The Power Sustainability Project for Austin
The Power Sustainability Project for Austin is a program to transform the Austin neighborhood community of Chicago into a showcase of how a low to moderate-income community can make improvements in sustainability, energy efficiency and renewable energy. The project will enable the Austin community to improve the quality of life, reduce energy costs, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, create green jobs, and stimulate the local economy.
This phase-one implementation program consists of educational and outreach campaigns focusing on advocacy for public and private housing, energy efficiency, energy audits (energy efficiency assessments), and creating implementation plans for community participants. Key components of the project are:
The Power Sustainability for Austin Seminar: Each building owner, renter, or developer who wishes to participate in the project must attend an Austin Power Sustainability Seminar. These 2 hour workshops will give the participants an overview of what it means to “go green” and the process by which it can be achieved.
The Energy Audit (owners and renters): Building owners and renters who attend the Power Sustainability for Austin Seminar will be eligible to receive, at no charge, a complete energy audit. Based on the outcome of this audit, Ecopartners will prepare a written report listing all of the energy-saving opportunities for that building and rating them for cost-effectiveness.
Energy Modeling Program (developers and architects): Developers and architects who attend the seminar will be eligible for training in the use of the energy modeling program, eQuest, which will allow them to fully describe the principal energy-related features of their design.
Work Scope Development: Once the measures have been agreed upon, Ecopartners will determine the specific work scope for the building. The work scope is the document that will be provided to contractors with the specific details of the measures to be implemented. Ecopartners will also provide a resource of pre-screened green contractors, with a preference for local workers.
Financing Procurement: Ecopartners will provide resources for financial advice on how to fund the improvements, including: use of innovative financing mechanisms, such as the Revolving Loan Fund, a financing mechanism that enables loans to be provided to pay for an energy retrofit project’s upfront capital cost, which are then paid back from the energy savings generated from the project; Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEMs), which enable homeowners and buyers to add energy efficient upgrades as part of the underlying mortgage financing transaction; working with the municipality to help to implement financing secured by a special tax assessment on the property, which is then paid off as part of the property’s usual property tax bill; and educating the participants on how to find and apply for special tax incentives and grants to fund the projects.
Ongoing Resources: Ecopartners will provide ongoing resources to the community on all aspects of the Power Sustainability Project for Austin through a project website and the use of social media, including an Austin Power Blog, Facebook, and Twitter. The project will also hold a minimum of two webinars. Additionally, Ecopartners will provide an Austin Power Hotline, where residents can call and receive information on the project and direct consultation on their efforts to go green. An Environmental Sustainability Resource Center will provide printed materials and access to the online resources created for the project.