EnergyFIT Philly Block Contest. Dear Neighbor,

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1 Energy Coordinating Agency 106 W. Clearfield Street, Philadelphia, PA (215) Dear Neighbor, I am pleased to announce the launch of the Energy FIT Philly Contest. The Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA), in partnership with the City of Philadelphia, and with support from public and private funders, is hosting a competition for neighborhood blocks across the city to become the Coolest Block in Philadelphia and to receive an energy efficiency make over for their entire block. Most of our wonderful row homes were built long before today s energy saving technologies. Energy FIT Philly brings a wide range of innovative technologies together with a high degree of building science and quality workmanship to solve home repair problems, high energy use issues and the related health and safety problems. To enter the competition, one Block Coordinator from each block should be responsible for filling out the entry form and gathering the signatures of all participating homeowners and renters on their block. Detailed instructions of how to enter are included in this package. For more information about the contest and the entry process, please visit: or call Thomas Flaherty at or thomasf@ecasavesenergy.org. Philadelphia is becoming the greenest city in Pennsylvania and one of the most sustainable cities in the country one house and one block at a time. Our beloved row homes can be reinvented to serve us well for at least another hundred years if we improve their energy efficiency and make them more durable. Thank you for your interest in Energy FIT Philly, Sincerely, Liz Robinson Executive Director Energy FIT Philly is open to all blocks which are primarily single family homes whose occupants incomes are at or below 60% of the median income, or $ 47,280 for a family of four. EnergyFIT Philly Block Contest

2 Homeowner Toolkit This homeowner toolkit includes: Letter from the ECA Fact sheet about contest Contest Entry Form Contest Entry Form Application Landlord Permission Form Deadline: March 20, 2015 Submit to Energy Coordinating Agency, 106 West Clearfield Street, Philadelphia, PA Have questions or want to learn more? Ask your block captain, visit or contact Thomas Flaherty at the Energy Coordinating Agency at or

3 Block Contest Fact Sheet Are you tired of high utility bills because of a leaky, drafty home? Protect your family, lower your monthly energy costs, and increase the value, comfort and safety of your home by entering EnergyFIT PHILLY s Coolest Block Contest! What is The Coolest Block Contest? The Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA) is holding a contest for low income Philadelphians to win an energy-efficiency make-over, for their entire block. Winning residents will receive state-of-the-art, energy efficiency upgrades that can reduce energy and water bills for their homes by 30% or more. In addition to energy efficiency upgrades, winners of the Coolest Block Contest will be eligible for home repairs related to the installation of the energy efficiency upgrades. The goal of the contest is to preserve affordable housing by making it more durable and energy efficient. The contest kicks off in late 2014, and winners will be announced this spring. Why the whole block? By concentrating on the entire block, the project will have a more lasting impact. It will also be more cost-effective to retrofit all homes on a block. Because row homes have shared walls, the potential for total energy savings is much greater. Having every single roof on the block insulated means that all of the homes will be warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Neighbors will learn more about saving energy and making home repairs, and can exchange information and help each other on projects. What are the contest rules? Only targeted blocks are eligible to enter The Coolest Block Contest. To become eligible for the contest, residents must sign up. Working together, neighbors will complete one application per block, which can be submitted by any resident of the block. Because only one entry form per block will be accepted, it is important to designate one person to submit the application. If you are a renter, you ll have to get consent from the building owner to participate in the contest by filling out a Landlord/Property Owner Permission Form. Selection criteria will include: number and percentage of residents participating (the more the better), willingness of residents to actively help in the upgrades (sweat equity), and the story of why your block should win the contest. There is no application fee and winning residents will receive all products and services absolutely free. How do I enter the contest? To apply go to You can also attend one of our Education Sessions across Philadelphia. For a schedule of times and locations, check out ecasavesenergy.org/contest. See reverse for details about energy efficiency and retrofitting --->

