Home improvements begin soon under TVA Extreme Energy Makeover

Oak Ridge officials could start accepting applications at the end of this month for a program that will modify homes with high electrical consumption, with a goal of saving energy.

The modifications are possible under a $2.9 million grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority Extreme Energy Makeover Program. There is no local match required. TVA announced the grant award in September 2015.

Under the program, officials will use energy retrofits to reduce electrical consumption by 25 percent and save a total of 1,000 megawatt hours per year for older homes. The energy retrofits will be offered to 229 qualified residents in Oak Ridge homes that are at least 20 years old.

The targeted implementation date is April 1.

Officials said five homes could be retrofitted in the first month, and then possibly 10 to 15 per month after that.

Oak Ridge officials are calling the program Make Oak Ridge Energy Efficient, or MORE². The grant will be administered by Gilmartin Engineering Works Inc. of Oak Ridge.

Community outreach and educational programs will be used to continue educating awardees and non-awardees on the merits of housing weatherization and energy saving practices, officials said.

Here are qualifications for participants, according to a MORE² brochure:

• Home must be within the Oak Ridge city limits.
• Home must be at least 20 years old.
• Home must have have electric heat and electric water heater.
• Participants can either own or rent the home.
• Participants must provide picture identification.
• Participants must sign a liability release form.
• Participants must sign an income verification statement.
• Total household income of participants during the previous calendar year must not exceed the limits established by Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, for low-income guidelines for Anderson and Roane counties.

See MakeOREE.com for more information or call (865) 375-4656.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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