OUC-The Reliable One, in partnership with the City of Orlando, provided homeowners in some of the least efficient homes in Orlando with free energy-efficient upgrades and repairs through the recently completed Green Neighborhood Program.
Based on their energy intensity per square foot, six Orlando neighborhoods – Monterey, Countryside, Richmond Estates, Coytown, Malibu Groves and Signal Hill – were designated by the City for the program. Each owner-occupied, single-family home in those neighborhoods qualified for up to $1,000 in energy-efficient improvements.
“More than 60 percent of the homeowners participated in the Green Neighborhood Program, and in total, more than two million annual kilowatts per hour were saved because of upgrades and repairs,” said Cameron Saulsby, Conservation Administrator for OUC. “On average, this equals about $180 in annual energy savings for each customer — or more than $200,000 in total savings per year for all of the homeowners who participated.”
Since the program launched last June, a total of 1,138 Orlando homes have been retrofitted with energy upgrades. Qualified upgrades included everything from attic insulation and compact fluorescent light bulbs to caulking and weather-stripping to low-flow showerheads and new flapper valves in toilets. OUC contracted with Honeywell Utility Solutions to install the retrofits.
Funding was provided by the City utilizing a federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) in the amount of $500,000 in stimulus funds and an additional $257,000 from OUC.
OUC provides rebates and resources to homeowners who make home improvements and upgrades that result in reduced energy consumption.
More information can be found at www.ouc.com or by calling OUC’s conservation line at 407.434.2256.
