The city of Dallas has launched two programs aimed at making homes more energy efficient. The city says low-income residents spend three times as much of their monthly budget on power compared to residents at other income levels.
"We have to be really thoughtful and strategic about how we're engaging residents, especially when engaging our low-income homeowners, so they can take full advantage of the tax incentives, the funding, the rebates," Kathryn Bazan, chair of the Dallas Environmental Commission, said.
Whole Home Dallas includes information about incentives available to retrofit homes for greater energy efficiency.
"The Whole Home Dallas program will aim to increase energy equity opportunities for Dallas residents," Dallas City Council member Paula Blackmon said.
Blackmon said the program includes information about how homeowners can make their home more "climate resilient," including a hub with information about weatherization, energy efficiency, and financial incentives for renewable energy projects.
"The goal is to provide residents with information and resources that can help residents lower their monthly utility bills, protect the health of their families and make their homes more resilient," Carlos Evans, director of Dallas' Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability, said.
Dallas is also starting a Green Job Skills program. The city said the program offers existing contractors free online classes in weatherization.
"This program checks so many boxes we all know to be crucial from up-skilling current skills because it's inviting people who are already in the construction field to more advanced business skills they're going to learn through this program," Dallas City Council member Janie Schultz said.
Schultz said Green Job Skills can also benefit the city's economy long-term by producing a workforce skilled with the latest technology.
"One of the goals of the City of Dallas is to become a center for the green jobs industry," she said. "Many of those jobs haven't even been invented yet."
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