Next Step Living(TM), Wilton Congregational Church Launch Stewardship Saves Energy Program; Parsonage Completes an Assessment

September 10, 2014 – Wilton, CT – Next Step Living™, a leading provider of whole-home energy solutions, and the Wilton Congregational Church are pleased to announce that they will be working together from September 7th to December 31st, 2014 through a program called Stewardship Saves Energy. The goal of the program is to educate Wilton residents about ways they can lower their monthly utility bills and carbon footprints, while rewarding the congregation for taking action.

Next Step Living technician Jamie Falles, conducts a blower door test during the

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® visit at Wilton Congregational Church’s parsonage.

To kick off this exciting program, Rev. Arnold Thomas completed a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® assessment today. This was a great way to unlock several rebates available through the statewide Energize ConnecticutSM initiative for energy efficiency upgrades, such as insulation.

“Wilton Go Green is delighted to see this partnership between a faith community, the Wilton Congregational Church, and Next Step Living. Through this arrangement, Wilton will continue to lower its energy usage, diminish its carbon footprint and be in the forefront of Connecticut towns whose residents have embraced energy savings steps.” Says Jana Bertkau, Vice President of Wilton Go Green and Wilton Congregational Church member.

“We share a commitment with the Wilton Congregational Church to help our community reduce its carbon footprint, lower energy costs and improve the comfort of our homes,” says Peter Weeks, Director of Connecticut Outreach at Next Step Living.

By signing up for and completing assessments, the church qualifies for energy efficiency rewards. In an effort to inspire Wilton homeowners to take meaningful action towards lowering their energy consumption and their monthly utility bills, the Stewardship Saves Energy program has designed a tiered donation structure to help fund efficiency upgrades for Wilton Congregational Church:

· Tier 1 (20 sign-ups): Next Step Living will retrofit the parsonage with LED light bulbs;

· Tier 2 (35 sign-ups): Next Step Living will retrofit the parsonage and church bathrooms with LED light bulbs;

· Tier 3 (50+ sign-ups) Next Step Living will help subsidize installed insulation, quoted through the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR assessment at parsonage

If you haven’t had one already, a great way to get started is to complete an Energize CT Home Energy SolutionsSM visit, which costs only $99. Residents see average savings of $250 per year from on-the-spot installed measures, customized recommendations for home energy savings, and access to special program rebates for additional upgrades. If residents have already had a HES assessment, and have fallen outside the allotted period for rebate eligibility, they can utilize a diagnostic Home Performance with ENERGY STAR assessment to identify areas for taking deeper efficiency measure and to renew their rebate eligibility. Wilton homeowners can also sign up for Solar or Ductless Mini-split (heating and cooling alternative) assessments, which are available at no cost to the resident.

Interested residents should contact Next Step Living for more information at www.NextStepLiving.com/partners/WiltonCongregation or by calling (866) 867-8729 to sign up.

Residents are also invited to learn more at Home Energy 101: Beginner’s Guide to Energy Efficiency on September 17th at 7:30 pm in the Upper Meeting Room of the Wilton Congregational Church, 70 Ridgefield Rd., Wilton. Attendees will learn more about easy steps they can take towards saving energy at home and the Stewardship Saves Energy program. Light refreshments and snacks will be served. RSVP by emailing Pam@WiltonCongregational.org.

About Next Step Living

One of the fastest growing companies in the country, Next Step Living™ is the leading provider of whole-home energy solutions. Headquartered in Boston’s Innovation District, Next Step Living makes it easy and affordable for people to live in homes with a low environmental impact. A one-stop service provider of informed advice, funding guidance and expert work done, Next Step Living partners with more than 400 municipalities, civic organizations and leading corporations to deliver energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions for better living. Since 2008, Next Step Living has helped New England homeowners achieve almost $18 million in energy savings, which is expected to grow to more than $90 million in the next five years. Next Step Living makes our world better. Please visit NextStepLiving.com for more information.

About Wilton Congregational Church
Founded in 1726, the church was established on Wolfpit Road as the Wilton Parish eight years before the birth of George Washington. WCC is a church that honors tradition and embraces innovation. Ever forward-looking, we seek new approaches to living out the Gospel in relevant, contemporary ways. As our relationship with God deepens, we come to know ourselves more intimately. We open—to one another, to new ideas, to people of other spiritual traditions and walks of life. As our faith, love, maturity and knowledge expand, so does our world.

About Energize Connecticut

Energize Connecticut helps you save money and use clean energy. It is an initiative of the Energy Efficiency Fund, the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority, the State, and your local electric and gas utilities, with funding from a charge on customer energy bills.

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