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Efficiency and Solar �for Homes and Churches

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Welcome

Since 2006, Viridiant, a 501(c)3 non-profit, has promoted sustainable construction across Virginia, providing technical expertise and verification for more than 30,000 green-built homes.

Our Community Energy Services division was launched in 2020 to provide public education and resources regarding home energy audits, rooftop solar, energy efficient mortgages, and more – especially for folks in the Richmond region

www.viridiant.org

2022 Corporate Sponsors

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Clean Energy in Virginia

Utility-scale wind and solar:

Lowest-cost power source
Thriving due to high profit margins

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Clean Energy in Virginia

Distributed “rooftop” solar:

On-site solar

Uneven price/quality
Need financing
Customers ignoring efficiency

“Community” solar: crippled by utilities’ minimum fees (other than low-income)

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Clean Energy Deployment in Virginia

Efficiency works – but is VASTLY under-deployed.

Consumers don’t understand technology or its potential
Need easy, affordable financing
Construction industry/trades not trained or oriented towards best ROI
Multi-family: owners lack incentive to reduce residents’ utility costs
Churches…

Millions of homes under-insulated.

Severe duct leakage is endemic.

Incredibly high usage persists

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Needed: Deep Energy Retrofits – at Scale!

Virginia has more than 3.5M housing units as of 2022.

To achieve equity, economic, and climate goals, we must get all of those as close to net-zero as possible in less than 30 years.

That requires more than 100K “deep energy retrofits” per year – starting now.

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Current Support for Energy Efficiency Upgrades

Existing Virginia programs are meaningful

Federal low-income Weatherization Program
Utility rate-payer funded programs
RGGI funds
Federal funds via state/local housing agencies

2021 Infrastructure Act and 2022 Inflation Reduction Act added 100s of millions more

Tax credits available now
Rebates coming by 2024
Other funds for states/localities starting to flow

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New Residential Clean Energy Retrofit Incentives

High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebates (HEEHRA)

Estimated $93M to Virginia
State energy office to develop program
“Point of sale” rebates
$14K max for households earning up to 80% AMI
$8K max for households earning 80-150% AMI
No combining HEEHRA and HOMES rebates for “same single upgrade”
MF building owners may utilize for rentals

Table from www.rewiringamerica.org

Richmond, VA MSA FY2022 AMI: $101,000 for a family of 4

https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il2022/select_Geography.odn
80% = 80% $80,550

§18795a. High-efficiency electric home rebate program (HEEHRA) https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title42-section18795a&f=treesort&fq=true&num=0&saved=%7CSGlnaC1FZmZpY2llbmN5IEVsZWN0cmljIEhvbWUgUmViYXRl%7CdHJlZXNvcnQ%3D%7CdHJ1ZQ%3D%3D%7C1%7Ctrue%7Cprelim

Point of sale rebates, maxxing out at $14K per "eligible entity", for the following entities:

LMI Households
an individual or entity that owns a multifamily building at least 50% occupied by LMI households
a governmental, commercial, or nonprofit entity acting on behalf of either of the above

Below amounts only for households earning less than 80% AMI. Half these amounts available to households earning 80-150% AMI

$840 for a stove, cooktop, range, oven, or heat pump clothes dryer;
$1,750 for a heat pump water heater; and
$8,000 for a heat pump for space heating or cooling.
$1,600 for insulation, air sealing, and ventilation;
$2,500 for electric wiring; and
$4,000 for an electric load service center upgrade.

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New Residential Clean Energy Retrofit Incentives

HOMES Rebates

Estimated $93M to Virginia
State energy office develops program
$2K-4K to property owner or aggregator
Modeled (20-35% or >35%) or measured (>20%) energy savings
3^rd party confirmation of savings
Extensive energy data reporting and EM&V
State may double rebates for <80% AMI
No combining HEEHRA and HOMES rebates for “same single upgrade”
Single- and multi-family buildings qualify

Cost-effective clean energy upgrades start with an expert home energy audit.

