GLENWOOD SPRINGS — Five local governments learned Thursday they’ll receive $25,000 from the Governor’s Energy Office to encourage building energy efficient homes.

The grant is for the Energy Star New Homes Program, meant to encourage local governments to work with residential builders to help homes earn the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star label.

Lauren Martindale, energy manager for Carbondale, said, “Energy Star says that they’re generally 20 to 30 percent more efficient than standard homes.”

Martindale handled the application process for Glenwood Springs, Rifle, Carbondale, Aspen and Pitkin County. The five governments partnered to raise a total of $28,000 to get the $25,000 grant, she said. The grant is part of $329,000 the GEO gave to 37 communities in Colorado, according to the GEO.

To achieve the Energy Star certification, homes must be at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code. Once a home is built, it must undergo an energy audit by a certified, independent home energy rater. The rater inspects things like insulation, windows, duct systems and heating and cooling equipment.

“Energy-efficient homes are our best defense against the rising cost of energy and reducing our overall energy demand,” GEO director Tom Plant said in a news release. “The goal of the ENERGY STAR New Homes program is to educate
communities, builders, homeowners and buyers that energy efficiency is an essential
feature to controlling costs, reducing pollution and having a more comfortable home.”

Martindale said a first step will be setting up training courses for home inspection companies or contractors who want to become certified to conduct energy audits for
the Energy Star program. There’s only one certified Energy Star auditor in the area,
and it costs about $1,200 for a week-long course and exam to get certified,
Martindale said, but subsidizing a certification program is one thing the grant money
could go toward.

Martindale, the project manager, and representatives from the five partners will meet
Wednesday for planning.

Martindale said the five governments also plan to use the funds to sponsor free
training sessions for contractors in the area. Those could include an insulation
workshop, a framing workshop, and a heating and cooling workshop to focus on how
to build more energy efficient homes.

“We have a goal of getting either some local home inspection companies or
contractors that already have a knowledge of building science and want to expand
their business to become certified,” she said.

The Glenwood Springs City Council voted Jan. 17 to contribute $3,000 toward the
application, submitted jointly with the four other government entities.

Glenwood Springs City Councilor Russ Arensman, who put the item on a City
Council agenda, said it sounded like a good idea to try to improve energy efficiency
and home values.

“No builder has to do this, but I would think in this day and age having a home with
that rating on it would probably allow you to get a better sales price,” he said.

Gaining the Energy Star certification also lowers utility bills, and helps fight global
warming, Martindale said.

Contact Pete Fowler: 384-9121pfowler@postindependent.com




Post Independent, Glenwood Springs Colorado CO