Shoreline residents invited to learn how they can access stimulus funds to save energy, save money, and reduce their carbon footprint

On March 30, Shoreline residents will get the opportunity to attend an event to learn about SustainableWorks, a Puget Sound based non-profit, that is offering reduced costs energy audits and retrofits.

The SustainableWorks Energy Efficiency Kick-off event will take place at Shoreline City Hall between 6:30-8:30pm. SustainableWorks is partnering with the City of Shoreline, Solar Shoreline, Sustainable Shoreline, WSU Energy Management, Seattle City Light, Puget Sound Energy and others to bring this energy saving opportunity to the community.

The purpose of this stimulus-funded program is to help homeowners and renters (with landlord approval) make home improvements that reduce their energy use and energy bills. Participants can save on items like furnaces, air sealing, insulation, and hot water heaters, and reduce their energy costs by 20-40%.

At the Energy Efficiency Kick-off Event residents will have the opportunity to learn about the SustainableWorks program, ask questions of SustainableWorks’ auditors, sign-up to have their homes audited, and meet the program’s partners. There will be presentations from Mayor McGlashan, Steve Gelb, Executive Director of SustainableWorks and homeowners who have already participated in our program. To learn more about the program, or to sign-up, please visit SustainableWorks on the web www.sustainableworks.com, or call the SustainableWorks office at 206-575-2252.

The process begins with a pre-audit to determine eligibility followed by a professional energy audit. Worth approximately $600, the cost of the audit to the homeowner is $95. An energy consultant then explains to the homeowner where they are losing energy and suggests the most cost effective energy saving improvements.

Contractors managed by SustainableWorks then complete the energy saving measures chosen by the homeowner. SustainableWorks offers stimulus and utility incentives to cover a portion of the project cost. SustainableWorks also has a loan program with Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union that can help homeowners finance improvements at low interest rates. SustainableWorks strives to design projects that pay for themselves with energy savings.

About SustainableWorks

SustainableWorks is a non-profit focused on creating quality jobs and improving the environment with residential and small commercial energy retrofit projects facilitated through community engagement and participation. SustainableWorks utilizes a $4 million Community Energy Efficiency Program Grant to retrofit up to 2,000 homes and small businesses in moderate-income neighborhoods in Spokane, Pierce, King, and Snohomish counties over the next 2 years. This activity should produce approximately 120 full-time jobs and $12 million in retrofit work, as well as reduce carbon emissions by 3,000 tons.