The Corvallis Energy Challenge is a yearlong campaign to help Corvallis residents and businesses boost energy efficiency, control energy costs and build a cleaner future with renewable energy.

March 3, 2008 – February 28, 2009

The Challenge is a joint campaign organized by the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition and Energy Trust of Oregon.

The Corvallis Sustainability Coalition is network of organizations, businesses and citizens in Corvallis and Benton County who are working together to accelerate the creation of a sustainable community. The Corvallis Energy Challenge provides an opportunity for the Coalition to actively work on this goal, and the more than 80 member organizations of the Coalition provide a strong, grassroots network to promote the Challenge. Representatives from approximately 70 Coalition organizations signed up to receive Home Energy Reviews during the Challenge kick off week March 3-7, 2008. In turn, Coalition members took the challenge to recruit 1,000 Corvallis homeowners to sign up for Home Energy Reviews by April 22, 2008.

Energy Trust of Oregon is a nonprofit organization dedicated to energy efficiency and renewable energy generation. Energy Trust helps Oregonians save energy, increase the comfort of their homes and businesses, and move toward energy self-reliance. Energy Trust offers free Home Energy Reviews and business energy walkthroughs to identify energy-saving opportunities for Corvallis residents and business owners. Energy Trust also provides technical assistance, a network of qualified trade ally contractors and cash incentives for qualifying energy measures.

While the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition and Energy Trust of Oregon are presenting the Corvallis Energy Challenge, it is a citywide effort that involves individuals, community organizations, the Corvallis city government and businesses, including:

• Consumers Power Inc., in collaboration with the Bonneville Power Administration, to provide program support to homes in Consumers Power’s service territory. (Energy Trust services are available to customers of Pacific Power and NW Natural.)
• NW Natural - Smart Energy carbon-offset program
• Pacific Power - Blue Sky renewable energy program

The Corvallis Energy Challenge aims to:

• Increase energy efficiency to help control energy costs for homeowners, businesses and Corvallis city facilities
• Build a more sustainable future by investing in renewable energy technologies
• Raise awareness of availability of Energy Trust cash incentives that help make energy-efficiency improvements more affordable
• Empower community leaders to become champions of energy efficiency and sustainability

Community energy programs have been successful in other locations, and Corvallis provides an ideal setting for this Oregon pilot. Many businesses, community organizations, churches and government entities have already demonstrated their concern for sustainability by joining the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition.

The Corvallis Energy Challenge helps Corvallis residents and businesses boost energy efficiency, control energy costs and build a cleaner future with renewable energy. Both homeowners and businesses can receive free energy reviews that identify energy-efficiency opportunities and explain how they can earn cash-back incentives for qualifying measures. They will also learn whether their location is a good candidate for a solar installation and find out about clean energy options from their utilities.

Corvallis homeowners and business can participate in the Challenge. The home or business must have electric heat from Pacific Power or natural gas heat from NW Natural. If a home is served by Consumers Power (and does not have natural gas heat from NW Natural), then Consumers Power can perform a free home energy audit.

Renters are encouraged to participate in the Corvallis Energy Challenge, too, by asking their landlord to sign up for a Home Energy Review (if the home is free-standing) or participate in Energy Trust’s Multifamily program. Renters who are successful in getting their landlords to enroll by April 22 will be entered into a drawing for a $500 gift certificate.

Households that heat with oil, propane, kerosene, butane or wood, are served by the Oregon Department of Energy State Home Oil Weatherization (SHOW) Program. SHOW-eligible homeowners can conduct their own energy audit and apply for cash rebates for installed weatherization and heating measures. Find information at the Oregon Department of Energy website.

A free Home Energy Review from Energy Trust is the foundation of the Corvallis Energy Challenge. Members of the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition are working toward a goal of enrolling 1,000 Corvallis pre-1993 homes for Home Energy Reviews. You can register now online. Fully trained experts from Energy Trust and students from the Oregon State University Student Sustainability Center will conduct the reviews and identify energy-efficiency measures homeowners can take to save energy. They will also make a preliminary assessment of a home’s suitability for a solar system. The review includes installation of up to 10 free compact fluorescent light bulbs, water-saving showerheads and faucet aerators. Homeowners will be encouraged to install two or more energy-efficiency measures identified in the review. Energy Trust cash incentives are available for qualifying measures installed in homes served by Pacific Power or NW Natural. Homes served by Consumers Power may qualify for rebates offered by that utility. Homeowners will also receive information about clean energy options from NW Natural and Pacific Power.

