The board of volunteers at Twilight Courts, an affordable senior housing community in Silverton, installed new windows and ductless heat pumps in their apartments to help reduce utility costs and provide a more comfortable environment for residents. The project was completed more affordably thanks to incentives from Energy Trust of Oregon.

In 2020, the Twilight Courts board of volunteers began building four new apartments, adding to the original 30 units. However, the existing apartments, which had not been renovated since they were built in 1967, desperately needed an update. The community’s board chose to take on two upgrade projects that would have a big impact on energy efficiency as well as resident health and comfort: new windows and ductless heat pumps.

As some of the original windows no longer sealed properly due to their age, condensation became an issue and mold would grow between the panes. By replacing the windows, mold is no longer an issue and the tighter seal of the new windows provides more peace and quiet in the apartments.

Before the DHP upgrade, Twilight Courts residents depended on window air conditioners for cooling and baseboard heaters for heating. Now, residents heat and cool their apartments much more effectively and efficiently, which is especially important when the weather turns hot in the summer.

These upgrades at Twilight Courts, which qualified for over $29,000 in Energy Trust incentives, will save the community over $7,800* in annual energy costs.

*Based on average 2024 bill rates