to dry your clothes. I should add a tip about air drying: Just be

sure to do it outdoors. Air drying indoors adds moisture to a house. That can create undesir-able conditions, like window condensation, mold, wood rot, and compromised indoor air quality. Compensating for that with a dehu-

be cautious about hanging clothes inside, but -

er, not to mention a way to get great smelling laundry!

- Kathleen for Ask The Home Team

We are 11 years old and 9 years old. Our parents are the energy police. They make us unplug the TV after we watch it. They say it wastes energy plugged in. Are they wrong? Lamps don’t do that so why would the TV? They will believe you. Thank you.You’re right about lights not using power

when they’re switched off. Your parents, though, are right about the television. You see, many TVs and other kinds of electron-ics don’t really turn off when you press “off.” They go into standby mode, and they continue to use electricity. Lots of people don’t know that they could be paying $100 or more, over the course of a year, to keep all their electron-ics in standby mode.Unplugging the TV solves the problem, but

TV into a power strip, which they switch on and off. If your parents are interested in look-

store. In fact, there is an advanced power strip that senses when the TV is turned off and then shuts off power to the TV and to other ma-chines at the same time. For example, your

parents could set up an advanced power strip to cut power to the TV, game consoles, and recording devices when the TV is turned off.

It sounds like you two are important members of the team that can save money for your family.

- Bob for Ask The Home

Team

I’m going to be add-ing some insulation to my home, and I hear you have programs to help pay for projects like that. Do I have to use a certain kind of insulation?I’m glad that you contacted

us before doing the work, be-cause our rebate programs require

an initial home energy audit, performed by a

contractor.The contractor will perform a series of di-

agnostic tests and identify areas for improve-ment in your house and can even project esti-mated savings. Together, the two of you can decide which projects make the most sense to tackle, based on your personal budget and comfort goals. Often times, insulation and air sealing are one of the top recommendations. Your contractor will have ideas for which types are best for your home.From there, most people have the contrac-

tor do the work for them. Another approach, and it sounds like this might be what you’re interested in, is to do the work yourself under

-cy Vermont — up to $2,000 — and both will save energy and make you more comfortable in your home. The right choice for you just depends on your skill level and the amount of time you have.

-mont.com to get started.

- Li Ling for Ask The Home Team

I’m afraid our furnace won’t make it through another year. There are a lot of options on the market. What do you rec-ommend?The right heating system really depends on

the house. To choose the one best for your

a whole-house evaluation, and will let you know what type of furnace would be best. They’re not actually selling you a furnace, so you can depend on their unbiased advice. They will also determine steps you can take to lower your heating costs overall.That said, we do have a section of our web-

site dedicated to home heating and the vari-

ous systems Vermonters use. To learn more --

mont.com. Best of luck!- Bob for Ask The Home Team

I know that CFLs use less energy, but I feel like the one on our porch takes so long to get bright, it’s not practical. Are tradi-tional bulbs better for outside?As it gets colder outside, it takes a bit lon-

short periods of instant light;; at least not in our Vermont winters.For a bulb that isn’t affected by the cold

and saves energy, too, you might take a look at light emitting diodes (LEDs). These are a newer technology and still a bit more expen-sive than CFLs, but their performance and longevity are really impressive. And right now, some Vermont lighting retailers — in

already-discounted pricing on LEDs, or an instant coupon good for $10 off the regular price.An added bonus of LEDs is that their light

whereas both incandescent and CFL bulbs emit light in all directions. The more direc-tional light of LEDs is perfect for out-doors. You get the light where you need it most (on your porch) and not where you don’t (like the sky, or your neighbor’s lawn).

-Li Ling for Ask The

Home Team

I think it’s time for a new refrigerator. Can you recommend a good one?I can’t recommend a specif-

-tors use 20 percent less electricity than non-

refrigerator, it likely uses more electricity than any other appliance in your home.Old refrigerators can make up to 12.5 per-

cent of your total electricity use, so replac-

going to make a real difference in your bills.

refrigerators and freezers, you could be eligi-

-Kathleen for Ask The Home Team

You have to help me do an intervention with my dad about air conditioning! I’m 12 and I learned in school about how to

save energy. Air conditioning is an energy hog but my dad acts like he’ll die without

stay cool, he’ll do it. I know you can help, so please will you give me information that will help? It’s true that some houses in Vermont can

stay cool without air conditioning. I don’t know if your house is one of them, but I’m glad to share some tips that I give to homeowners who want to reduce the need for air conditioning. Good luck to you and your dad!In the cooler evening and early morning

hours, turn off the air conditioning and open windows on opposite sides of the house to create cross-ventilation. Use a window fan, blowing toward the outside, to pull cool air in through other windows and to push hot air out.

more comfortable with windows and coverings closed against direct sunlight.On hot days, delay heat-producing tasks,

such as dishwashing, baking, or doing laun-dry, until the cooler evening or early morning hours.Use a bath fan to remove heat and mois-

ture generated by showers. And, if the kitchen range hood fan exhausts to the outdoors, use it to remove hot air created by cooking.Keep cool air in and hot air out: Caulk

around window and door frames, use weather stripping on exterior doors, and have a professional

seal gaps where air can travel between the attic and your living space.To reduce both cool-

ing and heating costs and make a home more comfortable year-round, homeowners can take a whole-house approach:

uncomfortably hot or cold/drafty rooms, moisture problems, ice dams, and more. Ef-

to homeowners for energy-saving improve-ments completed by these contractors. If your

-

- Kathleen for Ask The Home Team

-

ciency Vermont — Li Ling Young, Bob Mur-

phy and Kathleen Brown — answer questions

about saving energy. Read more tips or ask

-

mont.com/askthehometeam or call, toll-free,

1-888-921-5990.

