3,000 Homes Weatherized Through Casa Verde SA Program

CPS Energy and City partnership uses federal funds to save energy and create jobs

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Oct 24, 2011, 05:49 ET

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CPS Energy and the City of San Antonio mark a major milestone today with the partners Casa Verde SA program, officially weatherizing 3,000 homes – more than double the original target in less time. The milestone was achieved at the home of Elisa Teveni, a west San Antonio resident who received nearly two dozen weatherization as well as health and safety measures. Improvements to Teveni's 86-year old home included wall, floor and attic insulation; solar screens; weather stripping and caulking; a new wall furnace; and compact fluorescent lights.

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"This initiative is a great example of how government can directly impact people's lives in a positive way," Mayor Julian Castro said. "Not only are thousands of San Antonio homeowners living in more efficient homes and paying lower utility bills, CPS Energy and the City have put together an initiative that is ahead of schedule and weatherizing more homes than first thought possible."

Launched in December 2009, Casa Verde SA originally aimed to provide weatherization assistance to 1,400 customers in two years. That initial goal was reached within one year, saving the average program recipient 25 percent in electricity consumption and bills. The program was granted $12.4 million and later received $4.1 million of additional funds due to its success. Of the $16.5 million in federal funds, which are administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), only $13.1 million has been spent to achieve the two-fold results. It is anticipated that the program will have weatherized 3,400 homes by Spring 2012.

"Our entire community benefits every time a home is weatherized through this program," said CPS Energy President and CEO Doyle Beneby. "Improving the efficiency of these homes saves energy and keeps all of our rates down by slowing the need to build an additional power plant."

"We're also creating jobs for the companies performing the weatherization work and those jobs result in more money spent in our local economy," added City Manager Sheryl Sculley. "The weatherization program aligns with our common vision of a new energy economy where energy efficiency is a priority."

Casa Verde SA provides energy efficiency improvements, with an average project cost of $4200 per home. The program also addresses health and safety issues, decreasing risks like carbon monoxide poisoning and mold. Federal stimulus dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act fund Casa Verde SA.

"TDHCA and the City through CPS Energy have partnered to weatherize more than 3,000 homes, the second greatest number of units among cities in the stimulus weatherization program and fifth greatest of all 40 statewide subrecipient agencies," said Michael DeYoung, director of TDHCA's Community Affairs Division. "Equally important, the training and technical assistance provided through TDHCA's weatherization grant created a strong foundation for the long-term success of the Casa Verde program."

Once the federal funds are exhausted, CPS Energy will modify the weatherization initiative and allocate funds through the utility's Save for Tomorrow Energy Program (STEP). The goal of STEP is to save 771 MW of peak demand by 2020.

CPS Energy is the nation's largest municipally owned natural gas and electric utility, providing service to approximately 717,000 electric customers and 325,000 natural gas customers in and around the City of San Antonio. The utility ranks among the nation's lowest-cost energy providers while ranking number 1 in wind-energy capacity among municipally owned utilities. For more information, visit cpsenergy.com.

SOURCE CPS Energy