LINDA GONNET, GAZETTE CONTRIBUTOR
Have you ever thought of completing energy efficient retrofits to your home? Did you wonder how you would ever be able to finance them?
In March of this year, the Fort Macleod Environment Committee hosted Stephanie Ripley, former resident of Fort Macleod, who is now the project manager for Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP).
Ripley explained the program to about 15 people, including Mayor Brent Feyter, Coun. Christina Fox, Coun. Jim Monteith and Coun. Aaron Poytress.
CEIP is a financing tool which helps home owners to finance energy efficient improvements to their home.
The improvements might include energy efficient furnaces, hot water heaters, windows, insulation or solar panels as only a few possibilities.
Improvements such as these help reduce a home owner’s yearly costs as well as increase the value of a property.
These low interest loans made available, through the use of Town of Fort Macleod reserves, are tied to the property, not the owner. The loan is repaid through the tax roll.
In other words, your monthly tax bill would reflect the loan repayment amount.
If a property is sold prior to the full amount of the loan being repaid, the remaining amount owed stays attached to the specific property. Buyers and sellers would negotiate the details.
Along with benefits to the home owner who would reduce their carbon footprint, the community as a whole benefits.
Increased business opportunities for those in construction, plumbing or heating would naturally spin off.
A vibrant small business environment in turn, creates increased employment opportunities which in turn, creates a satisfying life experience for each of us within our community.
At present, the Town and MD of Pincher Creek are jointly implementing the CEIP program, giving both town and rural residents opportunities to improve their home’s energy efficiency.
The Town of Stirling is also implementing the program as well as the City of Lethbridge.
CEIP is provincially regulated through the Alberta Municipal Services Corporation (AMSC). AMSC works to fulfill the functions outlined in legislation and assists with the administration and set up of the program to reflect the interests of each community.
To learn more about the Clean Energy Improvement Program go to their Web site at https://ceip.abmunis.ca/residential.
The Fort Macleod Environment Committee is a volunteer committee with one council member representing the town.
The committee is mandated to build awareness of environmental opportunities and to make recommendations to town council.
We believe this program could be a great benefit to home owners of Fort Macleod and would like to strongly recommend it to town council.
In order to do this we need to gage the level of interest residents of Fort Macleod have in engaging in CEIP.
A survey will be circulated later this summer. We will also have an information booth at Market on Main during the last week of July.
Please participate in the survey. It will be available on-line. Let us know if you would be interested in pursuing this program.
If you have any questions or concerns or experiences you would like to share, please contact the Fort Macleod Environment Committee via the Town Office at 403-553-4425.
