Local Home Owners Finding Affordable Alternative Energy Options

Chester, VT.- As another winter season approaches and the prices of heating your home continue to rise, people are looking for alternative energy options more than ever. Today, there are so many choices available to home owners including oil, electric, propane, coal, natural gas, dry hardwood, wood pellets and solar heating. So, what is the best way to heat your home these days? Can you save money, be fuel-efficient and even help improve the environment?

What makes the most sense will depend on a number of factors including your present system, the level of cost to you, convenience as well as environmental concerns. Your particular balance point may vary, according to all these factors, plus the pricing and fuel options available in your area.

Recently, Chester residents Bruce and Kathy Parks recently took the plunge, taking on the task of finding the best way to heat their home. "It really started back in April with the recognition that heating oil prices are simply rising out-of-sight," Bruce Parks said in a recent interview. "Then, after doing a little research, my wife and I decided to have a complete energy audit done on our home, to figure out what the best option might be."

The energy audit provided a comprehensive analysis, complete with infrared photos, of the Parks' home and a list of recommendations to help make their heating more affordable and efficient. "With the results of the audit, solar water heating was recommended to take advantage of the southerly exposure of our house. We also learned that our boiler was near the end of its life, therefore, a wood pellet-furnace-boiler combination was our best option."

After researching pellet-burning systems, as well as local energy companies which could install and service them, the Parks chose a Pellergy wood pellet burner system, along with HB Energy Solutions in Springfield to install and service the project. "We love the fact that the Pellergy system is built locally in Vermont , and that wood pellets are carbon neutral," Parks said. The Pellergy company is based in Barre.

"For us, HB Energy was also the obvious choice for installation and service because not only are they authorized Pellergy installers, but are also local and can provide all the follow-up and services we will need moving forward."

The completion of the project only took a few weeks, including the installation of three solar panels, installing the new solar hot water tank and connecting it to the existing system, building and installing the pellet storage bin, installing the new boiler and burner, then connecting the solar hot water and pellet burner systems which work in tandem. An Oil burner attachment for the boiler is also available for use if backup is needed.

HB Energy Solutions also helps their customers in providing certificates and assisting in filing for energy rebates and tax credits, including Efficiency Vermont rebates and federal tax credits. "Other than building the platform which holds the solar panels, HB Energy completed every aspect of the installation, right down to the necessary upgrading of our piping," Parks added.

"From pellets, oil for a backup source and propane for cooking, to the installation, follow-up, any electrical and plumbing needed and customer service, HB Energy is truly a one-stop-shop for our energy project and fulfilled all expectations."