Frequently Asked Questions

RePower Bainbridge is a community-wide effort dedicated to helping you save energy, reduce costs, make your home more comfortable and create a more sustainable Island. RePower Bainbridge provides energy assessments, energy-efficiency financing, cash-back incentives, and a local, skilled workforce to help Islanders achieve increased comfort and energy savings in their homes and businesses through quick, easy and affordable energy-efficiency improvements.

Through RePower Bainbridge, you’ll access:

• Easy to understand information
  You’ll receive a list of no-cost and low-cost tips to help you save on your energy costs, reduce the amount of energy you use and increase comfort in your home.
• Cash-back incentives, tax credits and financing for energy-efficiency improvements
  Financing makes your energy-efficiency improvements more affordable; available cash-back incentives and tax credits help offset the cost and puts money back in your pocket. It’s like getting paid to do the right thing.
• Local, skilled workforce
  Our network of contractors is licensed, bonded and insured and specially trained to provide the best in energy-efficiency services and information.

In July 2010, the City of Bainbridge received a BetterBuildings award from the U.S. Department of Energy, and funded by the American Recovery Reinvestment Act. The City of Bainbridge Island was one of 20 communities in the United States selected to receive funding for energy efficiency. With this award, the City and key partners have come together to implement the RePower Bainbridge Program.

RePower Bainbridge Partners include City of Bainbridge Island, Puget Sound Energy, Conservation Services Group, Better Buildings Program U.S. Department of Energy, Positive Energy, Sierra Club, Kitsap Credit Union, Worksource Kitsap, Olympic Community College, Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce, Sustainable Business Network, Earth Advantage Institute, and Washington State Department of Commerce.

It’s easy. Call 1.877.741.4340 to speak with a RePower Bainbridge Customer Service Representative and schedule an assessment for your home.

RePower Bainbridge helps single-family residences—with one to four units—of any size or income. If you rent a unit in a multifamily apartment complex and want to save money on your energy bills, Puget Sound Energy can help. Contact a PSE Energy Advisor at 1.800.562.1482, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also use the no-cost, low-cost solutions featured on our website.

Kitsap Community Resources runs the local Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)— a separate program from RePower Bainbridge —which pays for weatherization improvements in low-income households using federal, state, and utility grant dollars. To qualify, your household income must be up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Contact Kitsap Community Resources at 360.377.0053 or visit their website for more information.

RePower Bainbridge can help you greatly increase the energy efficiency of your home and:

• Save money (weatherization can reduce energy costs by up to 30 percent)
• Make your home more comfortable, healthy and safe
• Increase the value of your home
• Reduce our dependence on fossil fuels
• Create green jobs and boost our local economy
• Become part of the solution for more reliable, affordable clean energy

Energy efficiency refers to technologies, processes and equipment that allow us to do the same activities (or more) with less energy. It means getting better use out of the energy we consume. This can range from installing better insulation to buying ENERGY STAR® appliances or using a programmable thermostat. Efficiency differs from conservation, which refers to behavior changes that reduce energy consumption; both are important actions in creating a more sustainable, clean energy community.

Repower Bainbridge helps Islanders achieve increased comfort and energy savings in their homes through quick, easy and affordable energy-efficiency investments. Lowering your energy consumption has a direct effect on your utility costs. Cash-back incentives and tax credits help offset out-of-pocket costs. Plus, your home will be healthier and safer due to improved air quality.

Energy-efficient homes are also more attractive to potential home buyers and often sell at a higher value than less-efficient homes.

A certified energy advisor will visit your home to conduct a no-cost, 90-minute, visual assessment to identify typical areas of energy loss, such as insulation, your heating and cooling system, gaps and cracks throughout your home, and inefficient equipment. You’ll receive a list of custom recommendations based on your home that includes no-cost and low-cost upgrades, available cash incentives, information on long-term energy-saving solutions and a list of local, skilled contractors to do the recommended work.

You will also receive items to help you make immediate changes to the way you use (and the amount you pay) for energy:

• Up to 25 compact fluorescent light bulbs that use up to 75 percent less energy than standard light bulbs and last up to 10 times longer (based on household behavior), installed by your energy advisor
• Two high-performance showerheads that use up to 20 percent less water and help save on water heating costs—without reducing water pressure

Please note: The length of your FREE Home Energy Check-Up may vary, depending on the size of your home.

A Home Energy Assessment with EPS performed by a Kitsap County approved Building Performance Institute (BPI)-certified contractor. Homeowners receive an Energy Performance Score (EPS)—a detailed energy-consumption report similar to a miles-per-gallon report for your home—which documents your home’s current condition, including energy use and carbon footprint (compared to similar-sized homes in your neighborhood). Your EPS report also provides recommended improvements and a comparison of current energy costs to what you could pay after energy-saving improvements are installed. Your EPS report will be emailed to you within three weeks of your assessment. Home Energy Assessments with EPS start at $496 and are based on the size of your home. Kitsap County offers a limited time, instant $450 rebate to offset the cost of your Home Energy Assessment with EPS. See a sample EPS report.

