If you asked me four years ago when I moved to Utah whether there was a program to make your house more energy efficient, I would’ve laughed. Not only were Utah state and local leaders not interested in renewable energy, conservation, or efficiency. Prices for Utah’s 95% coal-generated power were so low they were practically begging people to leave the refrigerator door open 24/7 as a form of air conditioning augmentation.
When the economy went south, governments and regular folks started looking for ways to save any way they could. And we renewable energy and conservation wonks were still standing there with the same knowledge, experience, and logic. Just one of the results of our patience is the new Salt Lake County loan program for home energy efficiency. Sadly (and gladly), I already have all that stuff and more (the pic is our solar hot water panels going in last year). We did get other price breaks, tax deductions, and rebates when we installed it years ago. But this program is even better and makes more folks from all economic strata eligible.
Yup- times sure have changed.
