EEFA Louisiana in April
WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER
We hope you are staying safe during this COVID-19 crisis. Please continue to take the time you need to keep yourselves and your families healthy. As we begin to deal with the immediate health impacts of this crisis, the long-term economic effects are also beginning to ripple across our state and country.
Throughout the coming weeks and months, access to stable housing and affordable utility bills will be more important than ever. We will continue to live our mission of providing Energy Efficiency for All, because it is a vital component to the health and welfare of our community.
COVID-19 RESOURCES
Community Resources for New Orleans & Beyond.
Are you in need of mental health help? Looking for food assistance? Are you available to volunteer?
THIS LIST is a great place for those answers and much, much more.
Will The Lights Stay On?
The answer is YES. Since mid-March, most utilities around the state have suspended disconnections for inability to pay, in order to protect Louisianians during this health crisis. Whether ordered by the Louisiana Public Service Commission, or by voluntary commitment nearly all energy providers are ensuring their customers are able to safely follow “stay at home” orders.
While most municipal utilities have also suspended disconnections, there is not currently any order in place to require this, so we’ve been asking the Governor to put a state-wide moratorium in place.
We’ve also been advocating for more rescue assistance to help pay bills, and continuation of efficiency programs to keep energy burdens down as the weather heats up. Louisiana residents have been hit hard by COVID-related health and economic crisis, and so we are committed to making sure your lights stay on during and after the pandemic. See below some letters we’ve written in the last two weeks.
LETTERS TO DECISION MAKERS
Read the letter to Governor John Bel Edwards asking him to broaden the suspension of utility service shut-offs.
Read the letter to the New Orleans City Council asking for more help for utility ratepayers.
Read NOLA Council President Moreno’s letter advocating for more federal utility assistance funds.
Read the Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance’s letter to local, state and federal leaders for affordable housing help.
Read the Alliance for Affordable Energy’s Blog on utility bill assistance.
ENERGY BENCHMARKING
It’s happening! And here’s why you should consider taking part.
The Entergy New Orleans Energy Smart Program is now offering a comprehensive Energy Advisor support service for owners of multi-tenant buildings in New Orleans that have benchmarked their buildings.
What is Benchmarking? It’s a method used to determine whether a building is using more or less energy relative to buildings with similar occupancies, climates, and sizes.
Why should multitenant building owners sign up? Initially, you’ll get a building performance analysis, energy efficiency measure recommendations and Energy Smart incentive application support. Once your building is benchmarked, you will get a building performance analysis based on your facility’s benchmarking results.
The best part: You’ll get a report that details how your facility is currently performing and outlining energy savings opportunities specific to your building. 
To get started, complete the Application for Energy Usage Benchmarking located here.
Healthy Homes, Better Outcomes
While we are all staying home right now to stay healthy, what if it’s your home that’s unhealthy?
HousingNOLA has been working with the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative to implement a Healthy Homes Pilot Program in New Orleans.
The program will help to improve housing circumstances for our most vulnerable residents who are susceptible to illnesses caused by poor environmental and substandard living conditions, particularly, the elderly, youth, and the chronically ill. Energy efficiency can support good physical and mental health, primarily by creating healthy indoor living environments with healthy air temperatures, humidity levels, and improved air quality. Programs that improve insulation, heating, and ventilation systems can have positive impacts on air quality, reducing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and allergies.
Dr. Felicia Rabito, our Healthy Homes Partner with the Tulane Department of Epidemiology, is currently working on an “Allergen Reduction and Child Health Study.” Despite overall advances in improving childhood asthma outcomes, asthma morbidity remains high among children in race/ethnic minority groups and those living in poverty due to a greater exposure allergens. Exposure to cockroaches, dust mites, pet dander, and mold are known to worsen asthma.
The overall goal of the study is to improve patient-centered asthma outcomes by targeting one key allergen, cockroach exposure in the child’s home. If you know a family that might be interested in participating in the study or you want more information, you can reach out to Derek Werthmann, the research coordinator for the study, at dwerthma@tulane.edu
WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY FOR ALL COALITION MEMBERS?
Alliance for Affordable Energy
