Energy Efficiency and Weatherization of Affordable Housing Grant Program

Property Owners

Program Eligibility

This program is being administered in conjunction with upcoming code requirements which address energy efficiency in rental units. The intent of the program is to provide a fund for landlords to bring their units into compliance with these new code requirements. For this reason, only those units impacted by the new code requirements are eligible for participation. This means that to qualify, your property must have:

• Building is a single-family home, duplex, and quadplex (rentals only)
• Tenant pays utilities
• Unit(s) are within the unincorporated areas or the smaller municipalities of Alachua County (Gainesville property owners may qualify for the City's program, LEEP^Plus)
• Unit is structurally sound, including roof, has a functional septic system, and does not require substantial electrical upgrades 

In addition, the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners is committed to ensuring equitable access to programmatic funds. This means that your current tenants must also meet certain requirements in order for your unit to be eligible to participate (you can find these requirements under the “Renters” tab). Renters using Section 8 vouchers automatically qualify for this program.

Homeowners are not eligible for improvements in their own home. However, low- to moderate-income GRU electric customers may be eligible for a similar program through GRU and the City of Gainesville​.

Special exception: If your unit is currently or soon-to-be unoccupied, but exists in a low income or marginalized neighborhood, please reach out to program managers to see if you are eligible for the program, as some neighborhoods have been pre-qualified.

Qualifying Upgrades

The following upgrades are allowable expenses under this program:

Envelope Upgrades

• Wall insulation. Add insulation to building walls. Preference is given if postimplementation R-value exceeds the current building energy code minimum.
• Attic/Roof/Ceiling insulation. Add insulation to building attic/roof/ceiling. Preference is given if post- implementation R- value exceeds the current building energy code minimum.
• Air sealing. Seal air leaks with fire caulk to reduce air infiltration. Includes caulking, weather stripping, and sealing around doors, windows, and other locations of uncontrolled airflow. Where feasible, a blower door test should be used to measure air leakage before and after measure implementation.
• Window replacement. Replace existing windows with ENERGY STAR certified windows. Preference is given if the U- value of new windows meets the current building energy code minimum.

Appliance Upgrades

• Clothes washer. Replace existing clothes washer with ENERGY STAR certified clothes washer. Applies only to equipment installed within the dwelling unit; not applicable for equipment in common areas.
• Clothes dryer. Replace existing clothes dryer with ENERGY STAR certified clothes dryer. Applies only to equipment installed within the dwelling unit, not applicable for equipment in common areas.
• Refrigerator and freezer. Replace existing refrigerators and freezers with ENERGY STAR-certified equipment.
• Room air conditioners. Replace existing room air conditioners with ENERGY STAR-certified equipment.
• Advanced power strip. Install Tier 1 or Tier 1 advanced power strip on an entertainment center or home office equipment. Advanced power strips automatically shut off equipment based on a master load (Tier or occupant sensor (Tier 2).
• Appliance recycling. Recycle inefficient room air conditioners, refrigerators, and freezers to take them out of circulation.

Lighting Upgrades

• LED Lighting. Replace existing interior or exterior lamps and/or fixtures with LEDs.

HVAC Upgrades

• Central Air Conditioning. Install an appropriately sized, high-efficiency central air conditioning system that meets or exceeds ENERGY STAR standards.
• Mini-split Air Conditioning. Install high-efficiency mini-split system meeting or exceeding ENERGY STAR standards.
• Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner (PTAC) or Packaged Terminal Heat Pump (PTHP). Install high efficiency packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC) or packaged terminal heat pump (PTHP). The efficiency of new equipment must exceed the current building energy code minimum.
• Ground Source Heat Pump. Install ground source heat pump system meeting or exceeding ENERGY STAR standards.
• Furnace Blower Motor (ECM). Retrofit existing furnace distribution system supply fan motor with electronically commutated (EC) motor.
• Smart Thermostat. Install programmable, learning, or connected thermostats to configure heating and cooling temperature setpoint setbacks.
• Duct Sealing. Seal air leaks and add insulation to heating and cooling distribution system ducts in unconditioned spaces.

Domestic Hot Water Upgrades

• Low-flow water fixtures – Shower. Install low-flow showerheads. To qualify, the flow rate must be at least 0.5 gallons per minute less than the existing showerhead.
• Low-flow water fixtures – Faucet. Install a low-flow faucet aerator on bathroom or kitchen faucets. Flow rate must be less than 1.5 gallons per minute for bathrooms and less than 2.2 gallons per minute for kitchens.
• Pipe Insulation. Install insulation on uninsulated domestic hot water distribution piping. Applies only to electric domestic hot water heaters.
• Small-scale Electric Water Heaters. Replace existing domestic hot water heater with a 110V (15 Gal) Electric Water Heaters.

