FAQs for Homeowners in the Green Heart Community Initiative
What makes for a great participant?
People who are curious about what they can do to be more environmentally friendly, but who aren't really sure what to do or where to start, will get lots of benefit from the program. Those who have been focused on sustainability for a long time may be surprised to learn about the details of their carbon footprint and may discover new tricks and tools for further improvement. If you think you might already be an "expert" at this then we'd love for you to consider also becoming a volunteer Eco Auditor in addition to just a participant. Either way, you'll make for a great participant if you're open to learning and ready to take action that will save you money, reduce your environmental impact and improve your overall quality of life.
How are participating homeowners selected?
Participating homeowners who meet a few basic requirements are selected on a first-come first-served basis. A total of 300 families will be eligible to receive Eco Audits and participate in the Lyons Green Heart Community Initiative.
What are the prerequisites for participation?
To receive an Eco Audit through this grant program participants must live in the Lyons area (mainly 80540 zip code, with a few exceptions made for people living just east of the Highway 36/66 intersection), own their homes, and have access to their last twelve months of utility data (including electricity and natural gas or propane). (Water data is optional.) Your utility company can provide this info if you don't keep your bills.
Homeowners will be asked to commit to tracking and inputting their ongoing usage once a month over the upcoming year in areas of transportation, utilities, and waste/recycling. You'll learn more about how to do that and other details of the program during the Homeowner Orientation we offer. Because this is an interactive program participants are asked to make a specific pledge to reduce their impact and encouraged attend as many of the FREE monthly education events as they can, to learn more and help support others in the community.
Exceptions for participation may be made for long-term renters who can show in writing that their landlords are willing to allow them to make upgrades to their units, through such actions as weatherization, window coverings or alternative energy systems.
Once you meet the basic requirements for participation you'll be contacted by our Community Coordinator who will walk you through the process of gathering together some information about your house and your energy usage. They will introduce you to the GH Tracker website where the software will guide you through a process of entering in the prior year's worth of utility, transportation, and consumption data. After that information has been collected you'll be paired with a local Volunteer Eco Auditor or Institute staff member who will set an appointment for an in-home meeting.
The Eco Auditor will then show you a short educational video about sustainability and complete a walk-through of your home to find out where your greatest opportunities for savings may be. After that they will review the results of your Eco Audit report with you and, taking budget and time constraints into consideration, help you identify your next best steps for energy savings. You will also have access to customized reports containing a summary of your data and specific recommendations. Every month you'll receive ideas about ways to reduce your environmental impact and you'll have a chance to enter in your current data.
How long do I have to wait to receive my Eco Audit?
It could take one to two months from the time you sign up to the time you actually receive your free Eco Audit. Most of the volunteer Eco Auditors for this program are folks just like you, your friends and neighbors from Lyons, who decided they wanted to give something back to the community. And most of these people have jobs and kids and very busy lives, so they're working just as quickly as they can to move through the significant list of homeowners we've enrolled so far (as of May 2008 we have over 100 families signed up). Feel free to check in with us if you're curious where you are on the list. We appreciate your patience and believe the wait is well worth it!
What is the ongoing monthly tracking and mentorship program?
After your receive your Eco Audit and get some recommendations for things to try around the house you'll be automatically enrolled in the monthly tracking and mentorship program. Each month you'll receive an email with ideas for actions to take that can save you money and reduce your environmental impact in areas of home energy, transportation, food and health/wellbeing. You'll also be reminded to go online each month and take a few minutes to enter in your current utility, transportation and consumption data. This information is used to track your progress and the progress of the entire community, and is an essential part of the program.
What if I HATE computers?
This program works best if you have some kind of friendly relationship with a computer, but we certainly don't want you to miss out on the benefits if you can't tolerate them. So, make sure you let us know from the beginning where you stand and we'll work with you to find other means (phone, fax or mail) to get you your monthly tips and make sure your progress gets recorded with the rest of the group.
Will everyone be able to see my personal data?
No. You, your Eco Auditor, and the Green Heart Institute Staff are the only ones that will see your personal data and it will be kept confidential. (See the Green Heart Community Initiative Participant Agreement for more details.) Otherwise, the data you enter online each month can only be accessed using your own secret username and password. The whole community's data is combined in a lump sum for everyone to see, but your particulars won't show up there.
What can I use my $300 Energy Conservation Incentive (ECI) for?
Once you've begun the program and have entered in three months of your ongoing monthly data online you'll qualify for your ECI. This credit can be used towards items that help you reduce your environmental impact. These include such things as weatherization materials, compact fluorescent lights, Energy Star appliances and more. For a full list see the ECI qualified items document. (Click on the word document!)
More questions?
Contact Betsy Burton, Lyons Community Coordinator, by phone at (303) 823-5839 or by email.
