Dominion Kicks Off Summer with the Solar Purchase Program

Dominion Virginia Power’s ‘Summer of Solar’ shines on with the official launch of the company’s much anticipated Solar Purchase Program tomorrow, June 20, 2013.

Approved by the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) on March 22, 2013, the Solar Purchase Program provides qualifying homeowners and businesses with the opportunity to generate and sell electricity and solar Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) directly to Dominion.

The Dominion Green Power® program  directly supports these solar projects through the purchase and retirement of the RECs produced through the Solar Purchase Program.

As a participant in the Solar Purchase Program, customers will install and own the solar generation system located on their property, but sell the electricity and RECs back to Dominion at a premium rate of 15 cents per kilowatt-hour. Participating customers will continue to purchase all of their electricity for their home or business from the company on their current rate schedule.

Customers interested in participating can submit an application at www.dom.com/solarpurchase (application will be available on the 20th).

Program participation is limited to 3 megawatts total, with participants being enrolled on a first-come first-serve basis.

The Solar Purchase Program is an alternative to Dominion’s “net metering” program where customers offset their consumption with self-generated renewable energy. About 850 customers are currently participating in the “net metering” program.

Learn more at www.dom.com/solarpurchase.

Historic Church Benefits from Dominion’s Duct Testing and Sealing Program

Your Business Can Too!

Did you know that energy costs represent 30%* of a typical commercial building’s total operating expenditures?  Proper duct sealing can reduce energy use in your business and help you save money year-round.

Success Story
When the contractor, U.S. Conservation, was challenged to increase the efficiency of the HVAC duct work in a centuries old church, initial testing revealed such a massive amount of air escaping their system that it was almost impossible to measure the leakage.  However, through Dominion’s Commercial Duct Testing and Sealing program the leakage was measured and was reduced by 80 percent, providing the church significant monthly savings.

Benefits of the Commercial Duct Testing and Sealing Program
Whether your facility has been standing since the early 1700s or was built ten to fifteen years ago, a thorough assessment of your duct and air distribution system has the potential to help your business save money and energy. Plus, you can receive a rebate for work completed by a participating contractor. Benefits include:

• Reduction in energy use. Properly sealed ducts often pay for themselves in energy savings.
• Elimination of hot and cold spots, evening the temperature throughout the building
• Reduction of the risk of pollutants entering and circulating through the building

Qualifying Dominion business customers will receive a rebate based on the unit size of their A/C cooling equipment shown in the following: 

*Air Conditioner Size Category (tons) / Incentive**
20 tons or less / $90/ton
21 tons or more / $75/ton

**Incentive. The rebate is based on the unit size of the equipment in tons. To qualify for a rebate, duct sealing must either reduce the duct leakage by 80 percent of the pre-sealing total leakage or reduce total leakage to 15 percent or less.

Steps to Participate

1. Find a participating contractor in your area at www.dom.com/contractorsearch.
2. Schedule an appointment to have the work performed.
3. Submit your rebate application.
4. Dominion will send a rebate check directly to you!

For more information, visit www.dom.com/ducttestandseal.

Slash Church History
The Slash Church was erected in 1729.  The Reverend Patrick Henry, uncle of the famous orator, served as rector from 1737 until 1777.  Early worshipers of the church included Patrick Henry, Dolley Madison, and Henry Clay, all once residents of the area. During the Civil War, Slash Church was also used as a hospital and gave a nearby cavalry battle its name. For more information about the church and its history, visit www.slashcc.org or www.holdstillproductions.com/slash_church.htm  

*Source: www.energystar.gov

NREL Lists Dominion Virginia Power as a Green Power Leader

The Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has released its assessment of leading utility green power programs, and for the first time since the program launched in 2009, Dominion Green Power® was ranked as one of the top programs in the country!

Using information provided by utilities, NREL developed “Top 10” rankings of utility green power programs for 2012 in the following categories: total sales of renewable energy to program participants; total number of customer participants; the percentage of customer participation; green power sales as a percentage of total utility retail electricity sales; and the lowest price premium charged for a green power program using new renewable resources.

“These utilities are offering first-rate programs that give their customers an opportunity to support renewable energy deployment,” NREL Analyst Jenny Heeter said.

Dominion Green Power made the “Top 10” rankings for two categories: Green Pricing Program Renewable Energy Sales (8th) and Total Number of Customer Participants (10th).

NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for DOE by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

Be In It to Win It!

It’s not too late! Enroll in Dominion Green Power® or eBill by May 31^st and be automatically entered for a chance to win one of three great prizes.**

• Grand Prize: A mini-tablet
• 1^st Place: $300 gift card
• 2^nd Place: $150 gift card

Other Great Reasons to Sign Up:

Lower Your Carbon Footprint - For as little as approximately $0.43 cents per day,* Dominion Green Power allows you to support local wind, solar and biomass facilities in Virginia and the surrounding region. Learn more!

