Structural Energy Conservation of Vermont, a Co-op Partner, is offering to perform a free Residential Audit for anyone who purchases a Lifetime Membership in the Co-op ($350). There is a limit of one audit per month, so be the first to sign up!

SEC is a certified participant in the Home Performance ENERGY STAR Program. The audit will evaluate the building's tightness, insulation, windows, heating system, and any other features that affect energy use. As a new lifetime member, once the audit is performed you will receive the audit report, a scope of work for recommended energy efficiency home improvements, information on financing options, and assistance in accessing available incentives, which include up to $2,500 from Efficiency Vermont. For additional information on the services provided go to www.secvt.com/residential.html.

"Acorn Energy is providing a great service by bringing awareness to the community on a number of conservation issues, and we are proud to be able to collaborate on the lifetime membership offer," says Jared Moats, SEC's President.

To accept this offer, and become a lifetime member, send an email to info@acornenergycoop.com, or you can download and send in your membership application found at www.acornenergycoop.com. 

Acorn Energy Co-op, in collaboration with ACRPC, presented a guided tour of the Middlebury College Solar Decathlon Project as part of its Energy Education Program Series on Saturday, June 11 at the college. Several students working on the Middlebury Decathlon Team led nearly 30 people around the 1,000-sq.-ft. solar-powered house.

Although it was not yet finished, it was evident that the team had carefully designed the house to be exceptionally energy-efficient, functional and aesthetically pleasing. The style resembles a New England farmhouse, with its steeply sloped roofline and kitchen open to the dining and living area. The team named their solar home "Self Reliance."

The team will be completing the construction of the home, then disassembling , transporting, and reassembling it on the Washington Mall. When the competition is complete, the home will be disassembled again and shipped back to the college, where it will be permanently installed to house four environmental studies students. For news about the competition, go to http://solardecathlon.middlebury.edu.

Acorn Energy Co-op members wish the Solar Decathlon Team all the best in their competition!

Pellet Prices Increased Slightly;

Another Increase May be on the Way

As mentioned in our last newsletter, we anticipated a price increase from our pellet supplier, Vermont Wood Pellet of North Clarendon and it occurred effective June 1st.

Our cost of pellets increased by $5 per ton. We are reluctantly passing that price along to our customers.

Effective immediately, per ton prices for members, including delivery in Addison and Rutland counties, are as low as $264 per ton: 

• 2 tons -- $274

• 3-4 tons -- $269

• 5 or more tons -- $264

One of the Bulk Pellet Containers Successfully Used in Our Test

In previous issues of this newsletter we told you about the progress we made in evaluating various bulk pellet storage options for the home. We found that there are a number of storage strategies that can work in most home configurations.

Additionally, we were not satisfied with the bulk delivery part of the program, so we are seeking a better and more streamlined method that doesn't add to the cost. This has proven to be a challenge.

Our ongoing search involves asking several Vermont companies for proposals to serve our bulk pellet-using members. Stay tuned.

The Acorn Energy Co-op is looking for sponsors for its upcoming 2011-2012 Energy Education Programming that will resume this fall. Sponsorships are available at several levels:

• Series ($1,000),
• Program ($500),
• Contributing ($250),
• Additional ($125) Sponsors and
• Enhanced Directory Listings ($50).

Benefits of Sponsorships include extensive exposure to energy-wise potential customers and clients, and industry recognition. Contact Elizabeth Golden-Pidgeon at elizabethgolden@shoreham.net for more information about how you or your company can help bring informative renewable energy and efficiency programming to Addison County.