IMCB receives Avista rebates

SANDPOINT — Incentives offered by Avista to its Idaho customers have resulted in a $110,524 rebate to Intermountain Community Bancorp for the installation of a high efficiency natural gas water source heat pump system in its new Sandpoint Financial and Technical Center.

Under Avista’s programs, the rebate amount is calculated based on expected annual energy saving of a project.

Avista anticipates the high efficiency system will save IMCBC more than 200,000 kilowatt hours of electricity and more than 28,000 therms of natural gas per year, or about $40,000 in annual energy costs. The energy savings equal the average amount of electricity used by 15 homes in one year and the average annual amount of natural gas used by about 36 homes.

“When we started designing the Sandpoint Center, our goal was to utilize the newest technology in energy efficiency,” said Travis Kaul, Sandpoint branch manager for IMCBC.

Sharmon Schmitt, Avista’s regional account executive for northern Idaho, said Avista’s energy efficiency rebate and incentive programs are a win-win for the company and for customers.

“It is more cost effective for Avista to offer rebates and incentives to customers who install more energy efficiency equipment and use less energy than it is for Avista to build new generation or purchase more energy,” Schmitt said.

“Plus, it is better for the environment and the programs can help customers manage their energy use and costs with rising energy prices.”

In 2007, Avista’s Washington and Idaho customers received more than $9 million in energy efficiency rebates and incentives and saved 53.7 million kilowatt hours — enough energy to power more than 4,500 homes — and more than 1.5 million therms of natural gas.

Information on the programs available to Avista’s residential, commercial and industrial customers is available at www. everylittlebit. com.