Reduce Waste - More than 750,000 Dominion customers within Virginia are helping to reduce paper waste by receiving their bills electronically with eBill. Enroll and enjoy free same day payments from your checking account. Learn more!

Already participating in one or both of these great programs? No sweat. We have already entered you in the contest.

*Based on a customer using 1,000 kWhs per month. Calculations are based on EPA Equivalency Calculator: www.epa.gov/grnpower/pubs/calculator.htm
**One entry per account. No purchase necessary to win. For official contest rules, visit www.dom.com/VaGreenPower.

Double Your Savings with Combined Rebates

Did you know that more than 40%* of your energy bill comes from heating and cooling costs? Don’t keep paying for wasted energy! You can enjoy year-round savings through Dominion’s Residential Duct Testing and Sealing and Heat Pump Tune-Up programs. Plus, when you participate in both programs you can earn a combined rebate of $215.

It’s easy to participate.

1. Find a participating contractor in your area.
2. Schedule an appointment to have the work performed.
3. Submit your rebate application.
4. Dominion will send a rebate check directly to you. 

Heat Pump Tune-Up
You can improve the efficiency and prolong the life of your existing equipment and save money year-round with a Heat Pump Tune-Up. . A Heat Pump Tune-up can also ensure your unit is clean and has good air flow providing better temperature and humidity control for your home. The one-time incentive offered for the tune-up is $90 per unit. Visit dom.com/heatpumptuneup for participation and eligibility requirements.

Residential Duct Testing and Sealing
Proper duct sealing can reduce energy use in your home and help you save money while improving indoor comfort by eliminating loss of conditioned air to attics, crawlspaces, or other places. The one-time incentive for completion of the procedure is $125. Visit dom.com/homeducttestandseal for participation and eligibility requirements.

Receive $215 in Combined Rebates
The combined rebate of $215 for both programs is available now! Save money and energy all year with a Heat Pump Tune-Up and a Residential Duct Testing and Sealing. Sign up today to receive energy saving tips and other rebate offers: dom.com/linktosavings

*Source: energystar.gov

Reduce, Reuse & Recycle!

This spring, go green when you clean.  As you go through your piles of stuff, think about ways you can reuse or recycle the items that you don’t want anymore.  There are plenty of ways to re-purpose, sell, or donate the clean out pile.  Remember, one person’s trash, is another person’s treasure!

If you are getting rid of a few things of value, don't miss out on an opportunity to earn some green.  Check out opportunities to sell your items at your local consignment stores, and consider company or local classifieds. For the more internet savvy, try eBay or Craigslist.

If you have your own personal library and need to free up some space, check out your local library's book drive and http://www.discoverbooks.com/.

Many organizations are looking for and will accept donations.  Goodwill and Salvation Army are widely known and have the donation process down to a science. But don't forget your local organizations and charities. Some common organizations that take donations include Junior League (clothing), Veteran organizations (clothing, DVDs, care package items), SPCA (towels, rags), food banks (dry and canned goods), etc.

Do you still like the item but don’t want to use it in its current state?  Go to the web to get inspiration on giving it a facelift and a new purpose!  I personally like Pinterest which combines ideas from different people, websites, blogs, etc.  It’s a great place to start imagining the new possibilities for what might otherwise seem like trash.

As you recycle and reuse, remember to safeguard against identify theft and don't put yourself in uncomfortable situations.  If you are donating items to a charity, remember to ask about tax deductions.

Good luck & happy cleaning!!

Put Some Green in Your Pocket on Earth Day

Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 20th and join Dominion at the 20th Annual RVA Earth Day Festival and show your support for this event. 

Saturday, April 20th
11:00am to 5:00pm
17th Street Farmer’s Market

And, best of all, stop by our booth to register for a chance to win a $100 gift card to put some green in your pocket on Earth Day!

Dominion is proud to be a participant in this year’s Earth Day Festival and we invite you to join in the fun.  Richmond Magazine recently ranked the 20th Annual RVA Earth Day in the top ten “31 Things You Must do in 2013.”

Celebrate with Dominion and enjoy live music, art, environmental exhibits, an eco-friendly 5k run, kid’s activities, food, drink, and, locally grown produce and plants.

Want to learn more about Dominion’s energy efficient rebate programs to help you save energy and money?   Stop by the Dominion booth during the Earth Day Festival and bring your questions.  You’ll get the answers and at the same time you can register for a chance to win a $100 gift card.

In the meantime, sign up to receive information on our energy conservation programs and tips that can help you save on your energy bill now and year-round.  Visit www.dom.com/linktosavings to join our email mailing list.

See you on April 20th!

For more information on all Dominion energy conservation programs and participation and eligibility requirements, visit www.dom.com/savenowVA .

