Free Home Energy Workshop at Ag Center November 17
Attendees Eligible for $250 Discount on Energy Audits
Local residents can receive big discounts on home energy audits by attending a free E-Conserve workshop administered through the Watauga County Cooperative Extension and Building Performance Engineering on Tuesday, November 17, at 6:00 p.m. at the Agricultural Conference Center.
E-Conserve, a program of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, educates homeowners about the importance of energy efficiency in the home and subsidizes home energy audits. Audits equip homeowners with knowledge on the safest and most cost-effective measures they can take to increase the energy efficiency of their homes and lower their monthly utility bills.
At the free educational workshop, presented by Building Performance Engineering, attendees will learn about practices they can apply in the home to lower their winter heating bills and save energy. If their home is 2,000 square feet or less and older than five years, homeowners are eligible to sign up for a home energy audit at a subsidized price of $100—normally a $350 service.
“It’s a great way for people to learn about what they need to do in their home to save energy dollars,” said Margie Mansure of the Watauga County Cooperative Extension office. Mansure said this is the third year the Cooperative Extension has offered this program in Watauga.
A home energy audit consists of an analysis of the home’s energy consumption by a certified professional. The auditor identifies measures that can be taken in the home to decrease its energy consumption, improve indoor air quality and increase comfort throughout the home.
Appropriate measures vary in every home. They can include—but are not limited to—additional insulation, air sealing of the structure and replacement of mechanical equipment. The homeowner can complete some measures identified in the audit, while others require licensed professionals.
The auditor will also identify potential dangers in the home, such as carbon monoxide entering the home due to backdrafting of furnaces and other combustion devices. The auditor will provide a summary report including the cost effectiveness and payback of different measures.
Mansure said she has had an energy audit conducted on her own home.
“I’m sure I’ve already saved that amount of money,” she said. “We made some changes that made a big difference.”
Homeowners must attend the November 17 E-Conserve workshop to receive the subsidized energy audit. However, workshop attendees are not required to sign up for an energy audit, Mansure said. In addition, the extension will give away 20 home energy kits with energy-saving products such as compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).
Located in Boone, Building Performance Engineering has provided the Southeast with resources for local and state government, builders, architects, engineers, inspectors, homeowners and businesses who are interested in becoming more sustainable and energy-efficient since 1995.
If you plan to attend the workshop, register by November 17 by calling the Watauga Cooperative Extension office at 828-264-3061. The Agricultural Conference Center is located at 252 Poplar Grove Road in Boone.
For more information, contact Mansure at 828-264-3061 or John Kidda at Building Performance Engineering at 828-265-4888.
Community Interest
News & Notes
Events
Arts & Entertainment
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
