Rising Above the Water: New Orleans Implements Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Practices Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (Fact Sheet) Page: 2 of 2
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This home, part of Green Coast Enterprises' Project Home
Again, was built in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans
and meets the DOE Builder's Challenge level of energy
efficiency. Photo by Phil Voss, NREL/PIX 19426
develop conceptual designs for four new schools, and provid-
ing recommendations for renovating more than 35 existing
schools to achieve 25% above code over the next 10 years.
These efforts will impact more than 53,000 students.
Homes
DOE and NREL partnered with two of the largest build-
ers in the area Green Coast Enterprises and Habitat for
Humanity to develop cost-neutral energy-efficient design
recommendations that encourage home builders to cost-
effectively meet efficiency goals in the city's hot-humid climate
and largely low-income residential areas.
Green Coast Enterprises
In conjunction with the Building Science Corporation,
DOE/NREL provided technical assistance to Green Coast
Enterprises for Project Home Again to achieve DOE's Builders
Challenge efficiency levels in more than 100 new homes.
Habitat for Humanity
DOE/NREL worked with Florida Solar Energy Center to
assist the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, the largest
builder in the greater New Orleans area, to achieve ENERGY
STAR efficiency levels while also improving moisture
resistance and home sealing. Since Hurricane Katrina, New
Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity has completed more than
60 ENERGY STAR-certified homes each year.
Energy Policy
Working with the New Orleans City Council, Energy Policy
Advisory Committee, and Mayor's Office, DOE/NREL
provided expert input into the Energy Smart New Orleans(ESNO) Plan, an energy efficiency program aimed at minimiz-
ing ratepayer impact while maximizing energy efficiency.
City Council
DOE/NREL participated in numerous energy policy activities
with the New Orleans City Council to develop the ESNO Plan
and other aspects of an energy efficiency program, including:
Prepared a next steps document for the City Council, which
provided near-term opportunities to move suggested pro-
grams forward following the passage of an Energy Efficiency
Resolution in December 2007
Provided analysis and comments on a draft green power
program proposed by local utility Entergy New Orleans
Guided the City Council Utility Committee on strategic
planning processes and how to develop a stakeholder-driven
long-term community energy plan.
Energy Policy Advisory Committee
DOE/NREL assisted the more than 100-person Energy
Policy Advisory Committee-comprised of stakeholders
from the business, academic, government, utility, community
and nonprofit sectors with how to measure the impacts of
suggested measures in a proposed comprehensive energy plan
in a comparable way, including net metering, a rate restructur-
ing proposal, and an evaluation of green building ordinance
options. The Advisory Committee created and presented a
variety of policy and program options to the City Council
Utility Committee, which were considered when developing
the ESNO and the wider community energy program.
Although the comprehensive energy plan did not materialize,
elements of it were used in programs that are currently being
implemented.
The ESNO Plan has been implemented by the utility and
focuses on residential energy audits, energy efficiency incen-
tives, low-income weatherization, commercial and industrial
programs, photovoltaic and solar domestic hot water pilot
projects, and education and outreach programs.
Mayor's Office
DOE/NREL also provided insight and guidance on a draft of
a green building ordinance introduced by the Mayor's Office
in 2007 that included suggestions for balancing costs incurred
by the city and consumers and potential energy savings
benefits for the community. In October of that year, the City
Council passed the ordinance.
Front page photos (l-r) by Joe Ryan, NREL/PIX 19691; Phil Voss, NREL/PIX
19427; Joe Ryan, NREL/PIX 19646
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Rising Above the Water: New Orleans Implements Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Practices Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (Fact Sheet), report, July 1, 2012; Golden, Colorado. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc832824/m1/2/: accessed March 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.