Yalesville, Connecticut (October 5, 2018) — Growing popularity in a Wallingford Electric Division (WED) energy efficiency program places Wallingford as one of the leading municipalities in achieving a statewide goal of weatherizing 80% of Connecticut’s residential units by 2030.
To date, more than one in three Wallingford households have participated in the WED Home Energy Savings Program. The no-cost program offers a thorough energy-use audit and installation of valuable energy-saving products and services.
“One of the benefits of being a Wallingford Electric Division customer is that we continue to offer the Home Energy Savings Program to our residents for free,” said Walter Szymanski, WED Energy Efficiency & Conservation Specialist. “Wallingford is committed to helping our residents control their energy use. The Home Energy Savings Program is also good for the environment. Every participant who improves their energy efficiency lowers their carbon footprint.”
In Wallingford, 6,151 households have received energy efficiency evaluations since the WED Home Energy Savings Program began in 2010. Among Connecticut towns with 8,500 households or more, Wallingford has the highest participation rate in utility-sponsored home weatherization programs, 32.7 percent, according to the 2017 Programs and Operations Report of the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Board (CEEB).
In 2018, an additional 542 households participated in the WED Home Energy Savings Program, bringing total participation across the town to 35.8 percent.
The Home Energy Savings Program is managed by CMC Energy Services, a premier woman-owned company that offers energy efficiency and clean energy services for residents throughout Connecticut as well as for communities across the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. In August, the Town of Wallingford extended the CMC Energy Services contract through 2021.
CMC Energy Services’ trained energy efficiency professionals determine the amount of warm air that can escape during colder days and evaluates the quality of attic insulation. Based on their findings, energy advisors implement energy efficiency services to improve resident comfort, avoid unnecessary energy use, and lessen each home’s environmental footprint.
During the evaluation, energy advisors install up to 25 LED light bulbs, replace shower heads and faucet aerators with water-saving alternatives, and seal air gaps discovered within ventilation ducts, door openings and windows. In addition, WED provides attic insulation rebates as an upgrade option, covering up to 50 percent of the cost.
“While I knew that our 1965 house was bad with keeping heat in, I was taken by surprise by what areas of the house the CMC energy advisors found to be pulling in the most air,” said Shamila Zubairi, a Wallingford resident. “And they changed out energy saving lights all around the house.”
After participating in the Home Energy Savings Program, Zubairi’s household has saved more than 2,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity, amounting to an estimated $225 in avoided costs every year.
“CMC Energy Services is proud to continue providing quality service to Wallingford residents to help make their homes more energy efficient,” said Joe Roy, CMC Energy Services Connecticut Branch Manager. “Through our partnership with The Wallingford Electric Division, together we can make Wallingford the most energy-efficient town in Connecticut.”
WED energy efficiency programs result in over 5 million kWh in avoided annual electricity use, saving customers $555,800 per year. The environmental impact of these efforts include reducing 8,343 tons of carbon dioxide, 4.7 tons of nitrogen oxide and 7.5 tons of sulfur oxide emissions.
About CMC Energy Services
CMC Energy Services’ mission is to promote energy efficiency nationwide. Its programs provide broad economic, energy, environmental, public health and employment benefits on a national level. It is our goal to see regulators, energy providers, and companies such as ours work together to deliver these results.
For more information, visit www.cmcenergy.com/ct.
About Wallingford Electric Division (WED)
The Wallingford Electric Division (WED) is a municipal electric utility (MEU) that serves approximately 25,000 residential and commercial customers in the town of Wallingford and the Northford section of North Branford. The energy efficiency efforts of WED have helped our customers to lower their energy costs and reduce energy use, as well as positively impact our natural environment by saving precious natural resources and cutting down on pollution.
For more information, visit www.town.wallingford.ct.us.