East Haven Awarded Energy Efficiency Outreach Grant

EAST HAVEN, CT —East Haven was awarded a grant from utility companies to promote energy efficiency adoption and educate residents and businesses on the energy efficiency solutions available to them, according to officials.

In a news release, the town noted that Energize Connecticut sponsors Eversource and Avangrid, Inc. subsidiaries United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut Gas and Connecticut Natural Gas, awarded the East Haven "substantive Community Partnership Initiative funding." It's an "effort to make energy efficiency affordable and accessible to all, the Community Partnership Initiative grants enable local community groups, nonprofit organizations and municipalities to promote energy efficiency."

“These programs are an important step to increasing energy and cost savings for East Haven residents and businesses," East Haven’s Director of Administration & Management, Michelle Benivegna said. "Small improvements today can result in savings for years to come. We strongly encourage all residents and business owners to take advantage of these programs.”

According to the town, the grant awarded to East Haven will support outreach to encourage participation in Home Energy Solutions – Income Eligible and Small Business Energy Advantage and focus on achieving energy efficiency goals that drive participation in residential and small business Energize CT programs.

East Haven Mayor Joseph Carfora said he "strongly supports the campaign."

"I encourage everyone who pays a utility bill to take advantage of these programs," Carfora said. "Together, we can make a difference."

From the town's news release:

The goals will drive actions that will lead to an increase in homes participating in Home Energy Solutions—Income Eligible and increase the participation of small and microbusinesses in low-income and environmental justice areas in Small Business Energy Advantage.

HeatSmart East Haven will connect East Haven residents with utility authorized contractors who conduct the Home Energy Solutions evaluation, which is no-cost for Income Eligible residents, who may also qualify for enhanced incentives for residential energy efficiency improvements. The HeatSmart effort has been active for several months in the East Haven community by promoting Home Energy Solutions – Income Eligible (HES-IE) program at the East Haven Food Pantry and Social Services. The Community Partnership Initiative funding allows an expansion of these efforts. In addition, New England Smart Energy Group and Home Comfort Practice, the HES-IE contractors, will donate $25 to the East Haven Food Pantry for each completed home energy efficiency evaluation.

East Haven’s Small Business Energy Partnership connects small businesses with utility authorized
contractors who perform no-cost, no-obligation energy assessments on commercial facilities with an average 12-month peak demand between 10 and 200kW across the business’s Connecticut property portfolio. Following the conclusion of the assessment, business owners will receive a customized recommendation that indicates how much energy and money could be saved through energy efficiency equipment upgrades. Incentives to cover a portion of the installed cost, as well as zero-interest and low-cost on-bill financing, are also available.

This is the second round of funding the program has awarded. Last year, the Community Partnership Initiative supported efforts in towns including Branford.

“Programs like the Community Partnership Initiative makes energy efficiency more affordable and accessible to people in the communities we serve, and help work towards a greener economy in Connecticut,” said Executive Vice President of Customer Experience and Energy Strategy, Penni Conner. “We’re proud of the continuous effort by our community partners to help customers lower their energy bills, while spreading awareness about the variety of energy saving solutions that will help their small businesses and local organizations thrive.”

“Energy Efficiency helps customers improve the value of their homes and businesses, increase their comfort, and reduce their carbon footprint,” said Frank Reynolds, President and CEO of United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut Gas, and Connecticut Natural Gas. “With this Initiative’s second round of funding, we look forward to reaching businesses and homeowners with new opportunities for energy efficiency projects, and we celebrate the contribution they’re now making to Connecticut’s clean energy goals as we work to achieve a green economy.”

After their HES visit, some residents might consider further measures such as heat pumps or solar panels.

More information about heat pumps is available at www.heatsmartct.org. The PowerSmart campaign offers information about solar energy and battery storage: https://powersmart.wee.green/ .

The Town of East Haven and the Sponsors of Energize CT strongly encourage residents and businesses to take the first step towards saving money and energy. Residential customers can sign up today for HeatSmart East Haven by visiting www.heatsmartct.org/easthaven or calling our authorized contractors, New England Smart Energy at (203) 292-8088.

Owners of small businesses located in East Haven can call Bob Babcock (203) 444-5047 to learn more. A small business sign-up form will be coming soon to the Town’s website home page. For more information on the Community Partnership Initiative, please visit EnergizeCT.com.