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Kane County panel approves two‑year energy‑audit contract and boosts homeowner rebates
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Summary
The Energy & Environment Committee approved a two‑year, $60,000 contract with a sustainability consultant to deliver qualified home energy audits and increased resident rebates; committee members asked for contractor examples and clarified rebate mechanics.
Kane County’s Energy & Environment Committee voted to approve a two‑year contract worth $60,000 for a sustainability consultant to deliver qualified home energy audits and support a targeted homeowner rebate program.
Jody Wallnick, director of environmental and water resources, told the committee the audits will follow Building Performance Institute standards and produce a detailed, long‑term “road map” homeowners can use to prioritize energy‑saving improvements. She said the county revised the proposal to increase the number of audits from 25 to 30 within the same budget and to remove planned software purchases from the contract.
Austin Powell, who detailed the audit process, said the audits are intended to help low‑ and moderate‑income households identify and prioritize energy upgrades. “That audit itself is a road map for years to come,” Powell said, describing audits as more than a one‑time assessment.
The revised resolution funds $30,000 per year for the selected consultant (a $60,000 total contract over two years) and increases the rebate pool available to residents (staff described the resident rebate fund rising from $35,000 to $40,000 in the proposal). Wallnick said the county will require a qualified‑vendor process and that homeowners would typically pay up front and apply for rebates with receipts after work is completed.
Committee members pressed staff on how rebates will work for expensive measures like window replacement and on how households will be selected; Powell said recipients will be chosen through a scored application on the county website focused on applicants from unincorporated Kane County.
After discussion, a motion to approve the consultant contract was moved and seconded (transcript: mover “Panisys,” seconder “Jasmine”). In a roll call the committee recorded six affirmative votes—Pius, Pennisis, Strathman, Young, Tarver and Bates—and the motion passed. Wallnick said the item will move to the county’s executive committee and then to the full county board as part of the county budget process.
The committee requested staff send the February and April presentations and sample audits to other county board members and to follow up on specific questions raised during the meeting. The committee also asked staff to provide work samples and examples of audits performed by the proposed contractor.
