Reenergizing our Urban Community Efficiently: Crosland Park

Aiken, South Carolina

Federal Funding: $320,000
Project Timeline: February 2011 – February 2014

Project Summary
Community Characteristics
Program Results/Estimated Results
Media Coverage

Project Summary

Revitalizing and Re-Energizing A Low-Income Community

The City of Aiken distributed energy saving tips to residents and completed light weatherization, including providing CFLs to residents, weatherstripping, and changing HVAC filters, for 64 homes. The City completed renovation of four homes and is in the process of renovating four additional homes by installing energy efficient windows and doors, insulation in the walls and attic, tankless water heaters, and energy efficient HVAC units and appliances. When renovation is complete, the City will conduct energy audits to ensure increased efficiency in each residence. Future work for the City also includes sending out a neighborhood-wide newsletter about energy savings and hosting an energy conservation workshop for residents.

The Crosland Park Initiative is part of a larger initiative, the Northside Development Plan, to improve the housing stock and infrastructure, and encourage private investment, in the urban neighborhoods in the Northside of Aiken. As part of the Crosland Park Initiative, the City of Aiken will complete 24 to 30 comprehensive energy efficient renovations over the next three years in the low-income neighborhood of Crosland Park. The City will complete energy audits before and after each renovation to monitor the effectiveness of the initiative. The City will also weatherize 40 additional homes in Crosland Park each year through a summer job corps program. In order to achieve a further, lasting impact, the City will offer a minimum of three educational workshops each year to educate community members on reducing home energy consumption and, as a result, lower their utility bills and greenhouse gas emissions.

The renovations included in the Crosland Park Initiative will include the following strategies:

installing ENERGY STAR lighting fixtures and appliances, energy-efficient furnaces or heat pumps with programmable thermostats, radiant barrier roofing materials, and tankless and/or solar water heaters,
sealing the building envelope, and
installing whole house energy consumption displays to educate homeowners about energy conservation and to promote long-term energy conservation habits.

Overall, the initiative will lower residents' energy bills, improve indoor air quality, create amenities and improve the quality of life in a low-income neighborhood, engage local youth and businesses, and increase employment training opportunities for residents. These renovation and weatherization activities, in addition to reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, will also spark economic development in the City's aging, suffering communities by improving the housing stock and environmental quality in the areas, creating jobs, and increasing educational opportunities.

Community Characteristics

Population:	28,884
Area:	16 square miles
Government Type:	City
Community Type:	Small Urban
Median Household Income:	$52,601

Program Results/Estimated Results

Expected GHG Reductions:	93 metric tons CO₂e annually
Actual GHG Reductions (as of September 2011):	51.3 metric tons CO₂e annually
Expected Homes Retrofitted:	8-10 homes annually
Actual Homes with Retrofitting Complete (as of September 2011):	4 homes
Expected Homes Weatherized:	40 homes annually
Actual Homes Weatherized (as of September 2011):	64 homes

Media Coverage

Weatherization Program Now Underway , 07/25/2011
City Seeks Applicants for Crosland Weatherizing , 06/15/2011

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