Energy efficiency programs are a win-win because they help families and businesses lower their energy bills while reducing harmful pollution for everyone. The Alliance is very proud to have worked on energy efficiency issues for the past 37 years.
Louisiana residents use at least 30% more electricity than the average American household, wasting millions of dollars a year on high utility bills. 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, save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, all while also helping 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. Energy efficiency is at the intersection of affordable housing, health, comfort, and resilience.
Since 2009, The Alliance has participated in LPSC proceedings to advocate for strong efficiency programs that reduce costs for residents by increasing funding options that allow Louisianans to make home improvements to safeguard their homes from extreme weather.
After a 13 year process, in January of 2024 the Louisiana Public Service Commission voted to approve long-term state-wide energy efficiency programs for Louisianans that will scale up over the coming decade to save energy and money, improve health and safety, and invest millions of dollars in homes and small businesses. It was a long time coming, and Louisiana residents deserve energy savings and all the benefits that come with these programs. The Alliance looks forward to working with the Commission to ensure the state’s efficiency programs reach the people who need them most.
Winter or summer, these investments will improve lives across the state and save millions of dollars. Best of all, these dollars will begin to flow around the same time the State begins to implement efficiency and electrification funds associated with the federal Inflation Reduction Act. Louisiana will have hundreds of millions of dollars to invest in homes and businesses to reduce our energy waste and make our homes climate-ready.
Energy Smart is an energy efficiency program created by the New Orleans City Council, and administered by Entergy New Orleans (as well as APTIM, a third party administrator) that offers solutions to help New Orleans residents and businesses save energy and money. The program offers cash incentives for home energy audits, annual HVAC tune ups, upgrades, and more. The Alliance worked for many years to make Energy Smart a reality. Initially started as a pilot program, The Alliance has made sure Energy Smart is now a permanent and comprehensive program by incorporating Energy Smart into the city’s Integrated Resource Plan.
