Green Blocks
Green Blocks Update April, 2011
At this point, all Green Blocks Pilot Project spots are full. While there is no room left in Green Blocks, there is still an opportunity to save energy and money in your home with NorthWestern Energy's Efficiency Plus audit and rebate program. To inquire about
Efficiency Plus, please call 800-823-5995. Thanks again for your interest in Green Blocks.
The City of Missoula and NorthWestern Energy are teaming up on an exciting project this summer called the Green Blocks Pilot Project. It aims to:
- Demonstrate home energy savings and bring significant energy-saving home improvements to residents in 300 Missoula homes free of charge to participating homeowners
- Bring neighbors together and build community
- Encourage the green economy and create jobs
The Green Blocks Pilot Project consists of two programs that work in tandem:
- Green Blocks Pilot Project Core
- Conservation Side Orders
Background Information
The
Green Blocks Pilot Project Corebegins with professional energy audits performed by NorthWestern Energy’s contractor on residences in two-block areas in Missoula. Following the audits, Northwestern will install, where needed, a number of energy-saving items, such as weather-stripping for exterior doors, foam gap sealants, programmable thermostats, hot water tank insulation and low-flow water savers. Insulation may also be installed or increased. In the 2008 pilot project, Green Blocks homes received an average of $1,500 in energy efficiency upgrades for participating.
To further focus utility savings, the City of Missoula has partnered with Mountain Water Company. As part of the Green Blocks Pilot Project Core, Mountain Water staff members will perform free water-wise home audits for participants and identify and install water-saving measures where needed.
In addition to the Green Blocks Pilot Project Core, this year’s project will include a companion City of Missoula program called
Green Blocks Conservation Side Orders. Side Orders was created to provide additional education and resources that enable households to further reduce energy consumption and live more sustainably.
Each Side Order "menu item" represents a partnership with a local business, non-profit or agency that specializes in one of the many aspects of energy conservation and sustainability. It packages diverse expertise, action-enabling discounts and special offerings exclusive to Green Blocks participants. The program is unique in that Green Blocks participants will shape their participation based on their interests and needs selected from our
Conservation Side Orders menu.
The Green Blocks Pilot Project began as a project of the Mayor's Advisory Group on Climate Change and Sustainability in 2008. The 2008 Pilot Project provided residential audits and conservation measures to 93 Missoula homes. This year's pilot project and increased scope is funded with money from the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) and continued partnership with Northwestern Energy.
Frequently Asked Questions