Fairfield Energy Task Force to Promote Solar Energy Workshop

On Thursday, September 18, from 7 to 8:30 pm, the Fairfield Clean Energy Task Force will host a workshop to promote the Fairfield Energy Challenge. The Fairfield Energy Challenge is a community energy efficiency program supported by the Town, United Illuminating, Energize Connecticut, the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA, the State of Connecticut’s “Green Bank”) and Live Green Connecticut! in celebration of Fairfield’s 375th anniversary.

The workshop will be held at the Board of Education’s 2^nd floor Conference Room from 7:00pm – 8:30pm. The conference room is located at 501 Kings Highway East in Fairfield. Workshop participants will learn about the benefits and options for residential solar energy from the Town and Astrum Solar, the Town’s solar installer partner. Homeowners will also learn about Home Energy Assessments to improve their home’s efficiency for maximum savings.

The Fairfield Energy Challenge has a goal of 375 new residential home energy audits and the installation of 100 new home solar electricity systems in 2014. Today, about 10% of Fairfield’s homes have had an energy audit – one of the highest percentages in the state – but many more homes could still get enormous benefits from an audit. The assessments yields an immediate payback in energy savings due to the work done by the auditor on-site, and the savings continue over time. The assessor will provide a detailed blueprint for further energy efficiency upgrades and savings.

Two years ago, over 60 Fairfield homeowners “went solar” during the Fairfield Solarize CT program bringing the total number of solar installations in Fairfield to over 100. Fairfield still has much more solar potential and right now, a combination of low solar group prices and generous incentives makes “going solar” a surprisingly low-risk, profitable, and affordable investment. For homeowners, these incentives include a 30% federal tax credit, and a state rebate of up to $10,000 depending on system size and site quality. Residential systems with good sunlight should see annual rates of return in excess of 15% and payback periods in the five to seven-year range for a system that will last 25 years or more. There is also a $0 up-front lease option, which has immediate positive cash flow. The first 20 customers who sign up for solar will receive an additional $500 discount. Go to go.astrumsolar.com/Fairfield for more information and to sign up for a free site evaluation.

For more information on the Fairfield Energy Challenge, please contact the Clean Energy Task Force at fairfieldcleanenergy@gmail.com or 203-912-0211.

For interested parties who cannot attend the September 18^th workshop, there will be additional Fairfield Energy Challenge outreach events to be announced in the near future or again contact www.Fairfieldcleanenergy.com.