4 Energy Efficiency Fact Sheet Give your home a total energy upgrade! To reduce the city s vulnerability to rising energy costs and to reduce overall energy use, Greenworks Philadelphia has set a goal of retrofitting 15% of the city s housing stock. The EnergyFIT PHILLY Coolest Block Contest is furthering that effort by retrofitting a winning block of row homes with basic home repairs, an energy-saving cool roof, insulation and air sealing. Why is insulation and air sealing so important? According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), you can reduce your home s heating and cooling costs by as much as 30% through proper insulation and air sealing. Air infiltration which often occurs between walls and floors, around windows and doors, and through other gaps and cracks can account for as much as 40% of heat loss in homes (U.S. DOE). One of the best ways to insulate and air-seal a row home is to use insulating foam sealants, which expand on contact to help bridge these openings, keeping heat outside during the summer and inside during the winter. How are these products installed and maintained? Prior to installing the cool roofing system, the existing roof structure will need to be prepared to ensure the roof deck is sound. After any necessary repairs have been made, highly-skilled contractors will install the insulation and highly reflective elastomeric white roof coating. Cool roof systems are superior to traditional roofing systems in a number of ways. Black asphalt roofs absorb 95% of the sun s heat, which transfers through the roof directly into the home. White elastomeric roof coatings are typically degrees cooler than black roofs on hot summer days. This helps create a more comfortable indoor air temperature, while reducing air conditioning costs byan average of 20%. White roof coatings are capable of extending the life of your roof by 20 years or more. Depending on your home s layout and specific needs, the product s use and installation procedures will vary. Once installed, these products require little maintenance and come with a 15 year warranty. How energy efficiency upgrades benefit Philadelphia homeowners: - Improve comfort year round - Reduce energy costs by 30% or more - Reduce roof maintenance, repair and replacement costs - Preserve the integrity of Philadelphia s historic homes and neighborhoods - Keep neighborhoods cooler and reduce urban heat island effect by reducing the concentration of dark, energy absorbing surfaces - Help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and slow climate change - Support the Philadelphia s effort to become the greenest city in America For more information, go to: or contact Thomas Flaherty at thomasf@ecasavesenergy.org,

5 Coolest Block Contest Contest Entry Form Name (First and Last) Address (# Street, Unit, ZIP) Building Type (Row Home, Multi-Family or Detached) Owner Renter Signature # Example: Joe Smith 2400 S. Henry St, Row Home X X Landlord Permission Form Attached

6 Contest Entry Application Each block should submit only one entry form. Forms can be mailed or dropped off at the Energy Coordinating Agency at. Deadline: at pm Name of Block Coordinator Address Phone Block Address (e.g. 400 block of South 2 nd Street) Alternate Block Contact Address Phone One resident from the block should answer the questions below and collect all participating residents contact information and signatures in the sign-up sheet on the following pages. 1. How many row homes are on your block? How many signed up to participate? 2. How many detached homes are on your block? How many signed up to participate? 3. How many apartment buildings are on your block? How many Landlord Permission Forms are attached for participating apartment buildings? 4. Please tell us why your block should win. The essay can be written by any resident or group of residents on your block. It should be 500 words or less.

7 Landlord / Property Owner Permission Form I, (please print) (owner/ agent for owner) am the owner (or agent for the owner) of the property located at: (address) I AGREE I DO NOT AGREE To allow the Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA) to provide energy conservation products, such as services to my property. ECA Weatherization Terms and Agreements 1) I certify that I own the property or have the authority to act as the owner s representative. 2) ECA and/or its contractors may enter the property to inspect and to make such energy-related repairs or improvements as ECA deems appropriate under the EnergyFIT Philly program. 3) I release, indemnify, and hold ECA and/or its contractors harmless from and against any and all liability and claims of any kind arising with respect to the premises to the extent they are occasioned by the act or omission of Landlord or Landlord s agent, officers, employees, subcontractors or tenants. Landlord/ Agent/ Owner Phone Number Landlord/ Agent/ Owner Address Landlord/ Agent/ Owner Signature Date