Tours of Energy Efficient Homes
(Postponed due to pandemic.)
Some homes on the tours include a passive home, straw bale home, and older retrofits from 1950s and 1970s.
Summary of most effective steps to retrofit an older home:
- Conserve energy with thermal barriers under deep insulation
- Upgrade windows (including storm windows), seal leaks in envelope
- Install heat pumps to heat/cool, to heat water, and to dry clothes
- Install solar PV panels or other renewable energy source
- Install other energy efficient appliances such as an induction cooktop
Downloadable Information about Home Retrofits
- Energy Retrofit of Older Home
- Passive House with cutting edge features (pictures)
- Energy trust programs
- Manufactured Home contacts for upgrades
- What can you do about climate change?
Local Organizations That May Help Lower Income Households Reduce Retrofitting and Home Repair Costs
- Energy Trust Incentives and Rebates
- Benton Habitat for Humanity
- Community Services Consortium
- Seeds for the Sol — helps lower income households install solar PV
- Corvallis Environmental Center –installs free LED lightbulbs for Pacific Power customers
- City of Corvallis — loan program for home repairs, repayable at sale of home
Informative Articles
Electrify Everything: How to quickly switch from fossil fuels to renewables