THETFORD WEATHERIZATION

OUTREACH CAMPAIGN

2012 Upper Valley Energy Committee RoundtableMay 24, 2012

SERG HEAT Campaign Mission

Increase home weatherization in VT and NH Communities

Field test and identify effectiveness of various Community Based Social Marketing measures at stimulating action

Improve and replicate in other communities

Identify and Partner with Local Project Champion

Thetford Energy Committee

TEC – official town energy committee, formed in 2002 and well known, respected in town

Successful track record of local energy projects

Setting Thetford Project Goal

Match VT Climate Change Goal of reducing energy use by 25% in 25% of VT homes by 20201. Ask Listers for # of homes in town & divide by 4.2. Ask EVT and Community Action Agency for # of

homes already weatherized in town3. Deduct #2 from #14. Divide #3 by # years to 2020

Thetford needs triple to 36 the number of homes being weatherized every year.

Expand Organizing Team

Meet with and explain program to wide diversity of community & neighborhood groups

Recruit past project volunteers and weatherization participants

Announce via list serve and emails

Ended up with 50 volunteers

Develop Local Brand Recognition

Thetford HEAT (Home Energy Action Team) logo used on tote bags, t-shirts, letterhead, and flyers to make

program easily identifiable and develop a sense of community effort.

Publicize Broadly

Letter to every home in town

Town listserv notices

Thetford Elementary School and Thetford Academy newsletters

Town Newsletter

Emails to SERG, TEC and project sponsor lists

Flyers/Posters

Letters, News Article, Transaction Ad and Calendar Announcements in Valley News

Initiative #1Thetford Home

Weatherization Incentive Program – THWIP

$24,000 Federal Stimulus grant to provide financial incentives matching the up to $2,500 per home from Efficiency Vermont for home weatherization

Launched in July, 2011

18 participants completed work by February, 2012.

See complete program registration details at www.thetfordvermont.us/weatherization-incentives/

THWIP Results

Average projected energy savings per participant 26.42%

Average projected annual energy cost savings per participant $914

Projected annual energy cost savings for all participants$15,538

Total cost of jobs (local economic stimulation) $160,669

Average years to return of investment through savings with THWIP & EVT incentives 6.62

Average annual return on investment with THWIP & EVT incentives 14%

Initiative #2: Door2Door Outreach Goals

Deliver weatherization information and resources to all 1,100 Thetford homes

Educate homeowners about weatherization benefits and options

Encourage homeowners to take action

Initiative #2: Door2Door Materials

Simple messaging: “Save Energy – Save Money – Increase Home Comfort”

Free CFL and discount coupons from EVT

Available Resources & Programs

Local Case Studies

Home Heating Efficiency Calculator

Energy Saving Tips

Home Weatherization Survey

Door2Door ResultsVisited 650 Homes (60% of

Thetford homes)

Mailed info packets to remaining 350 homes

Collected energy use surveys on 240 homes – 134 included BTU/sq ft, a simple measure of relative home efficiency

Installed 158 free CFLs

Collected 125 email addresses for easy ongoing contact

Initiative #3:

150 Attendees

16 vendors

Demonstrations

Button Up Workshop

Weatherization Skits

Door Prizes including free home energy assessment

Thetford HomeEnergy Expo

Initiative #4:

A day-long hands-on training in Do-It-Yourself home weatherization produced by and available through Central Vermont Community Action Council

11 attendees

Initiative #5: Open Home Tour

Open community visits to 2 homes that had gone through the Home Performance and DIY programs open to public for viewing

About 2 dozen homeowners participated

Produced by and available through Efficiency Vermont

Next Steps in Thetford: Ongoing Education and

Tracking ResultsTo date, 29 Thetford homes have been weatherized since

July 2011

Entered homeowner information into database

Targeting outreach toward homes with high BTU/sf

Developing simple case studies being on completed jobs

Continue providing energy-saving information and opportunities to homeowners. Preparing to launch PACE education outreach

Asking participants to report on weatherization improvements installed, energy savings attained and what measures made them take action every year for 3 years.

Next Steps for SERG

Continue assisting Thetford

Developing “How to Guide”

Developing workshop to be delivered regionally throughout Vermont

Will work with other towns to improve and replicate

Project Time and FundingMore than 500 SERG organizing hours – would

be less in future

More than 500 Thetford HEAT volunteer hours

$26,300 in grants, including $5,500 in local business sponsorships

SERG would like to thank High Meadows Fund, Efficiency Vermont, Granite United Way, VECAN, Clean Air-Cool Planet and Ben & Jerry’s Foundation for their support as well as all the Thetford HEAT volunteers and sponsors for their generous contributions of time and money!

Thank you!

2012 Upper Valley Energy Committee RoundtableMay 24, 2012