Small to midsized businesses can sign up for a free energy walkthrough. You can register now online. Advisors from the Corvallis Resource Efficiency Program will identify measures that can be taken to save energy. Businesses will also receive a preliminary solar assessment. Energy Trust cash incentives are available for qualifying measures taken by businesses served by Pacific Power or NW Natural.

Energy Trust can help industrial, manufacturing and agricultural businesses develop feasibility studies and implementation plans for energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades that qualify for cash incentives. Contact Energy Trust for more information.

The campaign encourages renters, including students, to challenge their landlords to sign up for a free Home Energy Review (if a home is freestanding), or participate in the Energy Trust Multifamily program. Qualifying energy efficiency improvements on rental properties served by Pacific Power or NW Natural can receive incentives. Renters who are successful in getting their landlords to enroll will be entered into a drawing for a $500 gift certificate.

Owners and managers of multifamily properties served by Pacific Power or NW Natural are encouraged to participate in the Corvallis Energy Challenge, too, through Energy Trust’s Multifamily program.

In a Home Energy Review, fully trained experts from Energy Trust and students from the Oregon State University Student Sustainability Center take about an hour to examine the energy efficiency of a home. If you have a Home Energy Review, you’ll receive:

• A written summary identifying specific energy-efficiency measures —such as adding insulation or sealing heating ducts — that will help you use less energy, save money and create a more comfortable living environment*
• Preliminary assessment of your home’s suitability for a solar installation
• Up to 10 compact fluorescent light bulbs installed FREE
• Water-saving showerheads and aerators installed FREE
• A list of Energy Trust trade allies who are qualified to make the energy-efficiency improvements to your home
• Information on Pacific Power’s Blue Sky renewable power and NW Natural’s Smart Energy carbon offset program

*Unless they have gas heat from NW Natural, homes served by Consumers Power will be offered in-home audits by that utility rather than Energy Trust.

In the Corvallis Energy Challenge, the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition partner organizations have been challenged to recruit 1,000 homeowners  to sign-up for Home Energy Reviews by April 22, 2008. As an incentive, the Coalition partner organization with the most Home Energy Review registrations will win $1,000.

In a free energy walkthrough assessment, an Energy Trust expert will examine how a business uses energy and pinpoint ways to save money and energy. As a business owner you’ll receive:

• A written summary explaining specific energy-efficiency measures —such as upgrading equipment or installing high-performance lighting— that will help you use less energy, save money and create a more comfortable working environment
• Preliminary assessment of your facility’s suitability for a solar installation
• Information on Pacific Power’s Blue Sky renewable power and NW Natural’s Smart Energy carbon offset program.

In addition Energy Trust offers cash incentives for qualifying measures, a network of qualified trade ally contractors and suppliers, assistance with project management and post-installation inspections. Businesses must be served by NW Natural or Pacific Power to qualify.

Energy Trust offers cash incentives for qualifying energy-efficiency measures. The list of qualifying measures for homes and businesses, and other requirements, can be found on the Energy Trust website.

Energy Trust has a network of Corvallis area trade ally contractors and suppliers.

• Residential (PDF)
• Commercial (PDF)
• Full list including trade ally contractors that work state wide.

When you have a Home Energy Review or business energy walkthrough, an Energy Trust representative will include a preliminary assessment of the suitability of your home or business for a solar installation. You can find more information about solar workshops, solar information packets and a solar calculator on the Energy Trust website.

When you have a Home Energy Review or business energy walkthrough, the Energy Trust representative will provide information about NW Natural’s Smart Energy program and Pacific Power’s Blue Sky program.

The Smart Energy program is a carbon offset program that enables you to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from your natural gas use. By signing up for the Blue Sky program you’ll encourage the development of clean, renewable electricity in Oregon and the West.