The Maine Public Utilities Commission recently voted to provide the last piece of funding needed to launch the first Whole House energy efficiency program in Maine in nearly two decades.

This program will reduce energy costs in participating Maine homes by between 10 percent and 50 percent. The Governor’s Office of Energy Independence and Security has been working for more than a year to develop and secure funding for this pilot program.

Funding and in-kind services will come from Efficiency Maine, the Maine State Housing Authority, Northern Utilities, the Maine Oil Dealers and oil overcharge funds.

About 45 percent of Maine homes were built before 1960, and 54 percent of the heating equipment is at least 10 years old. Heating fuel costs have nearly doubled in the past two years, and electricity costs have and are expected to continue to rise. The Whole House program will provide Maine homeowners access to qualified contractors who can perform home energy audits and undertake recommended cost-effective energy improvements, as well as access to financing that ensures that monthly energy savings exceed monthly debt payments, and rebates on energy efficient appliances, lighting and heating equipment.

“Maine is the perfect storm for high energy bills: old and drafty homes, old furnaces and boilers, and cold winters. The Whole House efficiency program is a giant step forward for energy conservation and efficiency in Maine because it treats the home and all electric appliances and equipment in it as one system, reducing usage of both heating fuels and electricity through improvements to the conditioned building envelope, to heating equipment, and appliances,” said Gov. John Baldacci.

The Office of Energy Independence and Security expects to have the program in place in the pilot area (Portland to Lewiston-Auburn and the I-95 corridor in between) before next winter’s heating season.