By N. R. Mallery, G.E.T. Publisher
New Hampshire homeowners may qualify for a 50% incentive, up to $4,000, to help pay for energy efficiency improvements including lighting upgrades, water conservation measures, air sealing, and insulation through the Home Performance with Energy Star program. Homeowners can find out more about the program at www.nhsaves/save-home, or by contacting their utility company.
J. Myers Builders, Inc., an insulating company in Lisbon, NH is owned by Jaime Myers. Working with the utility companies, they help reduce energy use with audits, improvements, and rebates. Here are three examples:, an insulating company in Lisbon, NH is owned by Jaime Myers of J. Myers Builders. Working with the utility companies, they help reduce energy use with audits, improvements, and rebates. Here are three examples:
1. Carol Waldron bought a home in Bartlett and immediately sought to enroll in the home performance program through NHEC.
Improvements included: adding cellulose to R22 over the existing insulation for a total of R50 in the huge attic; significant attic air sealing over fans, around chimneys, and over can lights, pipe insulation for heat and domestic hot water pipes, and 6 CFL bulbs. The original blower door number of 2844 CFM50, was reduced to 2030 CFM50.
With program help, she replaced an inefficient fridge with an Energy Star model, cutting electric consumption from 1839 kWh to 652 kWh per year. That also earned a $300 rebate.
The total project cost was $5,849.15, reduced to $2,401.26 by the rebate. The projected annual savings are 161 gallons of oil, 1,477 kWh electricity, and 4,377.4 lbs of CO2 emissions. The improvements are expected to save $781.38 annually and payback is 3.2 yrs.
Robert Longley of Enfield, NH’s weatherization is estimated to save $736.87/yr. on energy bills and pay for itself in 5.3 years, because of the rebates that reduced his costs measurably.
2. Robert Longley of Enfield, NH lives in 1800‘s cape house. He participated in the Home Performance with Energy Star program through Liberty Utilities.
Improvements include: sealing the flat attic over the 2nd floor, and adding R22 cellulose over existing insulation for a total of R50; adding dense packed cellulose to R11 in exterior walls where insulation had settled; spraying 3″ closed cell spray foam to R19.5 on the slopes out to the eaves in crawl spaces behind the kneewalls; insulating 2″x6″ sloping ceilings with dense packed cellulose; and insulating the single-story kitchen ceiling with dense packed R23 cellulose. The original blower door number was 5954 CFM50 but the final number was 3850 CFM50.
The total job cost $7,938.85, which the rebate reduced to $3,838.85 plus $100 for the energy audit. The project was completed in mid-February but he noticed a reduction in fuel used in his pellet furnace immediately. He received a $200 rebate to replace his old inefficient fridge with an Energy Star model.
The projected annual savings is the equivalent in pellets of 2 cords of hardwood, 81kWh electricity, and 3731.4 lbs of CO2 emissions. The improvements are estimated to save $736.87 on energy bills and pay for itself in 5.3 years.
John Northrup of Littleton, NH received $1500 in rebates. The projected annual savings is $553.34 on energy bills. The project should pay for itself in 4.3 years.
3. John Northrup of Littleton, NH took part in the Home Performance with Energy Star program through PSNH, improving a rental property.
Major improvements included air sealing the attic with R30 cellulose added over the existing insulation; installing a thermadome over the pull down stairs; replacing the thermostat with a digital non-programmable model; insulating rim joists and the top of the foundation walls in the basement; adding a CO detector, a low flow showerhead, and CFL bulbs.
The total project cost $5,147.22. After the rebate, he paid $2,253.05 plus $100 for the energy audit. He also took advantage of a $1500 rebate to replace an old oil boiler with a high efficiency propane system.
The projected annual savings is $553.34 on energy bills and the project should pay for itself in 4.3 years. Other savings are replacing 133 gallons of heating oil with propane, cutting 3186.9 lbs of CO2 emissions, and eliminating 315kWh of electricity.
Frank Melanson, PSNH Residential Program Manager, said, “Our Home Performance program is designed to provide customers a complete project, from the energy audit and finding qualified contractors to ending with rebates to cut costs. Participants, like John, lower their monthly energy bills and increase their home comfort.”
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