Chambersburg officials would like homeowners and landlords in town to convert inefficient oil furnaces or electric water heaters to natural gas.
Council on Monday approved a Gas Energy Efficiency Program and gave borough officials the go-ahead to seek money for the program from the Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia, supplier of the borough’s natural gas.
The program would provide interest-free loans of up to $5,000 to homeowners and landlords for the purchase and installation of high-efficiency gas equipment, according to John Leary, gas superintendent.
Leary said MGAG has up to $105,000 available for such programs in a revolving fund, but Chambersburg’s gas department probably wouldn’t get all of it. He estimated it could get $50,000 or more, and asked council to consider adding $100,000 in public money to the project.
The borough would get the money back as the loans are repaid, and the repayments could be used to help other property owners convert from oil to gas.
The 24-month loans would be at zero percent interest, but a $3 per month administrative fee would be added to the monthly payments. The payment amounts would be added to the property’s utility bill, making it easier for the borough to collect.
Leary said that a 12-month, $1,200 loan would add $103 a month to a utility bill, for instance. Only energy-efficient furnaces and water heaters would qualify for the program.
The money won’t go directly to the property owner, however. Instead, the borough will pay the contractor after he or she installs the furnace or water heater.
Leary said he anticipates offering the loans until at least the end of next year.
Meanwhile, the borough has issued a list of winter energy conservation tips to residents.
Those tips including turning down thermostats, installing a programmable thermostat, installing insulation to walls and ceilings, and “letting the sun shine in” by opening the drapes on sunny days.
When the sun isn’t shining, and on windows facing north, residents are advised to use insulated or heavy drapes and install thermal shutters.
A complete list of the conservation tips is available from the borough and will be included in the borough’s next set of utility bill mailings.
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