Apr 6 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Katelyn Harding Eagle Times, Claremont, N.H.


Energy efficient homes are now for sale in Proctorsville, after being researched, studied and winning the "Best of the Best Award" from Efficiency Vermont for energy efficient single-family homes.

The study was conducted by Andy Shapiro, an energy consultant. It tested the "cost of owning and operating the new efficient affordable housing as compared to owning and operating a regular home."

"We did energy modeling of the energy use of new homes," Shapiro said. "As part of the rating system, we predicted annual fuel usage -- it was a way to help give people numbers to pay a little bit more for an efficient house instead of an inefficient one."

The Proctorsville Green Housing project was spearheaded by the Vermont Housing Conservation Board, the Vermont Housing Finance Agency and the Rockingham Area Community Land Trust in Springfield. The project was completed last February, and the study was done last fall.

From the study, the project found energy savings of $200 per month, or $2,400 a year. The cost savings over the 30-life mortgage, when calculated at constant rates and not accounting for inflation is $72,000. When calculating a 4 percent annual inflation of fuel costs, the savings over 30 years is roughly $340,000.

The Proctorsville Green Townhouses, which were compared to a "typical house" of 1,450 square feet, are priced at $80,000.

"What they do is a blower door test, and they see how much the building lets in outside air, and they make calculations on expected British thermal units, which is a measure of heat basically, so they now have an idea of how many BTUs it takes to heat it," Bruce Whitney, the homeownership center director from RACLT said.

"They know exactly how efficient the boiler is for heat and hot water, how much BTU it's going to need to heat it, what kind of ventilation system is in it, and they come up with a home energy rating index, and these units come out at 54. A typical home is somewhere around 120."

In 1982, a fire left the project site with a burned out mill, but according to Richard Svec, Cavendish town manager, "the town was able to create green space, a historic farmhouse converted for elder housing, family housing, commercial space, this is really a considerable accomplishment for a village our size."

The Proctorsville Green Housing project consists of the rehabbed Pollard Block, two new units of rental housing and four new condominiums built on land donated by the Town of Cavendish, according to a RACLT fact sheet.

"The Pollard Block houses eight apartments and two commercial spaces. Each apartment has been completely renovated, adding both functional living spaces and energy efficiency improvements," according to the release.

"We're a nonprofit housing developer, and our mission is to maximize housing opportunities for people in Southeastern Vermont. We're always looking for new opportunities to be providing affordable housing," Whitney said. "Our programs are open to people with moderate incomes -- many Vermonters are struggling to afford rental and for-purchase."

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