Home weatherization

The PUD's home weatherization program provides financial incentives, quality assurance and technical assistance to customers who heat with electricity. If you primary fuel source is something other than electricity, please see this list of other weatherization resources.

• Low-Income Weatherization
• Step by step procedure
• Rebates
• Low-interest Loans
• Download program info in PDF format
  
• For more information

Weatherizing your home improves your comfort level, lowers your winter heating costs, and protects the environment by using less energy.

Working with Columbia River PUD to weatherize your home is a simple process, and you get the benefit of our knowledge and resources to help you with your project, as well as financial incentives.

The first step is to call our Energy Experts at 503-366-5470 and schedule a free energy analysis. We will visit your home and recommend what improvements you might make. These might include insulating in your attic, floor or exterior walls, adding weather stripping around doors and windows, wrapping hot water pipes and furnace ductwork, or adding appropriate ventilation to your home. Best of all, we can help you finance your project. You can earn a rebate from the PUD and finance your project through the Community Partners Loan Program.

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Step by step procedure

1. Request a free home energy analysis from Columbia River PUD. This analysis must be completed by the PUD before any measures are installed.
2. The PUD will schedule an appointment for the energy analysis, inspect your home and identify energy-saving opportunities. You must be present for this analysis. Please allow 30-60 minutes for a thorough inspection.
3. The PUD will provide a list of weatherization improvements that could be made to your home and the estimated incentives that could result. The PUD will provide names of approved weatherization installers offering services in the local area.
4. If this will be a “Do-It-Yourself”* project, you should now assemble costs for materials. Otherwise, you will need to request bids from weatherization installers for the recommended weatherization opportunities*. We advise that you obtain two or three bids if possible.
5. If you plan to finance your project with a loan, you should request loan approval from the credit union. This step normally takes less than two working days. The credit union will not process your loan application without prior approval from the PUD.
6. Authorize the weatherization installer to do the job or complete the work yourself.
7. Notify the PUD when the work has been completed and provide a copy of your statement/invoice identifying the completed work or receipts showing your materials costs, if it is a “Do-it-Yourself” job.
8. The PUD will perform a final quality assurance inspection.
9. Upon completion of a satisfactory final inspection, we will provide rebate funds to you. If loan funds are due to the installer, they will be paid via a two-party check from the credit union. Rebates under $100 will be applied as a credit to the your electric account. For rebates of $100 or greater, you may choose to either apply the amount to your electric account or receive a check for it.

* If work is completed by an unlicensed contractor, the job will be considered “Do It Yourself” and loans or rebates from the PUD will apply to materials costs only.

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Rebates

Rebates are available for a variety of measures. Rebate amounts cannot exceed 50% of the total project cost and can be combined with a 6% loan, as described below.

Upgrade insulation in walls, floors, attics and ceilings

• The rebate amount is calculated using the increase in the “R-Value” and the square footage of the area to be insulated.

Insulate slab edge

• $5 per linear foot

Insulate furnace ducts

• 50% of the project cost up to $200

Air-seal furnace ducts

• 50% of the project cost up to $300

Replacement windows -

•  $3.50 per square foot of window area being replaced.  Replacement windows must have a U-value of 0.30 or less.
  Sliding glass doors and french doors must have a U-value of 0.35 or less.

Doors -

• $75 on the purchase of qualified new doors
• $25 for weatherstripping around existing doors

Low-Interest Loans

Projects with a “net” cost (total cost minus all rebate amounts) of more than $500 are eligible for a low-interest loan. Loans for “Do-it-Yourself” projects cover the cost of materials only. Loans for projects that are completed by a licensed and bonded contractor cover labor and materials. Loans are processed through St. Helens Community Federal Credit Union; approval typically takes two to three business days.

• 6% interest
• $500 minimum loan amount
• 12 to 84 month term
• Maximum loan amount based on credit history

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For more information on weatherizing your home, visit these sites:

• The Home Energy Saver
• The Oregon Office of Energy
• EREN Consumer Energy Information
• Simply Insulate

For more information about the PUD's weatherization program, contact our Energy Experts at 503-366-5470 or visit our office in Deer Island.

Columbia River PUD
Energy Experts
PO Box 1193, St. Helens, OR 97051
64001 Columbia River Hwy, Deer Island, OR 97054
(503) 366-5470 phone
experts@crpud.org email

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