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Disaster creates opportunities for efficiency
Although energy efficiency is often a low priority in the aftermath of a major flood, restoring homes and businesses presents a significant opportunity for utility energy savings.
For many residents of flood-ravaged Minnesota cities, restoration means installation of new water heaters, furnaces, heat pumps, and other appliances.
The disaster also affords utilities an opportunity to promote replacement with more energy-efficient appliances.
Unfortunately, according to Dan Boyce, general manager of the East Grand Forks Water and Light Department, there's not much financial incentive, at least at this time.
"If a furnace was soaked in the flood, the homeowner may receive a first proposal from Federal Emergency Management Agency of up to $250 to try and repair it," said Boyce. "If replacement is authorized, FEMA can fund only average efficiency furnaces, not high-efficiency units."
However, in situations where financial resources are available to residents and business owners, such as low-interest loans or government grants, Operation Fresh Start can help.
Operation Fresh Start is a new program of the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy that offers technical assistance with short- and long-term recovery and redevelopment activities.
The program provides communities a wide array of sustainable development tools to use for long-term recovery and development.
DOE also administers a Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program, which provides services through formula grants to the states. Funds can be used to reduce heating and cooling costs for the elderly, people with disabilities, and families with children through improved energy efficiency.
Minnesota and North Dakota are authorized by DOE to use existing fiscal year 1997 Low-Income Weatherization grant awards of $1.3 million for North Dakota and $5.2 million for Minnesota.
A future issue of the Energy Services Bulletin will show ways Minnesota flood communities have used these programs.
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