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