Note: One-third of funds are currently committed to solar hot water systems in the area. Applications will now be accepted on a rolling basis for remaining funds.
The Governor's Energy Office of Colorado has awarded two local organizations grants for $25,000 each in order to run solar domestic hot water programs in the area. Both organizations have to match these funds, creating $100,000 to be used for the program in the area. The program will be run jointly by the two groups, and offered to homeowners in La Plata and Archuleta County. LPEA will provide rebates to electric hot water customers in these counties while 4CORE will provide rebates to gas hot water customers in these counties. All applications will be processed through 4CORE.
If more applications are received than can be funded through the program, which is very likely, a lottery will be held to determine who will be awarded the rebates. Separate lotteries will be held for electric based customers and gas based customers. Those who do not receive a rebate this time will be placed on at the top of a list to receive a rebate during the next round of funding.
Homeowners have to meet certain eligibility requirements before being considered for these rebates. Homeowners must be Colorado residents interested to have a solar thermal system on a home which is their primary, year-round residence. They must have an energy audit performed on their home in order to submit their application. The details of the audit will be determined shortly and information will be included on the website at that time.
Additionally, interested applicants must work with an approved Partner Installer to complete their application which will include information about the solar domestic hot water system and its rated output. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until funding runs out. Once the initial rebate form has been processed and approved, and the homeowner notified, the homeowner will then have 90 days to have the system installed and operational, and turn in the other required paperwork, in order to receive the rebate.
Submit Applications to:
4CORE, SDHW Rebate Program, 10 Town Plaza, #190, Durango, CO 81301
Please direct questions to 4CORE via email at aileen@fourcore.org
Note: One-third of funds are currently committed to solar hot water systems in the area. Applications will now be accepted on a rolling basis for remaining funds.
4CORE and LPEA strongly encourage homeowners to apply for the Governor’s “Solar Thermal” program. Awardees must:
- Complete and submit the Solar Domestic Hot Water Rebate Application. Installer and homeowner complete application and homeowner submits application. Only domestic hot water systems are eligible for this rebate, those systems which include BOTH space heating and domestic hot water can only count the domestic hot water portion of the system in order to receive the rebate.
- Be notified by 4CORE, in writing or email, that they have been selected. Note: If more applications are received than funds available, a lottery will be conducted.
- Install a system at a residence which is their primary, year-round residence, located in Colorado
- Install the system after the official launch date of the rebate program; there will be no retroactive rebates for systems installed prior to the launch date of the program
- Work with a Partner Installer and submit their application in coordination with them. (Partner Installers are TBD) Homeowner-installed systems are not eligible for rebates.
- Have an energy audit performed on the home before the system install takes place, and show the results of the audit to 4CORE/LPEA. 4CORE will provide homeowners with audit details & requirements once the initial applications have been submitted.
- Have a working system within 90 days after notification that you have been awarded the rebate. Note: One deadline extension may be filed for an additional 30 days
- Provide 12 months of utility bills prior to the installation, and provide them for the 12 months following the installation (Utility Bill Disclosure form)
- Allow 4CORE/LPEA to access the system for inspection and in future years if requested to gather data from the data monitoring system. LPEA may install a meter on the water heater.
- Complete the rebate form. Pay the installer in full and document an initial deposit and proof of full payment.
Awardees cannot receive more than one rebate.
Minimum System Requirements:
System must meet at least 90% of optimum orientation production based on the actual tilt angle and azimuth
For the maximum rebate of $3000:
The system must be comprised of 2 collectors or more
Minimum 60,000 BTU/day, based on SRCC rating for clear day/C interval (see http://www.solar-rating.org/ratings/ratings.htm, download “Summary of SRCC Certified Solar Collector and Water Heater System Ratings”), with nominal 80 gallon minimum solar storage tank size
For the smaller rebate of $1500
The system must be comprised of no more than 1 collector
Minimum of 30,000 BTU/day, based on an SRCC rating for clear day/C interval (see website above), with nominal 50 gallon minimum solar storage tank size.
Note: The system may be required to include data monitoring which includes flow meters, temperature gauges, a pyranometer, and a data logger to allow 4CORE/LPEA to access the data for collection, monitoring, and analysis.
4CORE is now accepting installer applications for the solar thermal rebate program. If you are a thermal solar installer and would like to be considered for inclusion on 4CORE’s eligible installation contractor list, then please complete and email or mail the installer application.
Homeowners must use an eligible Solar Installer* to qualify for a rebate. Below is a list of currently eligible contractors. 4CORE provides the following information as a public service and does not endorse individuals, companies, services or products.
*Interested solar installers may become "eligible" to offer the rebate to their customers by attending one of GEO's/Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association instructional workshops and completing an application which includes documenting previous install experience."
4CORE strongly encourages homeowners to apply for the Colorado Governor Energy Office “Insulate Colorado” program. La Plata and Archuleta county (to include all towns and cities within these counties) homeowners may receive a 20% or $300 (whichever is less) rebate for insulating and/or sealing their homes. To receive the rebate, the following requirements must be met:
- Copies of all contractor invoices and official insulation cards must be submitted with Homeowner Rebate Request Form.
- Insulation and air sealing upgrades must be performed on an existing residential dwelling.
