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Committee backs $262,500 DOE grant for energy audits and efficiency upgrades in workforce housing

2121916 · January 16, 2025

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Summary

The committee voted to forward ordinance 2025-005 to accept $262,500 in Department of Energy funds to support energy audits and efficiency improvements for approximately 100 low-income homes; $250,000 is allocated to Viridian for energy efficiency assistance.

The committee voted to forward ordinance 2025-005 to City Council recommending acceptance of $262,500 from the U.S. Department of Energy to support home energy audits and energy-efficiency work for workforce and low-income housing.

Laura Thomas, director of the Office of Sustainability, said Richmond’s average household energy burden is 8.4%, above the national average, and the grant will serve roughly 100 homes through energy audits and measures to reduce utility burdens. Of the grant, $250,000 is proposed to go to Viridian to conduct energy studies and implement measures; $12,500 will fund an Office of Sustainability case study on energy burden and educational materials. The program will partner with Housing and Community Development and the Department of Public Utilities, and will attach to properties already identified through the Healthy Homes program rather than requiring new resident applications.

A public hearing had no speakers; the committee voted to forward the ordinance to council with a recommendation to approve. Miss Lynch, Vice Chair Jones and Chair Robertson recorded aye votes.