Weatherization Incentives Program
Now through Feb. 17th, earn up to $5,000 for finishing weatherization projects.
Thetford Home Weatherization Incentive Program
Thetford is offering town homeowners financial incentives to make weatherizing your home much more affordable through the Thetford Home Weatherization Incentive Program (THWIP).
If you qualify (see Qualifying Process and Applications below), THWIP will provide incentives matching those from Efficiency Vermont’s Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program, up to a total of $5,000 for your weatherization project – up to $2,500 from Efficiency Vermont and $2,500 from THWIP – depending on work performed. These combined incentives can pay for up to 75 percent of energy-saving home improvements.
THWIP funds will be reserved on a first-to-qualify basis as long as funds last through Dec. 15, 2011, so be sure to fill out the attached forms as soon as you can. All work must be completed and paperwork submitted to THWIP by Feb. 17, 2011 in order to receive reserved funds. See details below.
THWIP Qualifying Process:
1. Fill out and submit the (below) “Preliminary Participation Interest Form” to THWIP manager, Ellen Blumberg (elblumberg@gmail.com, PO Box 359, Thetford Center, VT 05075, 802-785-9883), who will verify amount of funds still available and your likelihood of qualifying.
2. Hire a participating Home Performance with ENERGY STAR company to perform a home energy assessment (energy audit). To learn more about Home Performance and to “Find a Contractor” go to: http://www.efficiencyvermont.com/homeperformance or contact Efficiency Vermont at 888-921-5990. If you have already received a Home Performance assessment, any recommended work remaining to be done from your report qualifys for THWIP without gettting a new assessment.
3. Review your assessment report with your Home Performance contractor and agree on a scope of work, including expected Efficiency Vermont incentives. Your contractor will submit a work plan to Efficiency Vermont, which will review and create an Estimated Incentive Report that your contractor will share with you. A summary of the Efficiency Vermont incentives can be found at the “Rebates” link at http://www.efficiencyvermont.com/homeperformance, and remember that the THWIP funds will double the listed incentives.*
4. Fill out the THWIP Application Form (here) and submit it on or BEFORE December 15th with a copy of your Efficiency Vermont Estimated Incentive Report listing the amount of THWIP incentive money you wish to reserve for your project. THWIP program managers will review your application and confirm the amount of THWIP incentives to be reserved, dependent on amount of money left in the THWIP grant and contingent on final job completion, filing of reports, awarding of Efficiency Vermont incentives, and providing this information with the completed end-of-program survey to THWIP managers by Feb. 17, 2011. Should anyone apply for THWIP support after all our funds have been reserved, they will be added to a waiting list once all their work is complete and forms turned in to the THWIP manager and awarded money if any reserved funds have not been claimed by Feb. 17th.
5. Schedule the work ASAP. Once your work is done, your contractor will submit your final project report to Efficiency Vermont. Efficiency Vermont will review and issue the Final Incentive Report.
6. To receive your Efficiency Vermont incentive, sign, make a copy, and submit your final Efficiency Vermont Incentive Report to Efficiency Vermont.
7. To receive your matching THWIP incentive: Submit your final contractor’s project report, Efficiency Vermont Final Incentive Report, a total cost of assessment and improvements (provided by your contractor) and a completed THWIP Program Survey to the THWIP manager by Feb. 17th at the latest. THWIP incenitves will not exceed funds reserved in your name even if Efficiency Vermont’s Final Incentive Report is higher than the Estimated Incenitve Report, unless there are unclaimed THWIP funds after Feb. 17, 2011. THWIP incentives will be reduced if the combined Efficiency Vermont and THWIP incentives exceed 75 percent of the total cost of the job. Unclaimed reserved funds remaining in the THWIP account after Feb. 17, 2011 will be allotted to others on the THWIP waiting list who have completed and submitted all program requriements.
8. Provide energy use and any subsequent home renovation info to THWIP manager for 3 years.
THWIP Process & Application Form (pdf)
THWIP Process & Application Form (word document)
*In homes that are over 50 years old and are potentially historic, Thetford can provide matching incentives to those provided by Efficiency Vermont for air sealing, attic insulation, heating distribution system sealing and insulation, and heating system upgrades without submitting the project for review by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation. To receive matching Thetford incentives for any proposed wall insulation, the homeowner would be responsible for hiring an historic review consultant to review and report to the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation on the historic significance of the home and the potential impact of the proposed wall insulation upgrades. The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation would then make final determination on whether Thetford incentives for the wall insulation upgrades were allowed.