Projects : : Weatherizing Maine�s Homes

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Projects : Weatherizing Maine�s Homes

Frigid winters and warm summers drain energy and money from homes. Climate Focus and Lee International are helping the U.S. State of Maine use the carbon markets to finance the weatherization of low-income housing -- the first such project in the US. They recently received VCS approval of the new methodology - the first VCS methodology to cover energy efficiency measures in buildings.

Opportunities for energy efficiency are often missed because of a lack of funds and technical knowledge. In our work with the Maine State Housing Authority, Climate Focus applied its technical and carbon market expertise to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25% and reduce household energy bills at the same time. By accessing carbon finance with voluntary carbon credits, the Housing Authority can expand its weatherization program for low-income homes.

Climate Focus and US-based consultant Lee International were hired by the Maine Housing Agency to develop a methodology suitable for single and multifamily building weatherization under the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS), and intended for eventual acceptance in a US compliance market.

The methodology passed the VCS Double Approval process and received the VCS approval on 7 December 2010. It has been officially published on the VCS website for public use. The methodology is the first VCS methodology to cover energy efficiency measures in residential buildings and apartments. The Methodology uses the innovative Performance Standard approach to prove additionality of prospective projects besides conventional additionality approaches.

The Project is supported by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJ HMFA), the Ford Foundation and ARRA funds through the US Department of Energy (DOE). The Maine Housing Authority plans to replicate this project model in other US states through close connections with other housing authorities.

You can find more information about our work on the Climate Focus website under related services (Project Design), sectors (Building and Energy Efficiency) and focus areas (Voluntary Market).

Click here to watch the video of Chevrolet's Carbon Initiative Program featuring the Maine housing weatherization project.