Philadelphia, PA — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the designation of “ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade Service Provider” to Philadelphia’s Whole Home Repair program, Built to Last, run by the Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA). Built to Last brings together Philadelphia’s home repair, energy conservation, and healthy homes programs into a coordinated service package to make existing homes more affordable, healthier, and safer places to live for low-wealth homeowners. Energy improvements may include air sealing, insulation, high efficiency appliances, energy efficient HVAC systems, such as heat pumps to provide heating and cooling, and rooftop solar.
“We are honored that Built to Last is a charter member of the ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade Service Provider Partnership, and the first government partner,” said Emily Schpira, President and CEO of PEA. “As an EPA partner, we will continue working to ensure that Philadelphia can restore and retain existing affordable homes and preserve health, safety, and long-term affordability in all communities.”
The ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade Service Provider Partnership is one of two new ENERGY STAR resources to help households across America take advantage of Inflation Reduction Act incentives for energy-saving home upgrades. Together, the new ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade Service Provider Partnership and a new home improvement savings web tool address two of the largest barriers Americans face when it comes to upgrading their homes with energy efficient products and equipment – the cost and complexity associated with purchase and installation. These resources will make it easier for all Americans to take advantage of upgrades that will help them save energy and money while enjoying a healthier and more comfortable home for years to come.
“For decades, the ENERGY STAR program has guided consumers towards efficient products that reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in substantial savings for both the individual and the nation as a whole,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan. “These new resources are key to making progress in fighting the climate crisis and will help make energy efficient options more affordable and accessible, particularly for millions of low-income and disadvantaged households across the nation.”
As an ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade Service Provider Partner, Built to Last is adopting elements of an ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade — a set of six high-impact improvements that work together to deliver significant energy and cost savings by addressing the biggest energy users in most homes — to holistic home repairs in low-income properties. These improvements include an ENERGY STAR certified heat pump, heat pump water heater, smart thermostat, and windows – plus a well-insulated and sealed attic and electric-ready wiring/panel improvements. Once completed, these improvements are estimated to deliver average energy bill savings of over $500 each year.
“Thank you to the EPA for recognizing Philadelphia and the Built to Last Program for being on the forefront of an equitable clean energy transition,” said Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District), Chair of the Committee on the Environment. “I congratulate the PEA team on the selection of Built to Last for the new ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade Service Provide Partnership.”
Built to Last has served nearly 300 low-income Philadelphia households to date, addressing serious repair needs, health and safety issues, and incorporating the elements of ENERGY STAR Home Upgrades. The program has been funded by a combination of federal, state, and foundation sources, and leveraging other existing sources of home repair funding available to target households. ENERGY STAR’s designation of Built to Last as a Partner is a recognition that it’s possible and critical to prioritize low-income families to ensure that their homes are safe, healthy, and energy efficient.
About the Philadelphia Energy Authority
The Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA) is an independent municipal authority building a robust, equitable clean energy economy for Philadelphia. PEA runs the Philadelphia Energy Campaign, a $1 billion, 10-year investment in energy efficiency and clean energy projects to create 10,000 jobs. PEA has supported over $904 million in projects and created over 7,600 jobs so far. Learn more at www.philaenergy.org.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations rely on their partnership with the EPA to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped American families and businesses avoid more than $500 billion in energy costs and achieve more than 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. More background information about ENERGY STAR’s impacts.