Mission, Vision, Objectives of 

Home Energy Task Force

The Problem for the Home Energy Task Force to Address

Home energy efficiency in Hamilton Park is often fairly low since most homes are older. Hence, they emit more greenhouse gases.  Efficiency problems for older homes include the leaky house itself as well as the less efficient, older mechanical devices.

Vision of the Home Energy Task Force (What the final result will look like?)

The vision is for Hamilton Park homeowners to significantly reduce greenhouse gases generated through:

• installation of higher efficiency devices (HVAC, refrigerators, …), 

• smarter and more frugal home energy usage given current constraints, 

• improved insulation for the home, 

• landscaping and plantings that improves the heating and cooling capabilities.

Mission of the Home Energy Task Force (What are we going to do? And for whom?)

The mission is to encourage Hamilton Park homeowners to reduce their home energy usage.  This involves:

• Showing the community the need and the benefits of making changes,

• Easing household’s move toward energy efficiency by providing: 

  • Clear information about energy alternatives,

  • Local peers as models for improving one’s energy usage,

  • Simplified pathways to follow to make decisions clearer and transitions easier

Objectives of the Home Energy Task Force (measurable steps to meet the goal)

The Task Force will:

• Perform research to create a list of energy improvements for homeowners.

• List the benefits of each of these improvements.

• List the hurdles homeowners find in choosing each of these improvements.

• Create pathways for walking homeowners through their decision-making.  For each item in the list of energy improvements, the task force will build (or reference others’) pathways toward making a change.  For example, a pathway toward replacing a furnace with a heat pump might include:

  • Pros and cons of getting a heat pump (and alternatives to a heat pump)

  • Local persons (not experts) who have been through the process

  • Several models readily available with their simplified spec sheet, expected pricing, payback period

  • Local vendors who sell and install these models (and their “Yelp” rating).

• Create ways to interact with the neighborhood to market our ideas.