Free Electricity Monitors for Households with 4 or More Residents

Community Concepts, Inc. (CCI), announced February 16, 2012 that it has been awarded a grant for Energy Efficiency Innovation from the Efficiency Maine Trust. The grant will allow Community Concepts to install home energy monitors for anyone interested, and conduct electrical audits to improve electrical efficiency in residences throughout Maine.

The audits will provide homeowners with recommendations for reducing their electricity use. The home energy monitor will provide real-time feedback of the homeowner’s electrical usage. “Homeowners could see their consumption drop by 10 to 15 percent just by watching the monitor and changing their habits,” said CCI Energy Specialist Emily Mottram.

The agency started taking requests for audits in February of 2012. The program does not have any income qualifications or geographic restrictions and is open to any single-family home with four or more occupants.

“Knowledge of when and how much electricity is used in the home is the first step toward reducing electricity consumption and, consequently, your electric bill,” said Tim Vrabel, Efficiency Maine’s Strategic Initiatives Specialist. “In our I-Pad savvy world, people want colorful and visual data they can use. With the detailed information and data an energy monitor provides, a homeowner can make informed decisions and take action on making their home more energy efficient. Homeowners can also start comparing their habits over time.”

Project results will be tracked and released in a final report, and homeowner names will remain confidential.

The use of energy monitors is a growing trend nationwide, and some communities even have friendly competitions among neighbors to see who uses energy more efficiently. A similar project is being conducted in Blue Hill by a collaborative project between PowerWise, Efficiency Maine, and the University of Maine.

Community Concepts, Inc has previously partnered with Efficiency Maine to help provide audits and general contracting for their Home Energy Savings Program. Community Concepts, Inc. is a not-for-profit community action agency that provides housing, economic development and social services to people in Maine. Its mission is to “provide leadership, education and support to build thriving individuals, families and communities.”

For more information on the program, contact Marcy Boughter, 333-6419, in the Housing and Energy Department at Community Concepts, Inc., 240 Bates Street, Lewiston, ME.