The Healthy Homes Incentive Program
Program Area:
Topic: Energy Efficiency
Year: 2014, 2015
Neighborhood: Allegheny County
“Our program will help homeowners not only lower their energy bills but also improve their family’s health through energy retrofits that enhance indoor air quality. Increasing energy efficiency also reduces power plant emissions and can help improve air quality outdoors as well.”
Dr. Karen Hacker
Health Director, Allegheny Health Department
Overview
According to the EPA, the average American spends 90% of their time indoors, and it is estimated that indoor air pollutants are often two to five times higher than those found outdoors. It is also shown that respiratory-related health problems, such as asthma, can be exasperated by poor air quality inside of the home.
Along with the Allegheny County Healthy Department, GTECH is exploring ways that energy efficiency retrofits not only increase the quality of air indoors, but also increase comfort and decrease the amount of energy used. These retrofits include, but are not limited to: insulation, air sealing, ventilation, moisture control and other whole-home energy, health and safety measures.
The program seeks applications from two different tiers:
Open Market
HHIP will engage consumers interested in open market home performance services. Through community level outreach built on the foundation created by the ReEnergize Pgh Ambassador Program, and industry partners – eligible homeowners will be identified and enrolled into HHIP. The Healthy Homes Incentive Program (HHIP) will provide up to $2,500 in funds to the first 100 qualified applicants who invest at least $5,000 in whole-home energy upgrades. Only non-smoking, homeowners in Allegheny County are eligible to apply for the program.
Low Income
Through a collaborative partnership with Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh (RTP), HHIP will help address health and safety issues related to home performance and augment critical livability repairs that are to be performed by RTP.
The program will run from February 2014 until December 2015.
Visit www.healthyhomespgh.org for more information on the program.
Goals
- Improve indoor air quality by addressing key home performance issues related to human health
- Reduce energy costs for homeowners by connecting them with locally available services
- Increase home comfort for homeowners experiencing symptoms of energy inefficient homes
- Invest in renovations that will enhance the housing stock of Allegheny County
- Retrofit 100 homes throughout Allegheny County
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