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ENERGY CONSERVATION

A lag exists between new consciousness and actual policy changes in energy efficiency guidelines. Most efforts in Missouri have come from federal initiatives.

Current Services

Division of Energy of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Programs coordinated by DNR include low-income weatherization through community based agencies. State Energy Plan (SEP) Grants provide nonprofits and local governments money for efficient production, distribution, and end use of all energy resources. Energy Efficiency Revolving Loans are eligible to local governments and schools, who repay the loan through energy savings. The Efficiency State Buildings Program assists with assessment of plans for rehabilitated or newly built buildings. The U.S. Department of Energy awards the Environment and Economics Grant (NICE3). An average of $400,000 is awarded for the design, testing, demonstration, and assessment of the feasibility of equipment with the potential to increase energy efficiency, reduce pollution, and improve process economics. The grant has a maximum 50% from federal funding, with the recipient matching 50% or more of the project cost.

Division of Family Services

The Division of Family Services' Low Income Energy Assistance Program (DFSLIEAP) provides assistance to families in the metropolitan area who are unable to meet the cost of their energy bills. Approximately 10,500 households in the City of St. Louis received assistance through this program in 1998. The average grant dispersed was $206.

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis administers the weatherization program in the City of St. Louis for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The program is funded by the Department of Energy. In 1998, approximately $577,000 was administered to low-income homeowners and renters, as well as the elderly and physically disabled. A total of 188 units were provided with weatherization services for the year.

Energy Care

Energy Care is a private nonprofit organization unaffiliated with the United Way and the government. The organization is committed to providing cooling and heating assistance to low-income, disabled, children, and the elderly. Their programs include furnace repair for adult homeowners, weatherization kits, air conditioner and heater lending, and assistance referral. Approximately 80% of the 12,500 people who sought assistance in 1998 were St. Louis residents.

Dollar-Help, Inc.

The Dollar-Help program is a crisis intervention program established to provide assistance to people who cannot pay their delinquent heating bills and who have exhausted all other avenues of payment. The program is generously funded by Laclede Gas Company and private donations. Donations can be made in four ways:
• Automatic Giving Option (monthly over-payment of gas bill through one-time phone request).
• Direct mail contribution to Dollar-Help fund.
• One time overpayment of exactly $1.00.
• A bequest.

AmerenUE

The Energy Plus program has been initiated by the AmerenUE electric company. The program includes: an Air Conditioning program; Energy Plus grants; Hospital Stay Program, Urban League Community Outreach Program, and weatherization kits. Over $1.1 million dollars were donated to the program in 1999. Since 1982 it has raised $10.6 million to help 82,000 low income families pay their bills.

Needs and Challenges

The City of St. Louis has recently been subject to a new wave of building rehabilitation in the past 5 years. While there have been many positive changes in the availability for energy efficient equipment, City codes and requirements have lagged woefully behind. Current codes call for 67% efficient gas furnaces (which are no longer made), and air conditioners at a 10.0 energy rating. All new gas furnaces meet this requirement as the industry standard is now an 80% rating. High efficiency air conditioners have energy rating of 12.0. Codes also call for minimum isolation standards, however they would not be considered high efficiency. A number of features are optional.

Contractors have not been receptive to using high energy efficient materials and equipment because of the extra costs involved. The exception is the 90% efficient gas furnace which is cheaper to install and maintain than 80% efficient models. This is exacerbated by the fact that energy efficiency is rarely considered by appraisers in the value of the home; there is no benefit when selling the building. The majority of St. Louis housing stock was built before 1940, and is in need of weatherization.

Upgrading the energy efficiency in existing and new housing is important if the City wishes to provide affordable housing to low- and moderate-income residents. Poor weatherization and inefficient equipment cause many of these resident to pay large utility bill, some of whom can't afford to. In its efforts to increase the stock of affordable housing, the City must improve the standards of energy efficiency within rehabilitated and new homes. Although the problem of low income families to meet their utility costs is rooted in their state of poverty, the condition of weatherization is a contributing factor in their hardships. The combination of poorly weatherized homes, inefficient equipment, and poverty is causing a large number of residents to rely on the energy assistance grants described earlier.

Recommendations

a) Revise current standard for rehabilitated and newly constructed buildings.

Current standards are ten years old and lag behind newer technologies and standards.

b) Include energy efficiency in assessment value of homes.

Encourage developers and homeowner that energy efficiency is a worthwhile investment; one that pays off immediately and in the long run.

c) Support and encourage marketing programs that promote energy efficiency programs such as the Home Energy Rating Systems (HERS) as well as general benefits of energy efficiency to the general public.

Resources

Division of Energy of the Department of Natural Resources sponsors the Urban League Weatherization program. In addition Energy Care also serves the weatherization needs of the residents. However, there are a greater number of requests than current funding allows.

As of the winter of 1998, the cost of weatherization was approximately $1,300. The Division of Energy dispersed $577,000 through the Urban League program to address the needs of 188 units. The Division of Family Services granted over $3 million in energy assistance in 1998. Sustained assistance is vital until energy efficiency problems areresolved.