By Brian Brainerd
Colorado Green Building Post
April 14, 2010
When RechargeColorado.com goes live next Monday at 8 a.m., the Governor’s Energy Office will launch Colorado’s Recovery Act funding targeted to stimulate economic activity and green jobs with market rate home efficiency and renewable energy. The web site is designed as a one stop shop for every applicable rebate and to connect with qualified contractors. Consumers can also call 1-800-462-0184.
Many contractors say consumers have delayed purchases for home energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades in anticipation of this rebate program, so considerable pent-up demand might flood the market with eager consumers. For example, Minnesota exhausted all of the state energy Recovery Act rebates for home efficiency in 30 days last fall.
During a program meeting with contractors earlier this year, GEO residential program associate Thad Kurowski told contractors that the Colorado program sought a delicate balance with incentives large enough to spur consumer action, but not more than needed to maximize the impact. The GEO rebates are also applied after local and utility rebates up to a maximum cap established for each measure.
Some $18 million in state, federal and partner funding will be aggregated to yield about 75,000 rebates and 16,000 of those rebates will apply to Energy Star appliances, while the rest will stimulate home energy efficiency and renewable energy for Colorado homes. Officials expect a “Sweepstakes” atmosphere for the appliance rebates which must be reserved by consumers prior to purchase
To qualify for home appliance rebates, log on to RechargeColorado.com and fill out the rebate reservation form, then make your purchase. Rebates cannot be applied retroactively and are available on a first come first served basis. Documentation for the rebate must be complete and submitted within 30 or 45 days of the reservation date. Rebates are paid directly to consumers.
GEO spokesman Todd Hartman said “Things are nuts” as he as GEO director Tom Plant traveled the state last week on a media tour promoting Recharge Colorado by visiting in Denver, Colorado Springs and Grand Junction. Where they offered media opportunities with Tom at local Sears stores to highlight Energy Star appliance rebates. While they expect the rebates to go quickly, they noted many retailers are also offer discounts to support the program.
Tom Plant said “This comprehensive resource will give Colorado residents the opportunity to participate in energy conservation in a way tho not other state can currently offer.”
GEO has spent months tailoring a suite of energy efficiency rebates funded by the Recovery Act. The long lead time was used to coordinate the GEO rebates with existing utility and municipal incentives and with input from contractors across the state.
GEO staff conducted a series of webinars for contractors in renewable and energy efficiency sectors to outline the rebate strategy and solicit feedback on proposed rebates themselves and performance requirements of the contractors.
Residential renewable energy rebates will require an energy audit of the home to highlight opportunities for residents to conserve energy by sealing air leaks and adding insulation. GEO also established standards for qualifying energy audits that require the auditor to be certified by the Building Performance Institute or RESNET. They spent the past month organizing a database of qualified energy auditors using the Better Business Bureau as a platform. The BBB database will interface with the Recharge Colorado web site.
Better Business Bureau is working in conjunction with the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office to provide Coloradans information about energy efficiency and renewable energy service providers in their area through theGEO’s Recharge Colorado website.
BBB accepts business submissions via the form below to add or update information in the Recharge Colorado vendor database. Please use the form below to add your business or update existing business information on the BBB website. http://www.bbb.org/denver/recharge-colorado/
GEO is also offering online contractor training for renewable energy rebates Thursday morning, April 15. The renewable rebates must be completed online by the contractor on behalf of the consumer. All other rebates are completed by the consumer.
The Governor’s Energy Office also administers Energy $avings Partners, a DOE weatherization assistance program for income qualified households below 200% of poverty, with nearly $80 million in Recovery Act funding. Weatherization assistance is delivered through a network of non-profits across Colorado.