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Thurston Energy is a program created in 2010 by the Thurston County Economic Development Council and Thurston Climate Action Team and fueled by $1 million in federal stimulus funding.
About 517 homes and 70 businesses have received energy audits to help them invest wisely in energy-efficient improvements.
About 45 percent of the homeowners and 50 percent of the businesses have followed through with some or all of the recommended energy-conservation measures, compared with a national average of 25 percent, Thurston Energy program director Ramsey Zimmerman said.
“The folks that are participating are seeing real value,” Zimmerman said. A case in point is Olympia homeowner Marylin Ball-Brown, who replaced all her home’s windows and outside doors, added attic insulation and sealed the home’s heating ducts.
“We financed these improvements and have found that the energy savings have saved us enough on our energy bills to pay our monthly loan payment,” Ball-Brown said. “This was a great investment in our home.”
The program has added or enhanced about 125 jobs in South Sound, including energy auditors, building contractors, financial lenders, utility contractors and other local businesses, according to the program report.
The combined energy savings from the projects totals about $90,000 per year, including nearly $4,000 a year that Fairchild Record Search of Tumwater saved by overhauling its lighting and heating systems. Fairchild president Renee Reis said she’s using her savings to install solar panels on her building.
Through June 30, 2011, the energy savings from the program had reduced carbon dioxide emissions by about 560 tons, the equivalent of taking about 100 cars off the road.
Thurston Economic Development Council director Michael Cade said the partnership with climate-change activists in the community is helping retain and create jobs, as well as reducing business costs for participants. “A lot of the original goals of the project are being met,” Cade said.
When the Thurston Energy program comes to a halt in February 2012, the EDC hopes to have something in place to keep funding a similar program, Cade said.
Zimmerman said Thurston Energy still is accepting applications for energy audits and hopes to reach its target goals of 800 homes and 100 businesses by early next year.
John Dodge: 360-754-5444
jdodge@theolympian.com