Experts give some advice on appliance energy usage

QandA

Learn the best ways to put pesticides on the garden

-ers, foresters, landscapers, greenhouse and nursery personnel, pest control op-erators and others who use restricted-use pesticides to produce agricultural commodities are required, by law, to have a Vermont pesticide applicator

-

On April 23 University of Vermont Extension and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets will conduct a review session, beginning at 9 a.m., and a written examination for

Vermont Technical College (VTC) in Randolph Center. Licensed pesticide applicators also may attend to receive

Registration is $20 if paid by April 12, or $30 after that date. For registration information and a download-able form, go to http://pss.uvm.edu/pesp/Initial-Cert2013flyer.pdf. Lunch is not included in the fee and may be purchased at the VTC cafeteria or brought from home.Training is based on the new

Manual (released November 2012), which costs $35 and must be pur-chased for study in advance. Contact Matthew Wood, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, at (802) 828-3482 or [email protected] to be covered in the review

session include state and federal pesticide laws and regulations, pest

formulations, equipment calibration, protective equipment and personal

-soning, among other areas.After passing the core exam for

commercial or non-commercial cer--

category exams will be given on this date but may be scheduled through the Vermont Agency of Agriculture by calling (802) 828-3482.

Registration is $20 if paid by April 12, or $30 after that date.

Tank PumpingTank & System InspectionsNew Systems InstalledAll Septic System Repairs

EXCAVATING

Site PreparationWater Lines

Grading & Leveling

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Check out these local businesses for help with your

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State and Local PermittingEnvironmental Site Assessments

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Vermont Insulated Concrete Forms

have us quote your project today.

[email protected] free 866-VT-FORMS

Earth Day and Arbor Day are coming in April. Celebrate

-

--

guidelines:

or root spread.

hole’s diameter should be two to three times the

soil by stepping on it.-

ganic mulch such as wood chips. Do not mulch up to or

-

-

branch structure once the tree has become established

-ing on the tree and its con-

-cate capping prun-

Editor’s note: This story

was provided by the Tree

Care Industry Association.

Planting is key to a healthy tree

Smoke alarm sensors have a life spanBy GAIL LAPIERRE

--

-

be mounted on ceilings or

-

pushing the test button.

-teries at least once a year unless they are 10-year

-

outage. Be sure to replace

change the batteries in all your

in spring. You also need to re-

the unit and don’t hear the alarm or anytime you

indicates low battery power.

should be replaced.-

-spond properly when

-diately.

carry both battery-op-

-

-

types in your home.

consider replacing your alarms with

-

testing laboratory label. And remem-

-

the unit.

month to test the alarm — is a small

Editor’s note: Gail Lapierre is

the Vermont AgrAbility Project Out-

reach Specialist for the University of

Vermont Extension.

Smoke alarm sensors do not last forever. The maximum life span is eight to 10 years. After that time, the entire unit should be replaced.


NEW ZERO COST INSTALLATION

AllSun Trackers can now be installed for no upfront cost. Instead of purchasing your electricity from the grid, purchase it from a Solar Tracker installed on your property.

(802) 377-‐[email protected]

After the auditTHE BORDEN-O’DONOHUE residence in Weybridge

recently completed a major weatherization project. Laurie Borden, husband Richard O’Donohue and Laurie’s mom, Margaret Borden, have always been energy-conscious and decided to submit their home to an energy audit. They learned there was a lot they could do to make the home more weather-tight, and ultimately invested more than $9,800 in recommended upgrades.Laurie Borden, right, recently showed off new in-

sulation in the basement;; above left, a hot water tank that works with a new solar hot water collector;; above center, air-sealing weather stripping on doors;; and, above right, an upgraded attic hatch with new insula-tion in the attic.With these and other upgrades the family expects to

save 24 percent in energy costs each year.Independent photos/Trent Campbell


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Easy to read computerized electronic reports — PDF Format.

VAUGHN JIPNERLicensed, Insured & Certified

[email protected]

jipnerhomeinspections.com802-373-4123

JIPNER HOME INSPECTIONS, LLCA home inspection service company

Inspecting !ne homes since 2000

359 South St., New Haven. VT 05472 (802) 453-5549www.starkmountain.com

TURN TO THE TEAM THAT’S TRULY LOCAL-

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PARTICIPATING CONTRACTOR

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Documents

Home Improvement March 28, 2013