Sustainability Project:
ENERGY RATINGS

Through our projects in Louisiana and Mississippi it became clear that energy consumption is a critical element to facilitating homeowner sustainability. A 2002 survey found that households with incomes below $20,000 consumed 39% more BTUs per square foot than households with incomes over $75,000 (Source: Tabulations of the Residential Energy Consumption Surveys, 1997 and 2001).

A contributing factor to this energy affordability penalty is the high inverse correlation of income to age of home. The existing energy cost per square foot of older homes, combined with a lack of awareness of energy conservation measures, work together to produce exceptionally high energy cost to income ratios. In the NOLA100 project, it was not unusual to find home owners whose annual utility costs exceeded $4 per square foot.

At the suggestion of the Clinton Climate initiative, the NOLA100 project incorporated a before and after Home Energy Rating System (HERS) assessment in each project home (see www.nola100.org).

The insight provided by the ratings was so informative that Hope Has A Face President Keith Canfield took the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) energy rater certification course and exam just to better understand this powerful tool. By educating homeowners on where they can save money on their utility bills, the energy audit can not only make an economic difference for families, but also have a positive environmental impact as well.

To help bring the benefits of Energy Ratings to low income households, Hope Has A Face has committed to providing 100 Home Energy Audits by 2010 at no cost to low to moderate income ¬homeowners. In addition, we are involved in the design of several training programs that will provide training and certification to participants to increase the pool of Certified Raters, Field Technicians and Green Associates.