Township Of Montclair: Sign Up For The SEA Energy Solutions Program

Press release from the Township of Montclair:

03/03/2022

Five Area Towns Launch the SEA Energy Solutions Pilot Program

Five Area Towns Launch the SEA Energy Solutions Pilot Program

Montclair residents are encouraged to get a no-cost home energy consultation and plan to improve home energy performance.

The Townships of Maplewood, Montclair, South Orange, Verona and the Borough of Glen Ridge, all members of the Sustainable Essex Alliance (SEA), today collectively announced the launch of an innovative new pilot program that will help residents save money, improve their quality of life and address the climate crisis, all at the same time.

The SEA Energy Solutions program is an opportunity for homeowners and households within the five communities to participate in a no cost, no obligation Virtual Energy Consultation. They can sign up through a dedicated website: https://seaenergysolutions.wee.green.

Older homes are particularly vulnerable to increased energy consumption and rising energy costs. Many are poorly insulated, have high levels of air infiltration, inefficient heating and AC systems.

Energy efficiency assessments can identify sources of poor air quality and other safety and comfort issues in the home that can be addressed in recommended energy efficiency upgrades. The specialist will review the energy practices of interested and qualified residents, virtually, work to identify solutions that make sense for you and ensure you understand the cost saving opportunities available through PSE&G.

“I am excited for our town to participate in this SEA Energy Solutions program,” said Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller. “Whether people want to make their homes more comfortable or simply save money and the environment, this program offers many benefits to them as well as to our community.”

A recent participant in the program shared the benefits:

“The consultant was incredibly helpful in putting together a complete home energy and efficiency plan for us. We struggled for months to find the right information on heat pump and insulation solutions for our 110-year-old house, but Tamir was the first person we found who listened carefully to our needs and developed a complete long-term plan to make our home comfortable and efficient, using products that are safe and reliable. We are now able to assess and work with contractors from an informed position, and that has been extremely useful in making our house the home we want it to be.”

The SEA Energy Solutions program is starting out as a pilot program that is intended to help create a full-scale residential energy efficiency outreach and energy-planning program for participating communities, including other towns in Essex County. As such, space is limited at the present time.

Recently the Montclair Environmental Commission, in coordination with the Township, also introduced a program for low-income residents only, New Jersey Comfort Partners, which can assist these households to take advantage of a wide range of energy efficiency measures at no cost to such customers. Income-eligible residents are encouraged to take advantage of this excellent opportunity to save on utility bills and get upgrades at no cost.

The nonprofit organization, SmartPower, was selected to manage the SEA Energy Solutions program through a competitive RFP process. SmartPower has partnered with Abode Energy Management, an energy consulting firm from Concord, MA, to offer complementary services that will result in a highly impactful, cost-effective program for SEA. 

Residents with questions on the SEA Energy Solutions program can reach out to SmartPower at bwall@smartpower.org. They may also reach out to the Montclair Environmental Commission at mtcenv@gmail.com with questions on this program or the Comfort Partners Program.

About Sustainable Essex Alliance: The Sustainable Essex Alliance (SEA) is a coalition of local municipal green teams, environmental commissions and sustainability organizations working together to create solutions for local environments and economies. Montclair is a member of the SEA. On the web at: www.sustainableessex.wordpress.com

About SmartPower: SmartPower is the nation’s leading non-profit 501(c)3 marketing organization dedicated to promoting energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy. Founded in 2002, we research, conceptualize and manage award-winning programs across the U.S. on behalf of federal, state and local agencies, utilities, foundations and private companies.  On the web at www.smartpower.org

About Abode Energy Management (AEM): A New England-based company experienced in providing an array of efficiency and renewable energy solutions for residents across multiple utility programs. AEM understands the challenges and nuances in implementing effective energy efficiency programs that drive utilization among residents that need it the most. On the web at www.AbodeEM.com

This press release was produced by the Township of Montclair. The views expressed here are the author’s own.