- Rebate is not available for new construction.
- Applicants must own the residence and be the official homeowner of record.
- Only one rebate per address.
- Rebate is for attic or exterior wall insulation and air sealing upgrades only.
- Insulation must be upgraded to determined minimum R-Values for the specific climate zone as (refer to chart on the Homeowner Rebate Request Form).
- The program does not require upgrading of insulation or air sealing in all areas of the home.
- Insulation and air sealing upgrades must be completed by an eligible installation contractor. Click here for a list of eligible contractors.
- Do-It-Yourself insulation and air sealing upgrade projects are not eligible for the rebate.
- Eligible contractor must install insulation and air sealing measures according to program requirements presented during the “contractor eligibility seminar”.
- Failure to provide required information may result in denial of rebate.
- Rebates are limited to 20% of the total cost of insulation and air sealing upgrades or $300, whichever is less.
- Rebate is offered on a first-come, first-served basis until program funds have been depleted.
- 4CORE reserves the right to inspect the installed rebated material and work. If such residence does not have the qualifying material or work installed, homeowner may be required to pay-back the rebate and the contractor will be deemed ineligible to offer rebate to future customers.
Jerry Clark Drywall & Insulation
|
970-385-5267 |
Dossey Insulation
|
970-759-8119 |
B&D Insulation, Inc
|
970-769-1597 |
Comfort One Insulation
|
970-731-0153 |
Housing Solutions for the Southwest
|
970-259-1086 |
Southwest Insulation
|
970-565-4245 |
First Choice Drywall & Insulation
|
970-560-0387 |
May Insulation
|
970-247-4034 |
Anchor Coatings & Energy Saving Solutions
|
970-901-0449 |
Foam Insulation Specialists, LLC (Stan) |
970-749-5711
970-264-4800 |
For a more extensive list, visit the Governor's Energy Office website.
$25 for Recycling a Refrigerator/Freezer
$40 for Purchasing an ENERGY STAR® Refrigerator/Freezer
Significant energy savings can be realized by replacing old refrigerators or freezers with newer models that have earned the government's Energy Star® label. Old refrigerators and freezers can consume two to four times more energy annually than a new model. Upgrading to new refrigerators and freezers can thus decrease your electric bills.
The refrigerator/freezer purchase rebates are being made possible by Tri-State Generation and Transmission, from which LPEA purchases its electricity; the recycling rebate is provided by LPEA. Both rebates are administered by 4CORE. The rebates will be credited to LPEA customers’ electric bills within the next billing cycle.
Please submit applications by mail or in person:
Mail
4CORE
10 Town Plaza, #190
Durango, CO 81301
In Person
La Plata Electric Association
45 Stewart Street, Durango
603 S. 8th Street, Pagosa Springs
$25 Refrigerator/Freezer Recycling Rebate
To apply for this rebate, please submit the application with written confirmation from the recycling drop-off center or company that removed the old refrigerator/freezer.
$40 ENERGY STAR® Refrigerator/Freezer Purchase Rebate
To verify that a specific model qualifies, visit www.energystar.gov and review the complete list. To qualify for this rebate, submit the application within 180 days of purchase of an ENERGY STAR® refrigerator/freezer, along with an original, dated proof-of-purchase invoice or receipt. While recycling an old appliance is strongly encouraged, evidence of such is not required to receive the purchase rebate.
ENERGY STAR appliance rebates are offered through area vendors as well as through manufacturers. For more information, go to the Energy Star Website and enter your zip code and any appliances you are interested to obtain a rebate for.
Please consider conducting an energy audit. An energy audit will help you identify cost effective ways to improve the comfort and efficiency of your home/office/place of business and to help reduce your utility bills.
You may perform your own energy audit online using tools such as the Touchstone Energy Cooperative Home Energy Saver. These tools have built-in formulas which use the information you enter to generate a report that provides energy efficiency recommendations specific to your situation.
You may also want to consider contacting an Energy Auditor to perform an onsite energy audit. An auditor can conduct different levels of audits ranging from a quick walk-through to identify major problem areas to a comprehensive analysis of the implications of alternative energy efficiency measures. If the auditor is RESNET certified, they can also provide an ENERGY STAR rating to allow you to benchmark your home against others in the nation and in our area.
The goal of an audit is to quantify overall thermal performance. The leakage rate or infiltration of air through the building envelope is strongly affected by window construction and quality of door seals such as weather stripping. Therefore, an onsite audit may involve recording various characteristics of the walls, ceilings, floors, doors, windows, and skylights and the use of techniques and tools such as a blower door test, infrared camera, and smoke pen.
An audit report could show energy use for a given time period, say a year, and the impact of any suggested improvements per year. Reports can help you prioritize energy-efficient projects and could include:
- Descriptions of energy-conservation or corrective measures
- Estimates of implementation cost
- Potential operating cost savings
- Payback periods
If you do conduct an audit, 4CORE would appreciate receiving a copy of your audit report. This information would be used to help 4CORE tailor programs and rebates to meet the needs of area residents and businesses.
Annadel Building Solutions, Mike Frisoni
|
970-533-1548 |
Home Energy Advantage
|
970-560-0120 |
Marcy McKeon
|
970-946-1453 |
