Field staff from local utility provider Puget Sound Energy will canvas the Coupeville area next week, visiting about 600 homes in just two days to inform customers of PSE’s newly branded Home Energy Assessment Program.
The representatives will determine which households are eligible for the program and offer to schedule an assessment during the door-to-door blitz, which will take place on Aug. 9 and 10, between 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
According to Program Manager Luke Giustra, the free program has been around in one form or another since 2008. Giustra said it offers PSE residential electric and natural gas customers the opportunity to have a specialist evaluate the energy use in their homes.
“This program is a checklist energy assessment,” said Giustra, noting that no diagnostic equipment is involved in the process. During the inspection, certified PSE contractors walk through to examine windows, doors, vents, insulation, appliances and lighting.
“The greater impact is really providing customers with individual savings and education to help them get an understanding of how their home operates,” he said.
In addition to an energy inspection, PSE specialists will also provide a customized set of recommendations on what customers can do to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
Eligible households may also receive energy saving materials at the time of the service, Giustra said, including up to 20 free LED lightbulbs, two high performance showerheads and up to four water conserving aerators.
“Lighting is only eligible to PSE electric customers and they must have standard efficiency lighting as a baseline,” Giustra said. “For the water heat measures, which are the shower heads and aerators, the customer must heat the water with a PSE energy source to be eligible.”
Part of the education that the program will provide, Giustra added, will be informing customers of available PSE rebates and additional resources.
Following the assessment, each customer receives a summary report recommending upgrades or improvements. The report also lists a recap of the initial findings and recommendations.
“This is a service that is fully encapsulated within PSE’s portfolio and delivery for our customers,” Giustra said. “
To qualify, customers must have a residential account and must not have previously received an energy assessment or any previous iteration of the program in the past, as only one assessment per site address is offered.
Giustra said representatives will offer appointments on the weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and PSE plans to offer the program through 2017. Customers can also schedule an assessment, which will take between 60 and 90 minutes, on PSE’s website, www.pse.com
“I think that the program is really a great opportunity for our customers,” Giustra said. “All-in-all, anyone who’s eligible should really take advantage of it.”
