'Impact Parties' Teach Energy Efficiency for the Home

"Impact Parties" show residents how to save money and specific ways to operate a more energy efficient home.

There are jewelry parties, purse parties, "sell your gold" parties and now: "impact parties." Wheaton residents can host impact parties through Energy Impact Illinois, a program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, ComEd and Nicor, to learn how their homes can be more energy efficient and how to save money, according to the City of Wheaton. At each party, an energy contractor conducts a brief energy assessment of a home, informs homeowners of where homes lose energy and options to stop that loss, and share the results with guests. The contractors use the latest technology in the building science world, such as blower doors and infrared cameras that take thermal images to make inefficiencies visual for guests. There is also information …

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Energy Show Highlights Green Savings in Wheaton

Federal and state grant funds impact Wheaton's energy efficiency.

Why strive for energy efficiency in Wheaton? Watch a new video to find out why for our community, it just makes “cents.” Federal and state grant funds are making a significant impact on Wheaton’s energy efficiency, carbon footprint – and its bottom line. A new video, “Energy Efficiency: It Just Makes Cents,” takes a broad look at how a number of programs are benefitting the environment, the community and the City of Wheaton. Special Projects Assistant Susan Wallace explains how the City was able to obtain a $514,000 federal grant and how far that funding has gone. From dramatic reductions in costs and energy use for lighting in municipal facilities to individual grants for homeowners, the video introduces some of the residents, businesses …