Seeking Milwaukee and Waukesha County Homeowners for Energy Efficient Home Upgrades
West Allis, WI FEB. 13TH, 2023: Green Homeowners United, a metro Milwaukee area woman-owned social enterprise with the mission to help homeowners reduce utility bills and energy burdens announced today that they are still able to help 30 Milwaukee and/or Waukesha County Homeowners make their homes more energy efficient due to a Energy Innovation Grant from the State of Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC). Applications being accepted until funds run out. Green Homeowners United received this grant in partnership with Revitalize Milwaukee in summer of 2022 and the grant upgrades must be completed by June 2023.
“We know that low-income and communities of color are disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change. Add high energy burden and it becomes a nearly impossible financial barrier to overcome,” said PSC Chairperson Rebecca Cameron Valcq. “This funding will help improve the lives of many and demonstrate the benefits of taking a holistic approach to energy efficiency.”
This grant program was designed to help those experiencing a high “energy burden” as a way to help people reduce their utility bills by making the home more energy efficient. 9 out of 10 attics are estimated to be under-insulated, and too many homes are drafty, leaking warm air out in the winter and allowing humid air in the summer. This impacts consumers’ energy bills, our planet and residents’ health.
“Revitalize Milwaukee is proud to be a partner in this project. Revitalizing and stabilizing neighborhoods starts in the homes of our community. We are excited about what this partnership will mean for our community and the impact we will be able to have on the energy front,” explained Lynnea Katz-Petted, Chief Executive Officer of Revitalize Milwaukee.
Eligibility requirements for the grant:
To qualify for the grant, homeowners must be low to moderate income* and fit into one of these categories:
- Seniors (over the age of 60)
- Veterans
- Persons with disabilities
Other homeownership requirements:
- Homeowners must have owned their home for at least 5 years (i.e. since Feb 2018)
- Homeownership must be in good standing (i.e home can not be in foreclosure/bankruptcy proceeding or behind on property taxes)
Home requirements:
- Attitic must be at least 600 square feet (i.e. typically 20 ft x 30ft or greater, if you are not sure, Green Homeowners will help figure this out)
- Attic cannot have already been professionally weatherized (i.e. there should be less than 10 inches of insulation)
*Income limits are described in the graphic below.
Image from the Green Homeowners United.
Amounts – if you are at or under the income amounts above, you may be eligible for the following as a grant:
- Up to $7,800 in direct energy efficiency upgrades to your home
- Possible additional minor home repair funds
- (Optional) if you live in the City of West Allis, certain Milwaukee neighborhoods or Waukesha County and are eligible above, additional resources may be available to you
The grant can include:
- Insulating attics (requirement) & portions of basements
- Safety and health home improvements
- Water & electricity saving improvements
As a social enterprise, Green Homeowners United helps people find fair financing options so that they can afford the carbon-cutting upgrades that normally would be out of reach to a typical homeowner. They are a Focus on Energy Trade Ally and have partnered with organizations like the City of Milwaukee’s ECO office and others to help over 100+ homeowners improve their property with energy-efficiency retrofits such as attic and basement insulation, gap and air sealing, and common sense home improvements.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
