CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Homes that are more energy efficient use less electricity and cost less money for residents.
The city of Charlotte and Duke Energy Carolinas announced Tuesday a new program to help qualified residents retrofit their old homes. The High Energy Use Pilot Program will provide "much-needed home repairs and energy efficiency retrofits" to customers who are both income-qualified and use a high level of energy.
Home repairs may include window, roof, chimney, plumbing, or water heater repairs or replacements, pressure relief valve installation, mechanical ventilation, fridge replacements, and lead-based paint hazard control.
For low-income households, residents spend 8.6% of their gross income on energy costs, Duke Energy said citing the Department of Energy. That is estimated to be three times higher than for non-low-income households, which spend an estimated 3% of their gross income.
Duke Energy says they will invest approximately $4 million to help approximately 500 qualified customers in Charlotte. The City of Charlotte will invest another million dollars into the project.
“By providing much-needed home repairs and energy retrofits, we can lower energy costs and provide safer housing for our residents who need it most, and at the same time reduce emissions in our community," Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said in a released statement.
In addition to Charlotte, Duke Energy will also be providing aid to qualified residents in Forysth and Guilford counties.
“We appreciate the city’s leadership and are hopeful that this pilot, if successful, may one day help expand offerings to help more customers save energy and money, and support a cleaner energy future for all communities we serve," Kendal Bowman, the North Carolina state president for Duke Energy, said in the same released announcement.
Across all three pilot program locations, the company says they have identified an estimated 22,000 residents who would qualify for needed repairs in all identified areas. In the first two years of the pilot program, Duke hopes to help a thousand of those residents.
To be eligible, residents must be at or below the 200% federal poverty level. For an individual, that means they can’t make more than $2,430 a month. For a family of four, the income cap is $5,000 a month.
Duke Energy said the program is also open to those who rent their home. Duke Energy could work with landlords to make the necessary repairs.
Duke Energy is accepting applications for the program now, and the first service appointments are expected to start in mid-May. Homes within the designed Corridors of Opportunity are expected to be prioritized.
Applications can be submitted online. Or Duke Energy customers can call their customer service line at 800-452-2777.
If homeowners are looking for other ways to save, Duke Energy and the federal government offer a slew of rebates to homeowners and business owners on several energy efficient tools like water heaters, pool pumps, insulation, AC units, and windows.
For example, Duke Energy Carolinas offers a $350 on the purchase and installation of select heat pump water heaters. The federal government also offers a tax credit on the purchase and installation of heat pump water heaters up to $2,000.
The products and installations must meet certain criteria. The Energy Star rebate finder is an online tool that lists different offers and what they must do to qualify for the rebate.
Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.