Image from www.bpihomeowner.org

Richmond, VA MSA FY2022 AMI: $101,000 for a family of 4

https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il2022/select_Geography.odn
80% = 80% $80,550 150% = 150% $151,000

§18795. Home energy performance-based, whole-house rebates (HOMES) https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title42-section18795&num=0&saved=%7CSGlnaC1FZmZpY2llbmN5IEVsZWN0cmljIEhvbWUgUmViYXRl%7CdHJlZXNvcnQ%3D%7CdHJ1ZQ%3D%3D%7C1%7Ctrue%7Cprelim

States get grants to create their own HOMES programs - with up to 20% of grant amount for planning/admin/technical assistance
Work completed after August 16, 2022
Modeling savings based on BPI 2400 (https://www.bpi.org/sites/default/files/BPI-2400-S-2015%20%28The%20Delta%20Standard%29%202015-12-07.pdf)
Retrofits require "third party" quality monitoring to ensure performance
Homeowners and "Aggregators" may claim rebates
SEO may increase rebate amounts for LMI households (less than 80% AMI; may double, per AnnDyl and https://content.rewiringamerica.org/reports/IRA%20Benefits%20to%20Disadvantaged%20Communities.pdf)
Data access guidelines: "The Secretary shall develop and publish guidelines for States relating to residential electric and natural gas energy data sharing."

Just "guidelines“

No double dipping:

A rebate provided by a State energy office under a HOMES rebate program may not be combined with any other Federal grant or rebate, including a rebate provided under HEERHA for the same single upgrade.

Q: but can owner still utilize the tax credit for remaining expenses?

State programs shall use open-source advanced measurement and verification software, as approved by the Secretary, for determining and documenting the monthly and hourly (if available) weather-normalized energy use of a home before and after the implementation of a home energy efficiency retrofit, for purposes of measured performance home rebates - and - shall value savings based on time, location, or greenhouse gas emissions;
(2) Amount of rebate

(A) for individuals and aggregators carrying out energy efficiency upgrades of single-family homes-

(i) in the case of a retrofit that achieves modeled energy system savings of not less than 20 percent but less than 35 percent, the lesser of-

(I) $2,000; and
(II) 50 percent of the project cost;

(ii) in the case of a retrofit that achieves modeled energy system savings of not less than 35 percent, the lesser of-

(I) $4,000; and
(II) 50 percent of the project cost; and

(iii) for measured energy savings, in the case of a home or portfolio of homes that achieves energy savings of not less than 15 percent-

(I) a payment rate per kilowatt hour saved, or kilowatt hour-equivalent saved, equal to $2,000 for a 20 percent reduction of energy use for the average home in the State; or
(II) 50 percent of the project cost;

(B) for multifamily building owners and aggregators carrying out energy efficiency upgrades of multifamily buildings-

(i) in the case of a retrofit that achieves modeled energy system savings of not less than 20 percent but less than 35 percent, $2,000 per dwelling unit, with a maximum of $200,000 per multifamily building;
(ii) in the case of a retrofit that achieves modeled energy system savings of not less than 35 percent, $4,000 per dwelling unit, with a maximum of $400,000 per multifamily building; or
(iii) for measured energy savings, in the case of a multifamily building or portfolio of multifamily buildings that achieves energy savings of not less than 15 percent-

(I) a payment rate per kilowatt hour saved, or kilowatt hour-equivalent saved, equal to $2,000 for a 20 percent reduction of energy use per dwelling unit for the average multifamily building in the State; or
(II) 50 percent of the project cost; and

(C) for individuals and aggregators carrying out energy efficiency upgrades of a single-family home occupied by a low- or moderate-income household or a multifamily building not less than 50 percent of the dwelling units of which are occupied by low- or moderate-income households-

(i) in the case of a retrofit that achieves modeled energy system savings of not less than 20 percent but less than 35 percent, the lesser of-

(I) $4,000 per single-family home or dwelling unit; and
(II) 80 percent of the project cost;

(ii) in the case of a retrofit that achieves modeled energy system savings of not less than 35 percent, the lesser of-

(I) $8,000 per single-family home or dwelling unit; and
(II) 80 percent of the project cost; and

(iii) for measured energy savings, in the case of a single-family home, multifamily building, or portfolio of single-family homes or multifamily buildings that achieves energy savings of not less than 15 percent-

(I) a payment rate per kilowatt hour saved, or kilowatt hour-equivalent saved, equal to $4,000 for a 20 percent reduction of energy use per single-family home or dwelling unit, as applicable, for the average single-family home or multifamily building in the State; or
(II) 80 percent of the project cost.

