by Kate Cough
Ellsworth American news story
ELLSWORTH — It’s easy, with this week’s summer breezes and sunshine, to forget about ice dams on your roof, drafty windows and high heating bills. But Weatherize Ellsworth is hoping you’ll recall just a bit of winter’s bite and sign up for a free energy consult with the group by May 31.
The initiative, a partnership between the city, the Ellsworth Green Plan and the Natural Resources Council of Maine, is offering free home energy audits to interested citizens in Ellsworth and surrounding towns.
“Many Mainers want to make their homes more efficient, but don’t know who to call and whether they’ll do good work for reasonable prices,” reads an informational pamphlet from the group.
Those who sign up for a free consult will have a contractor visit their home to look for air leaks, issues with insulation and other problems that may leave a house less efficient (and colder) than it could be.
Weatherize Ellsworth, after putting out a request for proposal earlier in the month, selected Penobscot Home Performance as the designated contractor.
Signing up for an energy audit does not commit a homeowner to contract for any services, but those who do choose to use the program to purchase services or products such as heat pumps, insulation and air sealing, will have access to reduced prices through the co-op-type structure.
“Because of the scale of this community initiative, the contractor will offer discounted prices for their work,” reads the pamphlet.
Some homeowners, such as those who participate in municipal general assistance programs or live in a single-family home valued at $80,000 or less, may also qualify to have the entirety of the costs covered by the program through its Affordable Heat Initiative. Other rebates are available through Efficiency Maine.
To sign up, visit www.weatherizeellsworth.org or call Penobscot Home Performance directly at (207) 469-6100. Forms are also available at Ellsworth City Hall (ask for a Weatherize Ellsworth sign-up form).
