Westport Number One in Home Energy Challenge

Westport residents are apparently being proactive when it comes to home energy efficiency.

The town recently moved into First Place in the Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge, a program which encourages homeowners to get home energy assessments and make improvements through the Home Energy Solutions program.

According to a release, 160 Home Energy Solutions visits having taken place in Westport to date, with 10 home energy improvements completed. That puts Westport in First Place among 14 Connecticut towns participating in the Challenge.

In a release, Kerry O’Neill, program manager of the Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge, applauded Westport’s efforts so far.

“This would not have been possible without the town’s commitment to leadership on energy efficiency,” O’Neill said. “If 160 Westport households can take the equivalent emissions of 1,089 cars off of the road, think of what impact can be made over the course of the next two years.”

The Challenge helps homeowners identify energy waste and follow through with efficiency upgrades.

Participating Westport residents will cumulatively save more than $600,000 worth of energy over the next 20 years as a result of the measures taken, according to the group.

Home Energy Solutions (HES) is a program of the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund and is run in partnership with CL&P, UI and the natural gas utilities. Through this program all Connecticut residents can get a home energy assessment for a one-time fee of $75.

The energy savings from the measures taken during the first visit — such as duct and air sealing, caulking, weatherizing and installation of energy efficient light bulbs and water aerators — can save homeowners an average of $200 a year, the group claims.

With summer here, and people starting to use the air conditioning, the the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Energy Challenge is reminding homeowners that it is a good time to assess home energy efficiency.

“In Westport, homes tend to be larger – and summer cooling expenses can add up as cool air leaks right through the cracks,” the group states in the release.

“As the owner of an older home, I knew my house was not as efficient as it could be,” said Stuart McCarthy, Westport resident and Director of Westport’s Department of Parks and Recreation, in the release. “My Home Energy Solutions visit helped me identify both short-term and long-term solutions that made my home more energy efficient and is saving me money. It was well worth the time.”

The Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge is made possible by a $4.17 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, funded as part of the BetterBuildings initiative.

For more information about the Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Challenge, visit www.ctenergychallenge.com.

For more information about the Westport Home Energy Challenge, or to sign up for a Home Energy Solutions visit, visit www.NE-SmartEnergy.com/Westport-Challenge, email westportchallenge@NE-SmartEnergy.com, or call (203) 292-8088.