You’ll also receive a list of RePower trade allies to install energy-efficiency improvements. Make the recommended improvements and benefit from:

• Increased comfort, health and safety—experience better distribution of the heated or cooled air throughout your home. You’ll experience year-round comfort—no more bundling up indoors to keep warm. Your contractor will check for proper ventilation and check for other potentially hazardous issues to keep pollutants out and ensure better, healthier indoor air quality.
• Custom Energy Performance Score (EPS)—a home-energy rating system (similar to the miles per gallon rating for cars) detailing how your home’s energy use and carbon footprint compare to other homes in your neighborhood and around Bainbridge Island. Learn more about EPS.
• Long-term investment value—The changes you make to your home can also make it more attractive on the real estate market. Energy-efficient homes are more attractive to potential buyers. Highly-visible improvements such as energy-efficient windows also improve curb appeal.
• High-quality work—Your contractor must be BPI-certified, meaning that he or she is skilled and trained to offer the very best energy-efficiency service. Consider your contractor as a resource for all of your questions and a solution to your home’s efficiency needs.

Call 1.877.741.4340 to speak with a RePower Bainbridge Customer Service Representative and schedule a home energy assessment that best suits your needs.

The reason to invest in a Home Energy Assessment with EPS is simple: it’s an in-depth analysis of your home to ensure all of its components work together, as part of a greater system, at peak performance. When all components work together effectively and efficiently, you’ll reap the benefits of a more comfortable, healthy and safe home. A Home Energy Assessment with EPS typically lasts three to four hours (depending on the size of your home) and is performed by a participating Building Performance Institute (BPI)-certified technician who completes the following in-depth, diagnostic testing to fully assess your home:

• Interior and exterior inspection—Your contractor will thoroughly assess your home for moisture problems, air leaks, windows and proper ventilation. Tested areas include your attic, crawlspace and/or basement.
• Insulation inspection—Ensure insulation levels are adequate (levels may decrease naturally over time) to provide effective comfort and help reduce pollutants and odors from entering your home.
• Combustion safety—Your contractor may test for efficiency and any natural gas leaks or gaseous toxin levels.
• Blower Door test—A fan-like device attached to your door measures the volume of air leaking from your home and helps identify air leaks.
• Duct Blaster test—Another method to measure the volume of air leaking through your ductwork Please note: your contractor may not perform all of these tests based on the individual components of your home.
• See a sample EPS report

Please note: Your contractor may not perform all of these tests based on the individual components of your home. Also, the length of your assessment may vary, depending on the size of your home.

Yes! During your FREE Home Energy Check-Up or Home Energy Assessment with EPS, you’ll receive a comprehensive list of quick fixes and low-cost upgrades along with custom information on long-term solutions to your energy-efficiency concerns. You’ll also receive compact fluorescent light bulbs and high-performance showerheads* that help you save energy (and money) instantly.

*High-performance showerheads only available during your FREE Home Energy Check-Up

As the name suggests, FREE Home Energy Check-Ups are offered at no charge to the homeowner.

The cost of a Home Energy Assessment with EPS is based on the size of your home and starts at $496. Kitsap County offers a limited time, instant $450 rebate to offset the cost of your Home Energy Assessment with EPS.

Air Sealing and Duct Sealing: Air leaks allow conditioned air to escape, forcing your heating and cooling equipment to work overtime. Sealing gaps and cracks in and around your home is the first step to dramatically improve energy efficiency.

Insulation: Insufficient, damaged, or poorly installed insulation reduces the effectiveness of heating and cooling equipment and can allow drafts to persist and pollutants to enter your home. Add attic, wall or floor insulation can improve a home’s energy performance.

Prioritized energy-efficiency recommendations may vary by home. Homeowners who are uncertain of the best way to lower their energy bills should consult an energy advisor or contractor for a tailored list of recommendations for their home.

Cash-back incentives are funds available through RePower Bainbridge and PSE and help offset your out-of-pocket cost when you make energy-efficiency upgrades in your home. Incentives are paid after the qualifying upgrades are made by your RePower trade ally.

Yes. The City of Bainbridge Island and Kitsap Credit Union have partnered together to create an Energy Efficiency Loan Program, making it easy for Island homeowners and businesses to make cost-saving improvements to help you save energy, increase the comfort, health and safety of your home and protect the environment. Financing is available for:

• Air Sealing and Duct Sealing
• Attic, wall, floor, duct, water heater and water pipe insulation
• Ventilation
• Heating and cooling systems
• Water heating systems
• Energy-efficient window and door replacement
• Energy-efficient lighting upgrades
• High-performance water fixtures
• ENERGY STAR® appliances
• Heat exchangers
• Renewable energy sources combined with energy-efficiency improvements

The City of Bainbridge Island and Kitsap Credit Union offer energy-efficiency financing to make your improvements to your home or business more affordable.

• Unsecured Home Improvement Loan: Borrow from $1,000 to $10,000
• Unsecured Home Improvement Loan: Borrow from $10,001 to $50,000
• Business Improvement Term Loan: Borrow $5,000 to $25,000