DURHAM, N.H. - UNH and its partners will provide residents with information and techniques to save money on home energy use through a series of "Button Up N.H." weatherization workshops offered in locations throughout the state this winter.

Certified energy professionals will present the workshops. Participants will learn how to undertake basic air sealing, insulation, and conservation measures to reduce fuel and electricity use that will save money and make homes more comfortable throughout the year.

Home heating prices are predicted to rise by another 10 percent this coming heating season on top of previous spikes. "We're looking at a substantial increase in what we have to spend to heat our homes this winter," program coordinator Denise Blaha of UNH notes. "Fortunately, there are many ways to guard against fuel price increases, which the Button Up N.H. workshops will cover in detail."

Workshop topics will include: common sources of energy waste in homes, easy do-it-yourself steps to save energy, how-to air seal, when to bring in an energy efficiency professional, and where to find the technical and financial resources to make more substantial improvements. 

Says Blaha, "Workshops will start in mid-January. We have already received requests from local energy committees, community groups, and businesses who are eager to host the workshops, and we have the capacity to take on about 20 more reservations."

In addition to the workshops, residents will be able to receive personalized assistance to energy related questions and get guidance through the process of implementing an energy reduction project, such as air-sealing an attic or basement or implementing a solar hot water system. 

Button Up N.H. workshops are free and open to the public thanks to funding provided by the N.H. Office of Energy and Planning from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The UNH-based program is a collaboration with Clean Air-Cool Planet, Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI), UNH Cooperative Extension, and the Lakes Region Community College.

If you are interested in becoming a workshop host, contact Denise Blaha at 2-3785 or denise.blaha@unh.edu. For more information on attending a Button Up N.H. workshop or getting a jump start on saving money on energy this winter, visit http://myenergyplan.net/buttonUp.jsp.

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling 12,200 undergraduate and 2,300 graduate students.

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