Some lower income residents in five Tennessee Valley communities will live in more energy efficient homes thanks to the efforts of their local power company and TVA.
Communities served by Huntsville Utilities, 4-County Electric Power Association, Cleveland Utilities, Columbus Light & Water, and the Knoxville Utilities Board will participate in the Extreme Energy Makeover, which focuses on energy-efficient improvements to homes at least 20-years-old and located in lower-income neighborhoods.
The goal of the program is to reduce each home’s electric usage by 25 percent through whole-home energy efficient improvements, which includes insulation, upgrading the heating and cooling systems and other technologies.
Additionally, Glasgow (Ky.) Electric Plant Board will participate in the Smart Energy Technologies project, which works to reduce emissions by managing real-time energy demand through integrated technology.
In all, TVA plans to invest more than $45 million in these projects which are part of the Smart Communities initiative.
The five communities were chosen through an application process and had to present a detailed improvement plan that includes how and where the improvements will be made.
“We are excited to partner with these areas to improve the quality of life,” said Cindy Herron, vice president of EnergyRight and Renewable Solutions.
“These awards are the result of these local power companies’ commitment to the communities they serve by helping those with the greatest need save money while making their homes more energy efficient.”
After work is completed, audits will determine the amount of savings for each home and residents will receive education about the preferred operation and proper care of the home and its systems.
TVA hopes to have all projects underway no later than April 2016.