The Department of Energy has upgraded the energy efficiency of one million American homes through the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm traveled to Delaware on Nov. 10 to announce that the Department of Energy’s improvements have benefitted homeowners by savings more than $7.7 billion in costs and helping to cut carbon emissions equal to one-year "worth of 11 coal-fired power plants" since 2001, according to a release by the DOE.
"With the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal’s historic investments in energy efficiency and weatherization, we will ensure more Americans can benefit from cleaner air, more resilient homes, and lower energy bills,” Granholm said.
Granholm's trip also highlighted the importance of investments in weatherization and energy efficiency that are possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal passed on Nov. 15, according to the release.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate this national achievement with Secretary Granholm today as we recognize this home and the 9,000 others Energize Delaware has upgraded across the state,” said Tony DePrima, executive director of Energize Delaware. “The $11.6 million in rebates homeowners received made these upgrades affordable, and now they’re reaping the benefits on their energy bills to the tune of $2 million each year.”
The DOE and partner U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) national improvement program helps to connect homeowners with more than 1,300 home contractors and utility and nonprofit energy efficiency program administrators to make efficiency improvements to homes set by DOE guidelines, the release said.
The EPA has also launched the ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade Program, a new residential partnership to accelerate electrification and energy-efficient retrofits to underserved households.
Through both programs, homeowners can be assessed for improvements including adding insulation, sealing leaks, heating and cooling system installation, solar panels, EV chargers and other efficiency technology to curb carbon emissions, the release said.
