HELP Home Energy Loan Pool

Overview of the current HELP program

• Began in early 1990’s as Duke Power’s Special Needs Energy Products Program.

• Funded by surcharge on Duke Power customer’s electric bills.

• In 1997 Duke and NCHFA entered into agreement under which NCHFA would administer what has become the Duke HELP program.

Goals of HELP

The Primary Goal of HELP is to encourage the inclusion of high-performance energy efficiency standards in the rehabilitation of scattered-site single-family housing units owned and occupied by low-income customers of Duke Energy Carolinas.

And, to make homes:• more affordable to live in- via lower monthly

energy bills;• more comfortable;• more healthy and safe.

It also:• HELPs Duke reduce need to continually

produce more electricity and better control peak demand;

–AND society benefits by reduced carbon/greenhouse gases. gas

HELP-Eligible Counties

Green = SFR07 counties

Currently

HELP is not “stand-alone” program

Must be used with other comp.. Rehab project.

3 to 1 rule - $3.00 of “other” funds for each $1.00 of HELP.

How Much “HELP” can I get?

1. $7,500 ( including hard & soft costs) if work includes energy-efficiency measures necessary to meet HELP energy standards; or

2. $10,000 ( including hard & soft costs) if work includes installation of a heat pump.

Form and Terms of Assistance

HELP assistance is an interest-free secured loan which is forgiven at a rate of $1,000 per year.

Current Rehabilitation and Energy-Efficiency Standards

• Developed over period of twenty years with much assistance from experts in the field.

• 22 pages of prescriptive measures to be considered and applied to each home assisted.

Emphasis on:• Use of Energy Star labeled equipment and

appliances, • Pressure diagnostics (blower door and duct

blaster testing), • Air sealing,• Proper insulation, • Moisture management and ventilation, • Proper HVAC sizing and installation,• And, combustion safety.

HELP-funded energy-efficiency/building science training has been provided to

Member staff on an intermittent and ad-hoc basis.

HELP is provided through “Loan Pool” Members

»32 current HELP Members

»327 Homeowners assisted

»$2,564,676 invested to date

»Averaging $7,849 per home

HELPHPwES

Pilot

Anticipated Benefits

• HPwES process and standards are performance-based not prescriptive.

• Each home is evaluated by trained and certified professional to determine the appropriate measures applied to that specific home.

Anticipated Benefits

• HPwES Pilot Standards will be “S.A.F.E”

(Specific, Assessable, Feasible, Effective)

And only about 2 pages long – not 22

Anticipated Benefits

• HPwES will provide HELP Members with structured training and a consistently applied energy-efficiency process.

• It will provide Members with a HPwES manual containing illustrated technical materials which can be used for “job-site” training of contractors and workers.

Anticipated Benefits

• Participation in HPwES will give Members access to Advanced Energy Building Scientists for technical guidance and assistance.

• HELP Members which are also a HPwES Partner may generate revenue ($$$) in the form of HPwES audit fees ($650 per unit)

Anticipated Benefits

• Through the HPwES quality assurance process Members and NCHFA can have confidence that the work was appropriate and performed correctly.

min. of 15% of assisted units inspected and tested.

Anticipated Benefits

• Participation in HPwES will help foster and support a growing “Home Performance” contracting industry in North Carolina.

• Contractor and Members who receive HPwES Partner status will be better positioned to take advantage of revenue from other public and private retrofit energy-efficiency programs and opportunities.

Anticipated Benefits

• Added perceived value of work performed under HELP via Energy Star brand recognition and the HPwES “participation certificate”.

The HPwES process is modeled on Advanced Energy’s successful

System Vision Program.

• Since started 2001 1,500 individuals System Vision-trained, 300 companies certified as System Vision

contractors,2,459 single-family System Vision homes built in

60 of 100 North Carolina counties. (1,619 of which assisted under NCHFA’s Self-Help Loan Pool or New Homes Loan Pool)

Saved $1.4 million in utility bills!

Under HPwES Pilot HELP will be available as a “stand-alone” program.

What’s next?

To find out more about the HELP program and the HPwES pilot

program contact:

Cal JordanSenior Housing Rehabilitation Officer919-877-5632rcjordan@nchfa.com