Power in Numbers

By Jeremy Lauffenburger and JC Martel
(This article appeared in the Daily Camera on October 30, 2009)

REAP Manager J.C. Martel with the Aamot family

What’s better than receiving both a grant AND a loan from your local government to help you save energy? Receiving FIVE grants and loans for your neighborhood! Such is the case on a small north Boulder block, where a group of neighbors worked together to benefit from the City of Boulder’s ClimateSmart Solar Grant Fund, Boulder County’s ClimateSmart Loan Program and the ClimateSmart Residential Energy Action Program (REAP).

ClimateSmart Solar Grants are available for low to moderate-income homeowners and non-profit organizations within the City of Boulder to install solar electric and solar thermal systems. The ClimateSmart Loan Program and REAP, on the other hand, are not income-restricted and are available to Boulder County residents to make energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements to your homes.

“This is great! There is an accessible and affordable option for everyday people,” exclaimed neighborhood resident Carolyn Williams-Orlando, who is happy to be shrinking her carbon footprint. Just how affordable are these projects? Williams-Orlando spent only $6,500 on her $20,000 photovoltaic array. Xcel Energy offers substantial rebates, reducing the $20,000 cost to approximately $13,000. The City of Boulder’s Solar Grant paid for $6,500, and the other $6,500 was financed by the ClimateSmart Loan Program. The sun now shines 6 or more hours per day, 300 days per year, erasing the majority of Carolyn’s home electric bill. Better yet, the solar panels will far outlast the 15 year term of the loan.

Neighbor Chris Aamot, the architect of this neighborhood plan, shared, “The County was really eager to work with us as a group.” Five applications were handed in as one package, and the county took notice. Also willing to work with the group was Namaste Solar, who will build all 5 systems in March at a reduced price. “Individually I got a quote for solar at $16,000 [after Xcel rebates] but as a group the price dropped to $13,000,” Aamot explained.

Aamot improved his energy efficiency before and after his home energy audit, with coaching from the Residential Energy Action Program. “I wanted to see how well I had done with earlier improvements,” he stated. The family first noticed better comfort - no drafts, a warmer basement and quietness inside. Additionally, the energy savings enabled them to select a smaller sized photovoltaic system. Home upgrades include an Energy Star washer and dryer, use of clothes drying racks, and a whole house attic fan to replace costly air-conditioning. The highlights are the Warm Windows that use quilted fabric in blinds and magnetic edges to seal tight when closed. The Aamot family made the window coverings themselves with a little help from a website and claim that they are worth their weight in gold simply for the comfort level.

The motivation for Aamot to become more energy independent came after September 11, 2001, when the nation changed overnight. He became a father around that time and began thinking about the future in a different light. He started making decisions based on his children’s future.

Chris Aamot, Carolyn Williams-Orlando and their neighbors took advantage of several current programs that support living efficiently and planning for the future. There are many more programs available right now, from local to national in scope, and the Center for ReSource Conservation is here to help you make sense of ALL of them! Visit us online at www.conservationcenter.org or give us a call at 303-999-3820 x224.