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Program Overview
Welcome to the Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC) multifamily weatherization application process. EOC will be administering grant funding for a number of organizations and agencies including the Colorado Governor's Energy Office Multifamily Weatherization Assistance Program, funded in part by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Department of Energy.
The purpose of this program is to improve the comfort, safety and energy efficiency of Colorado's low-income housing. You have been invited to complete an application for the 2011-2012 funding cycle.
This program overview will provide information necessary to decide if submitting a application is right for your property. If you believe you have eligible properties in need of weatherization work, please continue reading and indicate that you understand the program rules, expectations and benefits when prompted. Access to the application will be granted after you have reviewed the overview information.
Program Benefits to Participants and their Tenants
The purpose of this program is to increase the energy efficiency of dwellings owned or occupied by low-income persons, reduce their total residential expenditures, and improve their health and safety. Priority is given to those properties serving especially low-income persons who are particularly vulnerable such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, families with children, high residential energy users, and households with high energy burden.
This is an Investment in your property. Most multi-dwelling buildings have a huge potential for energy savings. Even buildings that were built in the 70s typically demonstrate considerable savings just from efficiency upgrades. Gas and electric prices are not getting any cheaper, energy consumption is not going down, and the equipment operating in your building is losing efficiency with each passing year. Your commitment of time and resources to participate in the program will be recovered through the capital improvements made, reduced utility and operation and maintenance costs, and increased tenant comfort and satisfaction.
PROGRAM PROCESS AND TIMELINE:
Please note that although a timeline has been provided below for the 2011-2012 program year, it is subject to modification. Federal or State policy revisions, process improvements, or other such occurrences may have an impact on the program's implementation. All applicants will be informed of any required changes. In addition, there may be minor flexibility of dates due to some projects proceeding more quickly or slowly than others.
January 17 ~ February 11, 2011
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SUBMIT APPLICATION AND RETAIN DOCUMENTATION
a. Read all of the information provided on this webpage. In order to access the online application, you must acknowledge that you have read and understand all program rules and requirements, and agree to full participation and compliance if selected for the program.
b. It is critical that all information provided in your application is complete and accurate. Inaccuracies, errors, or false information will/may disqualify your application. Once you submit your online application; maintain a file of all documents referenced and/or submitted with your application, as these will be examined if you are pre-selected as a potential candidate for the program. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Application period will close February 11 at 11:59pm
February 14 ~ April, 2011
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APPLICATION SCORING AND PRELIMINARY SELECTION
Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC) will review and provide a preliminary score for all applications based on each funder's criteria. EOC will select the highest-scoring projects for site visits and notify all applicants of their selection status. Projects that are not selected for the current funding cycle will remain in the application pool, and project data will be stored in the event that additional funds become available. If a project is not funded from any source by the time the next funding cycle opens, applicants will have the option to continue to update and resubmit their applications.
March ~ August, 2011
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SITE VISITS
Site visits will be conducted at the highest-scoring projects to visually verify and document the building condition, potential health and safety concerns, energy-saving potential, and any special considerations. Site visits will be scheduled based the funder's completion date. For example, centrally heated multifamily properties funded with federal weatherization monies will be visited in April, while individually heated properties will be visited in August. Properties funded with utility monies will be visited anytime between March and August 2011
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FINAL SELECTION
An independent committee of industry professionals will review and provide a final approval for all high scoring projects and select the awardees (clients). Projects not awarded at this stage will be considered for alternate funding or will remain in the queue in the event that additional funds become available.
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READ AND COMPLETE DOCUMENTATION AFTER FINAL SELECTION
a. Projects selected for funding will be invited to a website that will provide funder-specific program information, rules, sample contracts and forms, expectations and program benefits. After you receive an invitation, you will use your application login to access the information.
b. Gather required documentation to prepare for energy audits for funder data requirements.
April ~ September, 2011
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ENERGY AUDITS
a. Previous audits completed through other programs are not valid for this program. EOC will pay for full-scale Department of Energy-approved energy audits, or utility-approved audits and building modeling conducted on all awarded projects. These audits will produce a prioritized list of energy-efficiency measures (EEMs) that may be funded through the program, based on a database of cost estimates.
b. All EEMs must meet a cost-benefit ratio, meaning that the measures will recoup their installation cost through energy savings within the life of the measure. The prioritized list produced by the audit will determine, in order, which energy saving improvements should be installed based upon energy costs, installation cost, and savings over the life of that measure.
c. EOC will review the results of the audits with clients, discuss preliminary project budgets and potential cost-sharing requirements, and provide bid specifications for all EEMs on the prioritized list.
May ~ November, 2011
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PROCUREMENT
EOC will follow federal policy guidelines to procure weatherization services for federal weatherization services. EOC staff will work with the client to procure all necessary weatherization services.
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DETERMINE PROJECT SCOPE OF WORK
Energy audit data and cost-benefit ratios will determine what measures will be funded. EOC has no control or influence on the energy audit data or cost-benefit ratio outcomes.
May ~ December, 2011
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CONTRACTS
Upon agreement and funder approval of the final project scope and budget, clients will enter into contract with EOC.
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MANAGEMENT OF EEM INSTALLATIONS
a. Depending upon the funding requirements, EOC and/or the client will be responsible for scheduling, management and oversight of all vendors and subcontractors. EOC, GEO or DOE staff may visit the projects at any time to ensure work is progressing satisfactorily.
b. Lead-Safe Weatherization
- i. Compliance with EPA Lead-Safe Renovation, Repair and Painting rules are required for all project buildings constructed pre-1978. A Certified Renovator must be utilized for any work that may disturb lead paint.
c. Health & Safety (H&S) issues:
- i. The cost of some H&S issues may be covered by the program; others may be covered at only 50% of cost. Dangerous conditions or conditions outside the scope of the program may trigger a "walk-away" situation
- ii. Any H&S repairs, whether funded by the program or not, must be addressed prior to weatherization work beginning.
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EEM INSTALLATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED BY December 1, 2011 or May 1, 2012 (depending upon funder requirements)
December 31, 2011 or June 30, 2012 (depending upon funder requirements)
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COMPLETION, INSPECTION, PAYMENT
a. Upon completion and successfully passing local code inspection (when applicable) of an individual EEM installation, EOC staff will perform a quality control inspection.
b. The State and/or Department of Energy also have the right to request access to units or buildings to conduct random quality and compliance inspections.
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EDUCATION
There are 3 components of energy education required as part of the program:
- i. Tenant education
- ii. Client staff education
- iii. Vendor/Subcontractor education
EOC is working to develop educational programs and materials for each of these audiences. Participation in these programs is required, and may include attending workshops and/or webinars, on-site training, distribution of materials, etc.
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