HANOVER — Sustainable Hanover and the Norwich Energy Committee are collaborating with a Maine-based nonprofit to build window inserts to help keep winter’s cold out of homes and to offer them to low-income households at a nominal price.

“It’s community-oriented; it’s effective against the cold; it’s cost-effective; and it’s attractive enough to have in your house. And it’s easy to put in and pull out in the summer,” said Judy Payne, a Hanover resident coordinating the program, said of the inserts.

The towns will be working with the nonprofit WindowDressers, which offered a similar program in Thetford and Strafford last year that is now expanding.

The inserts function as interior storm windows. The frames are made out of natural pine wrapped in two layers of clear, durable plastic. A foam lining around the edge blocks drafts and allows the insert to slide into existing windows snugly. Residents can stop by the Norwich library to look at a miniature sample insert.

WindowDressers’ research shows that, on average, 10 inserts save 105 gallons of heating fuel and $270 annually. Within two years, most inserts recoup the cost of the initial investment. Efficiency Vermont will pay $100 to all households in the state that install at least three inserts.

Hanover and Norwich plan to install 200 inserts, enough for approximately 30 households. The program is open both to residents and to people who work in the towns and live within a 30-minute radius. Thetford will be putting in inserts at its elementary school and will be working with Strafford to install approximately 300 in residents’ homes.

Payne said that Sustainable Hanover began its outreach at organizations that serve low-income communities, including Listen and COVER. However, she said, only 15 out of over 100 requests have come from low-income households.

“We’re still hopeful. People aren’t thinking about cold, drafty windows right now,” she said. The towns can add to their order through September and plan to continue outreach to low-income households.

Strafford Energy and Climate Committee member Doc Bagley said that Thetford and Strafford are installing another 300 inserts in 48 homes, including 31 that are eligible for subsidies. He said that the towns raised money from Mascoma Bank and theNew England Grassroots Environment Fund to cover the program.

“It’s been nice, as part of an energy committee, to do something really tangible and effective for weatherization, and especially for income-eligible folks,” he said.

The towns are using an honor system to determine who is eligible for subsidies so that potential participants only have to check a box to receive inserts they can afford.

Other participating households will pay for the inserts in full and may donate more to help support the program. WindowDressers estimates that a medium insert would cost $42.38, although the exact prices vary because the frames are custom-built.

Organizers say a community-build model helps keep the prices low.

Volunteer measuring teams visit each participating household, and then the towns organize build days. Everyone who receives inserts will take at least one half-day shift. They may help assemble the pre-cut pieces sent south from Maine, or provide the volunteers with food and support. Right now, Michael Kiess, the chair of the Joint Thetford Energy Committee, said that he is looking for volunteers for the build at the school from August 5th to 12th (https://signup.com/go/gRxVpxy) as well as for the communitywide build event from Sept. 7 to 16 (https://signup.com/go/cODVXJt). Norwich and Hanover will be holding their build from Nov. 12 to 17.

“It’s neighbors doing something for each other,” said Kiess. “It’s like a barn raising. You have this collective impact for your town, help meet our community energy goals, and you’re helping everyone stay warm.”

For information on the Hanover/Norwich program, go to https://sustainablehanovernh.org/windows or http://norwichenergycommittee.weebly.com/window-inserts.html.

Claire Potter is a Report for America corps member. She can be reached at cpotter@vnews.com or 603-727-3242.