Manufactured Housing Replacement Pilot Successful
Posted on November 9, 2021 by Bob Jenks
Tags, Energy
Four years ago, the Energy Trust of Oregon (ETO) launched a pilot program to replace old, inefficient manufactured homes. The pilot was conducted in the cities of Portland, Roseburg, and Glide, Oregon and involved several dozen households. The pilot has come to an end and demonstrated that such a program can be effective and financially viable. ETO is now developing an ongoing program to support replacement of older, manufactured homes.
Oregon has more than 110,000 manufactured homes that were built before 1995, when modern energy codes were first applied to manufactured homes. These homes are poorly insulated, with significant air leaks and inefficient windows. They do not include modern heating or cooling equipment. They are too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer. This type of housing is difficult and expensive to retrofit – often the cost of a retrofit exceeds the value of the home.
The solution is to take the money that would ordinarily be offered as an incentive to invest in weatherization and modern appliances and apply it to the cost of a new home. Then, work with community partners who can provide additional financial support, so a low- or moderate-income household can afford to replace the home.
By moving from a limited pilot to an expanded program, many more households can be served and benefit from the cost saving and the comfort improvements that come with energy efficient housing. In doing so, we will also reduce the peak energy demand that is placed on our utilities during periods of very hot or very cold weather.
The cost of heating and cooling older manufactured housing has long been a serious problem in the state. CUB looks forward to seeing how this new program will change the lives of these customers by helping them get into more efficient and comfortable housing. We congratulate the Energy Trust of Oregon on the success of this pilot, along with the pilot’s community partners: Oregon Housing and Community Services, CASA of Oregon, NeighborWorks Umpqua, St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County, and Community Action Agencies.
The new, expanded program is expected to begin in February 2022 with a budget of $1 million and will expand to a $3 million budget in 2023. To be eligible, a household’s income must be below 12 percent of the community’s median income. Interested households should contact the Energy Trust of Oregon early in 2022.
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11/09/21 | 0 Comments | Manufactured Housing Replacement Pilot Successful