To contact a participating contractor in your local area for more information, or to schedule an appointment, go to www.dom.com/contractorsearch .

Six Ways to Save Energy at Home and at Work

Did you know that more than 40% of your energy bill comes from heating and cooling costs*?

To help customers save money on their energy use, Dominion has developed a series of customer-friendly energy conservation programs.  These programs are designed to help you maximize your savings.

Check out our rebate programs and get in on the savings NOW!

Home Energy Check-Up - $230 Average Rebate
The Home Energy Check-Up program offers an on-site analysis of your energy use with incentives for the installation of a variety of energy-saving measures.

Residential Duct Testing and Sealing - $125 Rebate
A duct testing and sealing procedure can help you reduce energy use in your home and save money; improve indoor comfort by eliminating loss of conditioned air to attics, crawlspaces, or other places; and, improve indoor air quality by decreasing the risk of pollutants entering and circulating through your home.

Heat Pump Tune-Up - $90 Rebate
Receive a Heat Pump Tune-Up and save energy all year. A heat pump tune-up can help you improve the efficiency and prolong the life of existing equipment and ensure your unit is clean, has good air flow, and provides better temperature and humidity control.

Heat Pump Upgrade - $200 or $250 Rebate
If your system is more than 10 years old, now is the time to consider a Heat Pump Upgrade and receive a rebate for the replacement of existing heat pump equipment with a more energy-efficient model to help lower your energy bill, increase the efficiency of your home, and improve your comfort.

Commercial Energy Audit
An Energy Audit provides an on-site analysis and report of a non-residential facility’s energy use with financial incentives to help cover a portion of the cost of the audit, up to the full price of the audit, after completing some of the recommended improvements.

Commercial Duct Testing and Sealing
The Commercial Duct Testing and Sealing program promotes the testing and general repair of poorly performing duct and air distribution systems in qualifying non-residential facilities.  Proper sealing can significantly improve airflow to reduce energy use and save money. Customer incentive(s) are based on the unit size in tons.

For more information on these energy conservation programs and participation and eligibility requirements, visit dom.com/savenowVA

Contact us today!

Interested in more ways to save? Sign up to receive energy saving tips and other rebate offers at dom.com/linktosavings

To locate a participating contractor in your local area for more information, or to schedule an appointment, go to dom.com/contractorsearch

*Source: www.energystar.gov

Clear the Clutter with eBill

Do you have paper clutter that just builds up? Are you constantly recycling junk mail and shredding account information?

Switch to eBill and get clutter free. With eBill, Dominion’s paperless billing program, you can opt to receive your bill electronically.

No more paper. No more shredding.

eBill is easy. Once you enroll you’ll receive an email notification that your bill is ready to view in Manage Your Account.

Simply log in to see the same information you would receive on a paper bill. You can even make free same-day payments from your checking or savings account.

Other benefits of eBill include: 12 months of bill history, the ability to view, print or save your bill at any time, and an email payment reminder before your bill is due.

Once you’re logged into Manage Your Account you can analyze your usage, sign up for bank draft or budget billing, and enroll in programs like Dominion Green Power.

Feel the Warmth This Winter

As we enter into the final stages of winter (and some of the coldest days we’ve had thus far!) are you feeling as cozy and warm in your home as you should be? As temperatures drop, you can take steps to improve your comfort and lower your energy bill.

Did you know that in a typical house, about 20 percent of the air moving through the duct system is lost due to leaks, holes, and poorly connected ducts*? Proper sealing of your home’s duct and air distribution system can significantly improve airflow, offering many benefits including lowering your energy bill, increasing the energy efficiency of your home, and improving your comfort.

What are some indications your home has poorly performing ducts?

• High summer and winter utility bills.
• Rooms in your home are difficult to heat and cool.
• Rooms feel stuffy and never seem to get to the right temperature.
• Ducts are located in an attic, crawlspace, or the garage.
• There are tangled or kinked flexible ducts in the system.

The Duct Testing and Sealing program provides a $125 rebate for the testing and general repair of poorly performing duct and air distribution systems and can help you:

• Reduce energy use in your home, which can save you money—properly sealed ducts often pay for themselves in energy savings.
• Improve indoor comfort by eliminating the loss of conditioned air to the attic, crawlspace, or other places where your existing duct system may be leaking.
• Reduce the risk of pollutants entering and circulating through your home, improving indoor air quality.

Qualified home owners participating in the Duct Testing and Sealing program receive a one-time incentive of $125 per unit for completion of the procedure. To learn more about the program and eligibility requirements, visit www.dom.com/homeducttestandseal or call 1-888-366-8280.

To contact a participating contractor in your local area for more information, or to schedule an appointment, go to www.dom.com/contractorsearch or call 1-888-366-8280.

Stay warm and save money and energy this winter… and year-round!

*Source: energystar.gov