The economic recovery programs recently announced may provide a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to change the way energy efficiency is addressed and potentially “to do things we could not do before”. 

HUD and the Department of Energy recently announced that they will allocate $16 billion in economic recovery funds to retrofit existing homes.  HUD’s programs include $4.5 billion to renovate and upgrade public and Native American housing as well as $250 million for energy retrofits of privately owned federally assisted housing.  DOE will invest $5 billion in weatherization funds; $3.2 billion for a new Energy and Environment Block Grant that cities and states can use to retrofit homes; $3.1 for the State Energy Program; and other programs.  As a result, these two agencies will be working together to accelerate deployment of energy efficient and green building technologies in millions of homes nationwide.

The sheer volume of new funds, especially if paired with other tax incentives and utility credit programs will allow solar or photovoltaic technology to be introduced for residences and commercial facilities where it was previously prohibitive.  Arizona is in a particularly

Materials from the Event:

• Arizona Green Energy Program - Arizona Department of Commerce (PDF - 191KB)
• Department of Energy Recovery Act Funds (PDF - 105KB)
• Southwest Building Science Training Center (PDF - 1.02MB)
• Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (PDF - 70KB)
• Linking Solar and Housing Investments (PDF - 7MB)
• Managing Multi-Family Weatherization Projects (PDF - 6.99MB)
• ARRA Energy Appropriations Summary - City of Phoenix HUD (PDF - 9.61MB)
• Using Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) - PACE (Program Advancing Community Efficiency) (PDF - 4.21MB)
• Weatherization Assistance Program (PDF - 1.55MB)