The Cost Effectiveness Explorer team is delighted to roll out important new capabilities to assist local jurisdictions in planning residential building retrofit policies!
With new funding opportunities emerging from the federal Inflation Reduction Act and different state programs that incentivize energy efficiency improvements in existing buildings, local communities can boost the impacts of their policies. Subsidies can reduce the cost of compliance, improve public acceptance and increase political support for more comprehensive policies.
The team has added subsidy data that complements the findings of the latest Existing Low-Rise Residential Cost-Effectiveness Study for single family homes and multifamily units.
For each measure analyzed in that study, the Explorer can now provide on a per home basis:
The subsidy needed to reduce the measure cost to the point where it becomes cost-effective to the bill-payer, and
The subsidy needed to reach the point where a measure pays for itself in five years
Subsidy estimates are also available for homeowners or occupants who meet low-income qualifications and pay lower utility rates (CARE customers).
To explore this new capability, simply navigate to the Results page (for existing buildings only) and select the vintage(s) desired. Then select "Add/Hide Columns" in the top right to access the subsidy columns of interest (see image below).
To learn more about subsidies, visit our comprehensive guide here!