TVA & CSG

The Gorilla is in the room and will be noticed pretty soon. Conservation Services Group, the TVA subcontractor responsible for their home energy conservation program, is in launch mode here in East TN. Currently hiring energy advisers (yes I will be one) to run the program here. CSG has a system in place to help homeowners save a buck on utility bills. Here's how it will work: Power Distributors (KUB, LCUB, etc.) will stuff billing envelopes announcing $150 home energy audits. Once complete the home owner will get a visit from a CSG rep who will recommend improvements utilizing CSG approved contractors. If the homeowner spends $1000 the program will refund the $150 audit fee and rebate $500 of the $1000. Also, a CSG rater will return to the home to approve the work done. Obviously most homes will need more than $1k of improvements but it is a good start. This is not a performance test, no blower door, yet. The CSG goal is to get to the Home Performance with Energy Star level of home analysis. This is a good idea given a couple of things yet to be determined. The current state of affairs with BPI and RESNET seems to be unraveling as Energy Star and RESNET are preparing their own set of combustion appliance standards thus rendering BPI less than effective on their own. Energy Star is also in the process of changing their standards so it all becomes something of a moving target for those of us trying to get residential housing on a sound path towards conservation.

Hopefully the raters involved will be conscientious and the work we be done right as there is going to be little chance to get back in the home once we're done, like, how many times do you want the cable guy around?