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Share FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Energy Professionals Organize Statewide Across Missouri | ||
KANSAS CITY, MO, February 15, 2010 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- The Missouri Association of Accredited Energy Professionals (www.MAAEP.org) held its second organizational meeting for professional members yesterday at Kansas City's Metropolitan Energy Center training facility (www.kcenergy.org). Participants included representatives from Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Sustainable Solutions, Hayes Company, AB May, US Environmental Protection Agency, Green Cat, Hishaw Construction, Henges Insulation, Crowder College, Performance Plus Homes and many other energy efficiency businesses and related home contractors.
Issues specific to the energy efficiency industry were shared in an open forum. Martin Tennant, with Hathmore Technologies, expressed concern for maintaining best practices and standards in the quickly evolving energy efficiency industry, "Without seriously supporting systems that assure adequate control and accountability - both before and after our work is completed - the home energy efficiency industry invites long-term damage to customer faith and satisfaction. Currently, our market presence is relatively diffuse and spread out, but as energy efficiency work becomes more popular, it is vitally important that we commit to continual quality improvement in our profession." Last Wednesday, MAAEP joined Renew Missouri and 150 concerned citizens in lobbying legislators in Jefferson City calling attention to revenue neutral initiatives making energy efficiency retrofits affordable for home owners. "The Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program finances the cost of efficiency improvements over 15-20 years, and with savings gained from lower monthly utility bills, home owners immediately put cash into their pockets while increasing the comfort and value of their homes," explained attorney and former energy geologist Tom Appelbaum. Rick Westmoreland, of Liberty Homes, cautioned on shifting attention from existing programs such as Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEM) while promoting new pilots such as Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE). EEMs were first introduced in 1980, expanded nationally in 1995 and are currently sponsored by all mortgage programs insured by the US Federal government. Like the PACE pilot, Energy Efficient Mortgages allow home-owners to finance efficiency upgrades over a longer term (15-30 years) defraying upfront costs. Barry Dicker of Decent Energy, spoke to the necessity and timeliness of energy pros getting organized, "I see MAAEP playing a role in helping efficiency businesses focus on positive ways in going forward. By operating as an information clearing house to spread awareness of emerging programs and initiatives, MAAEP can help us position ourselves to capitalize on these new opportunities. We can have a much more significant impact by acting collectively, than any of us can individually." The Missouri Association of Accredited Energy Professionals will be holding additional organizational meetings in Springfield and Columbia in early 2010. For more information, please contact: Byron DeLear Exec. Board Phone: (314) 445-7911 Harvey Ferdman Exec. Board / Membership Phone: (314) 469-0595 Tom Appelbaum Exec. Board / Legal Phone: (314) 985-5673 |
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