This is due in part to historically charming, but leaky, inefficient housing across the state. Energy Efficiency programs help individuals and businesses reduce their energy use. Undertaking energy efficiency improvements not only saves money and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, it also helps us meet our growing energy needs.
But efficiency isn’t just about utility programs to help transition to better light bulbs. It’s also about improving our state’s energy codes so that new buildings are built for the extreme heat and cold Louisianans experience, and even making sure real estate agents and building owners are transparent about a building’s energy usage when selling or renting.
Act 504 passed by the Louisiana Legislature requires appraisers to include energy efficiency in the appraised value of a building. Unfortunately the law did not specify how. The Alliance worked with the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors and Energy Raters to create guidance to appraisers. In the short term, we are recommending that appraisers look at the past two years of energy bills as a guide as well as conducting a professional energy rating on the building. In the long term, we are looking to “green” the multiple listing service to include energy efficiency features to allow appraisers to determine comparable energy efficiency properties.
This is why we have worked with allies across various subject areas to highlight the importance of an efficient built environment.
Undertaking energy efficiency improvements not only saves money and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, it also helps us meet our growing energy needs.
The many benefits of energy efficiency include:
The Alliance works together with our coalition partners to ensure that utility, state, local, and federal entities provide equitable investment to improve the efficiency of residents’ homes and local businesses.
Entergy New Orleans offers a portfolio of energy efficiency programs for residential, small commercial, and industrial consumers through its Energy Smart program. Some of these programs are available to residents at no cost! Developed by the New Orleans City Council, the program incentivizes Entergy New Orleans customers to perform energy saving upgrades in their homes and businesses.
Since the start of the program in 2010, Energy Smart has helped improve the efficiency of 98,496 homes & businesses, saved 288.8 Million kWh of energy, and provided $36.2 million in incentives.
Direct Install Programs help individuals and businesses upgrade existing equipment and replace inefficient technology with more energy-efficient technologies – this isn’t just limited to appliances but can also be used to upgrade other aspects of your house, like the insulation, showerheads, lightbulbs and more.
All residents in Orleans Parish can start off by requesting a FREE Energy Efficiency Kit that includes:
Small Business can also request FREE Energy Efficiency Kits. Contact Maleiya Porter-Jones by phone 504-576-4132 or email at mporte1@entergy.com.
Entergy New Orleans’ Energy Smart Home Performance program provides residential customers in Orleans Parish* with a free home energy assessment (in-person or virtually). Based on their findings an expert will recommend home improvements that can reduce your energy use, improve your comfort, and lower your utility bills. Your initial assessment also includes the installation of products such as energy-efficient light bulbs, smart power strips and more – at no additional cost to you.
After the assessment if you want to go forward with the suggested energy efficiency improvements you can select an approved trade ally based on your audit recommendations. The Energy Smart approved trade ally will provide an estimate for the recommended upgrades and help you to identify specific rebates you may qualify for. Don’t forget to ask about rebates!
Who is Eligible?
Any residential Entergy customer in Orleans Parish who lives in an existing single-family home or building of one to four residential units is eligible to receive a no-cost energy assessment. Please be advised if you rent, to participate in the Energy Smart program, you must obtain verbal authorization from the homeowner before requesting an assessment.
Income qualified residential Entergy customers in Orleans Parish can also take advantage of Energy Smart’s free installation program: Income-Qualified Weatherization. This program supports income-qualified residents (residents at or below 200% of the federal poverty level) by providing them with free duct sealing, air sealing, and attic insulation.
Follow the link below to see if you qualify and to request an assessment. Eligible households can also sign up for an Energy Smart appointment by calling 504-229-6868.
Demand-Side Management (DSM) programs help you reduce your electricity usage and save money. DSM has become an increasingly popular way of managing electricity costs as an exponentially growing demand for electricity has posed a set of unique challenges for consumers and utilities. Over the past decade, utilities have leveraged tools such as smart-meters, consumer surveys, and advanced data analytics to better understand and identify solutions for managing demand.
Direct install programs are one example of a demand side management program as they help individuals and businesses lower their energy use by improving the efficiency of their home or business. Another example of a demand side management program is a load allocation scheme that encourages users to shift their energy usage to periods with low demand by offering lower prices in off-peak hours.
Easy Cool, Entergy New Orleans flagship demand-side management program, provides financial incentives to residential customers who reduce their energy consumption during peak hours, improving reliability for all energy consumers. Participants receive a one-time $25 enrollment incentive and collect an additional $40 incentive each year they participate.
How does it work?
Purchase and install a qualifying smart thermostat, and get up to a $100 incentive. Enroll your new or existing thermostat in EasyCool and receive a one-time $25 incentive for signing up. EasyCool smart thermostats automatically make small temperature adjustments to reduce your energy use during short periods of high electricity usage, also known as peak demand. Don’t worry, you can always manually adjust your thermostat to your preferred temperature.
Sign up today and start saving! Call 504-229-6868 or go to enrollmythermostat.com/entergyno.
Rebate programs help consumers invest in energy-efficient purchases and home improvements by financially supporting customers through tax credits, rebates (money-back on your purchases), and savings programs. These federal, state, and local incentives aim to help offset the up-front cost of energy-efficient improvements and renewable energy technologies in your home.
Energy Smart offers rebates that will reduce the up-front cost of installing energy-efficiency upgrades in your home. Depending on the improvements you make to your home, you could save up to 20 percent or more on your annual utility bill.
Rebates and incentives include:
Learn more about the full list of rebate and incentives available to you.
