HOME ENERGY SOLUTIONS
Existing Homes
Incentive changes beginning in 2010
An email and letter communicating the Home Energy Solutions incentive changes for 2010 was issued earlier this month. In 2010, the following incentives will change:
- Direct-vent gas fireplaces (now based on Fireplace Efficiency standards; tiered incentive structure)
- Floor insulation (reduced from $0.45 to $0.30 per square foot)
- Gas furnaces no longer available for a stand-alone incentive
- Gas furnace and gas water heater bundle bonus (available January 1-April 30; includes $100 bonus for purchasing both a qualifying gas furnace and gas water heater)
The complete incentive letter has been posted to the Updates section of the trade ally section.
Changes in communications to trade allies
The incentive letter also served as notification to trade allies that Energy Trust will no longer communicate updates by paper mail, aligning with our mission to conserve resources. All updates will be issued through web updates, contained in INSIDER and issued by email, as needed.
As of January 1, 2010, program and incentive updates—including the cash incentives brochure and new marketing materials—will be available online. Professionally printed copies of the incentive brochure will no longer be mailed to trade allies, but will be available online for printing. Professionally printed copies can be requested by contacting 1.866.365.3526 (option 4) or . Please recycle all past incentive brochures and refer to the updated brochure online. Read the complete explanation of our changes to our notification policies.
Changes to notification policy
To address the greater need to quickly inform you of changes in program requirements and details, Energy Trust is moving to a goal of a 30-day advance notice to trade allies before changes go into effect. Notification will be through INSIDER, the Updates section of the trade ally web pages and as needed by email. Read the complete explanation of our changes to our notification policies.
Your email address is needed up to update you on program modifications, trainings and promotions. If you need to update your email address, email , trade ally coordinator.
December trainings
Each month, we provide training opportunities to help you better serve your customers, enhance your capabilities and grow your business. The December schedule includes Scenarios, Proposals and Contracts, a free HomeCheck training webinar exclusively available to Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® contractors. Other upcoming sessions include an Online Weatherization Specifications Manual webinar and an Online Forms and Resources webinar. To view dates and times for these December sessions, browse our trade ally training & education calendar.
You can keep track of events for homeowners as well. For the latest Energy Trust community events, visit Energy Trust's events & education calendar.
Stay tuned for the most current incentives and incentive brochure
The refrigerator recycling incentive has increased to $50 and will stay at this level until December 31, 2009. Starting January 1, 2010, the incentive will switch back to $30. Be sure to share the most current Home Energy Solutions cash-back incentives with your customers by accessing the updated incentive brochure on the Resources page of the Existing Homes web section.
Portland General Electric customers can get a $100 bonus for making an energy-saving improvement by year-end
Do you have clients or friends who heat their homes with electricity provided by PGE? Help PGE customers take the next step to greater energy savings by offering a limited-time $100 cash-back bonus—in addition to the standard Energy Trust cash incentive—when they install one qualifying improvement and postmark the appropriate form and bonus coupon by December 31, 2009. For complete rules, instructions and details, visit www.energytrust.org/promotions.
Quick tips for submitting incentive applications
Do you have trouble remembering which incentive application to use for duct sealing and which to use for insulation? Do you need a quick resource that lists the supporting documents required for a window application? Quick Tips for Submitting Incentive Applications details the requirements for submitting completed incentive applications and other helpful web resources. The document is available in the Forms & Resources section of the Existing Homes web pages.
If you have additional questions about submitting a complete incentive application, email or call 1.866.368.7878.
2009 Weatherization Specifications tip: Waiver for unusual conditions
Section IN 1.5 of the Weatherization Specifications Manual contains information on seeking a waiver for unusual conditions if you encounter a unique housing type or identify an unusual access issue during project installation. Energy Trust's waiver process supports you in developing alternative ways to complete weatherization improvements—and meeting program standards. The waiver must be pre-approved by the Home Energy Solutions program (or you could jeopardize the customer's incentive). If a waiver is granted, you must include a copy of the waiver when submitting completed incentive application materials for the job. To request a waiver, email our trade ally team at or call 1.866.365.3526, option 9.
For more information on our program, visit Energy Trust's Home Energy Solutions—Existing Homes program pages or call 1.866.368.7878.