A faulty water heater, an air conditioning system that is on its last leg, poorly insulated attics or leaky A/C ducts…these are just a few examples of numerous efficiency issues Gainesville Regional Utilities can help many customers fix — for free.
Fixing these issues increases home energy efficiency and saves customers money on their monthly utility bills. This is a benefit of GRU’s Low-Income Energy Efficiency Program, which provides an array of upgrades at no cost to low- or moderate-income customers who qualify. Many more customers become eligible for the program this year, as GRU launches multiple expansions to LEEP.
While upgrades through LEEP no doubt help customers save money every month or offset rising rates, it also makes their homes much more comfortable to live in, said Scott Downie, Residential Efficiency Program Coordinator in the Energy & Business Services department at GRU.
“The program makes a big difference for people,” Downie said. “Most people do not have $6,000 to $8,000 laying around to make these changes to their home, which makes such a big difference in their day-to-day life.”
GRU is an energy company servicing Greater Gainesville and a pioneer in renewable energy, with sustainability projects that have made Gainesville one of the leading cities in renewable energy sources nationwide. While sustainability has long been an emphasis for GRU, the energy provider is boosting its efforts to help customers save as much as possible on energy costs — the LEEP program being a major component of this effort.
What is the LEEP program and how does it work?
There are two key focal points for the LEEP program: upgrading parts of the home that pertains to energy usage in order to boost efficiency and lower costs; and educating the homeowner so they can gain control over energy usage and expenses.
Once a customer is approved to go through the program, GRU inspectors thoroughly evaluate the home’s overall condition. In these inspections, GRU ensures the home will support any new systems or appliances. Then, they prioritize what their needs are.
The inspector recommends which upgrades to get estimates for. From here, the customer reaches out to GRU LEEP Partnering Contractors to schedule an estimate. Then, the customer shares these estimates with GRU.
If approved, Gainesville Regional Utilities sends the customer vouchers for partnered contractors. The customer schedules the service with contractors. Once the repair is complete, the customer signs the voucher and gives it to the contractor, who submits it to GRU for compensation. GRU inspects the home after the repair is done. After making sure everything is satisfactory, GRU compensates the contractors.
The customer is not responsible for making payments during any part of this process — only for coordinating inspections and repairs.
What’s new?
GRU is expanding LEEP to include significant changes, which make the program accessible to many more customers. These expansions went into effect in May 2022.
- Not only homeowners, but renters are now eligible
- Budget for upgrades to a home is increasing from $6,000 to $10,000
- The income limit is increasing from at or below 80% of median family income to 120% median family income, meaning households with higher income may now be eligible
- Homes can now qualify at 10 years old rather than 20 years old
- GRU is on track to hit its goal of servicing 100 homes through LEEP for 2022, and the next goal is 150 homes per year
“So far, LEEP has only been for homeowners, but this (expansion) is going to open up to renters, as well. That’s a big, big win there for the renters to be able to benefit from that. There are some protections there: The property owners have to agree to not raise the rent more than 3% per year over the next two years, and they cannot sell the house within that period of time, so it protects the tenant.”
What services are available through the Gainesville Regional Utilities LEEP program?
This is not an exhaustive list, but rather the main energy users for most homes. For a complete list of services, visit gru.com/TabID/3656/Default.aspx.
- Replacing or servicing central air conditioning and heating systems
- Repairing and sealing duct systems
- Installing additional insulation
- Replacing the water heater
- Upgrading electrical service panels
- Installing a programmable thermostat
- Weather stripping and caulking of doors and windows
- Providing up to 10 LEDs
Where do the funds for LEEP come from?
No additional costs get passed on to monthly bills, making LEEP 100% free to program beneficiaries. Funds are available through several grants GRU has received, including the American Rescue Plan.
By Jewell Tomazin