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Clean Energy Tax Credits – Increased Significantly

Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C)

Increased tax credits available starting Jan. 1, 2023

Also in the IRA/BIL:

Solar and battery storage credits returned to 30% tax credit (25D)
EV charging installation 30% tax credit (30C)
IRA: up to $20B for Green Bank
BIL: revolving loan fund resources

Table from www.rewiringamerica.org

§25C. Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:26%20section:25C%20edition:prelim) (formerly the "Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit")

Tax credit applied to annual return
$1,200 annual limit

$150 for home energy audits (must calculate ROI);
$250 for an exterior door ($500 total for all exterior doors);
$600 for exterior windows and skylights; central air conditioners; electric panels and certain related equipment; natural gas, propane, or oil water heaters; natural gas, propane, or oil furnaces or hot water boilers; and
$2,000 for electric or natural gas heat pump water heaters, electric or natural gas heat pumps, and biomass stoves and boilers (for this one category, the $1,200 annual limit may be exceeded).

§25D. Residential clean energy credit: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title26-section25D&num=0&saved=%7CKHRpdGxlOjI2IHNlY3Rpb246MjVDIGVkaXRpb246cHJlbGltKQ%3D%3D%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim

30% off solar PV, battery storage, wind, geothermal heat pump, fuel cell, solar hot water

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Where to start

So… Hurry up and wait?

Depends…

Is this your home/church?

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Home Energy Audits: What You Need to Know

Benefits of a Home Energy Audit

Health/safety
Financial
Comfort
Environmental impact

There is an opportunity to make significant cost-effective efficiency improvements in nearly all homes.

Image: National Academies of Science using EIA data needtoknow.nas.edu/energy/energy-use/home-work

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Home Energy Audits: What You Need to Know

Typical Services/Process

Interview
Whole-home inspection
Utility bill analysis
Diagnostic tests and monitoring
Product installation (rebate-funded)
Energy modeling/ROI calculations
Written report
Follow-up

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Home Energy Audits: What You Need to Know

Cost of a Home Energy Audit

Diagnostic Audit

$400-500 in most markets

Walk-through or rebate-supported

Varies with rebate

Viridiant: Starts at $65
Income-qualifying: Free
$150 Federal tax credit starting 1/1/23 (for “diagnostic audit”)

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Local Weatherization Services

Free Services!!!

For qualifying single-family homes and apartments
rented or owned
up to $20K of work

Contact:

Nancy Palmer, Va Dept. of Housing and Community Development
nancy.palmer@dhcd.virginia.gov
dhcd.virginia.gov/wx

Household Size	60% SMI: Federal Wx	80% SMI (utility + RGGI)	120% SMI (limited)
1	$33,944	$45,259	$67,888
2	$44,454	$59,272	$88,908
3	$54,913	$73,217	$109,826
4	$65,373	$87,164	$130,746
5	$75,833	$101,111	$151,666
6	$86,292	$115,056	$172,584
7	$88,254	$117,672	$176,508
8	$90,215	$120,287	$180,430

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Solar’s Time Has Come

“Solar-ready” site:

Roof in very good shape
Full sun
Southerly orientation

Just need a good price

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Solar = Simple

Your solar home/church

No rewiring
No new electrical panel (typically)
No batteries
No special contract with the utility
No special gov’t programs – just a 30% credit
No worries!

Image: https://www.colasolar.com.au/most-common-solar-questions/how-solar-works-pic/

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Net Metering

Your system sends solar power not used immediately on site onto grid via bi-directional meter.

No batteries needed.

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Track Your Production

Your Solar Power Plant

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Solar Economics

Size of array not important.
Installation price and productivity are
Most roofs not big enough for array that will meet entire annual demand.

That’s fine, can still be economic
Any offset of grid power is great!

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Building Science

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Smart Savings

Home energy saving tips:

Cheap, easy DIY:

LEDs for everything
Insulate hot water pipes
Re-insulate line-set pipe to compressor
Address phantom load loss
Seal/insulate attic access doors
Get a home energy audit
Stop drafts
Address duct leaks

Bigger jobs:

Correct insulation
Improve HVAC design and equipment
Replace very old appliances with high-performance models
Go solar if you have a good site
Replace single-pane windows with high-performance models

Air Leaks in Homes = 15-30% of Heating and Cooling Costs

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Summary:

30% federal tax credits available now

Simple, one page, show receipt
Solar, HVAC, Insulation, Appliances

Federal Wx, RGGI, Utility programs available now

Up to 80% area median income

Coming in 2024

HOMES and HEEHRA rebates: up to 150% area median income

Don’t wait to get an energy audit!

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Thanks!

Questions?

Andrew Grigsby, Energy Services Director

andrew.grigsby@viridiant.org

804-252-1486