INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — An agency that has recently moved into Indian River County is seeking contractors to install energy efficient upgrades for local homeowners.
Central Window in Vero Beach and Cardinal Points Construction in Sebastian are two such companies that have shown interest in becoming an approved contractor to do the work for low- to moderate-income families who qualify for loans to make the improvements.
Wendy Labadie, a controller at Central Window, attended a meeting about the Solar Energy Loan Fund or SELF program, which focuses on all forms of energy efficiency, not just solar.
“It sounds like a very organized program,” Labadie said.
Her company has applied to be on SELF’s short list of approved contractors but has not yet been approved, she said. They are going through the vetting process.
Doug Coward, SELF’s executive director, said the organization is reaching out to area businesses, explaining the program and making sure that the businesses understand what it’s all about.
SELF wants to ensure that businesses it partners with are properly licensed and insured and have a good track record in the community, Coward said.
“We’re just doing our due diligence,” he said.
Once they’ve made it through the application process and have been vetted, Coward said the companies can take part in shared marketing and receive support.
Gisela Lahann, project manager at Cardinal Points Construction, was among the 17 businesses represented at the recent meeting SELF held at the North County Library.
“It was extremely interesting,” Lahann said, adding that such a service, she feels, is needed in the community.
Given that the loans are uncollateralized, the program reaches those who might not otherwise have a way to make energy upgrades to their homes.
Such improvements could mean new windows and doors, solar powered water heaters, new heating and cooling systems, and the like.
“I’ve been hoping for a program like this for some time,” Lahann said.
Coward explained that homeowners who earn 80 percent or less of the county’s median income – approximately $50,000 – could qualify for assistance through SELF, “basically, working class people.”
SELF is a non-profit agency currently operating in St. Lucie County and is expanding into neighboring counties, including Indian River.
The agency provides energy audits, which help homeowners identify ways they can save on their energy bill. It also offers loans at 5-to-9 percent interest for energy efficiency improvements.
One requirement of the program is that the loan be structured in a way that the energy savings homeowners realize cover the loan payments.
Once the loan is paid off, in an estimated couple years, homeowners then can pocket the energy savings.
Currently, the agency is focusing most of its efforts on northern Indian River County residents because that is where the most need is.
For Central Window’s Wendy Labadie, SELF will make it easier for homeowners to fully realize their energy savings. Often people will upgrade their appliances – swapping out old appliances for new, she said, but that energy savings escapes through their windows or doors, items people frequently forget about.
“They’re sinking their money into nothing,” she said.
SELF will officially get started in Indian River County on Feb. 1, opening its office within the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce on US 1.
Chamber Executive Director Beth Mitchell said it was a natural fit, offering office space to SELF.
“We want to connect” Chamber business members with potential partners, Mitchell said, adding, “It’s a direct benefit for them.”
She sees the program as being another tool “in our economic development kit” by way of generating new customers for existing businesses and possibly as a way to attract to light manufacturing industry to the county as demand for energy efficient products increases.