Other

• Low-flow water fixture – Toilet. Install WaterSense toilet.

Affordability Commitment

Alachua County is dedicated to ensuring that the housing improved by this program will remain affordable to low-income residents. We are asking participating landlords to commit to keeping their property affordable as a condition of this program. This means that landlords that choose to participate in this program are agreeing not to raise their rent above the amount of inflation (as determined by the Consumer Price Index) for a length of time corresponding to the amount of funding they receive. The following table outlines the affordability commitment that corresponds to each award level.

​Award Level	​Affordability Commitment
​Up to $5,000	​3 years
​$5,001 to $10,000	​5 years
​$10,001 to $15,000	​7 years

 

Participating landlords can use the County’s affordability calculator (coming in 2024) to input their original rental rate from the start of their participation in the program to see the new maximum rent amount they can charge, based on the Consumer Price Index account of average annual inflation. Property owners who wish to sell their property before the end of the affordability commitment period will be asked to refund the program dollar amount along with a ten percent administrative fee.

Additional Program Details

See the "Frequently Asked Questions" tab above​.

Renters

Program Eligibility

This program is being administered in conjunction with upcoming code requirements which address energy efficiency in rental units. The intent of the program is to provide a fund for landlords to bring their units into compliance with these new code requirements. For this reason, you can only qualify for this program if:

• You live within the unincorporated areas or the smaller municipalities of Alachua County
• You (the renter) pays utilities
• The building that your rental unit is in is a single-family home, duplex, and quadplex (rentals only)
• Your landlord would also like to participate

If your rental unit is within the City of Gainesville, you can find information on a similar program you may be qualified for here.

In addition to these requirements for your unit, you (the renter) also have to meet certain requirements. These requirements are outlined by the U.S. Department of the Treasury as a condition to use awards from the American Rescue Plan Act, which funds this program. There are many different ways to qualify for this program. If you do not qualify in one way, please keep reading, as you may qualify another way.

The following are all pathways for eligibility in this program. If any of the following apply to you, please complete an application and someone will reach out to you.

• You live in a low-income or marginalized neighborhood (some neighborhoods have been pre-qualified for the program), OR
• Your household makes 50% or less of the Area Median Income for your area, OR
• You are enrolled in any of the following federal programs
  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • Free- and Reduced-Price Lunch (NSLP) and/or School Breakfast (SBP) programs
  • Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidies
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Head Start and/or Early Head Start
  • Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
  • Section 8 Vouchers
  • Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
  • Pell Grants
• Your household receives services from a tribal government or U.S. Territory

If you can answer yes to ANY of these questions, please email us here.

Qualifying Upgrades

The following upgrades are allowable expenses under this program. Please note that the program carries a maximum award amount of $15,000 per unit.

Envelope Upgrades

• Wall insulation. Add insulation to building walls. Preference is given if postimplementation R-value exceeds the current building energy code minimum.
• Attic/Roof/Ceiling insulation. Add insulation to building attic/roof/ceiling. Preference is given if post- implementation R- value exceeds the current building energy code minimum.
• Air sealing. Seal air leaks with fire caulk to reduce air infiltration. Includes caulking, weather stripping, and sealing around doors, windows, and other locations of uncontrolled airflow. Where feasible, a blower door test should be used to measure air leakage before and after measure implementation.
• Window replacement. Replace existing windows with ENERGY STAR certified windows. Preference is given if the U- value of new windows meets the current building energy code minimum.

Appliance Upgrades

• Clothes washer. Replace existing clothes washer with ENERGY STAR certified clothes washer. Applies only to equipment installed within the dwelling unit; not applicable for equipment in common areas.
• Clothes dryer. Replace existing clothes dryer with ENERGY STAR certified clothes dryer. Applies only to equipment installed within the dwelling unit, not applicable for equipment in common areas.
• Refrigerator and freezer. Replace existing refrigerators and freezers with ENERGY STAR-certified equipment.
• Room air conditioners. Replace existing room air conditioners with ENERGY STAR-certified equipment.
• Advanced power strip. Install Tier 1 or Tier 1 advanced power strip on an entertainment center or home office equipment. Advanced power strips automatically shut off equipment based on a master load (Tier or occupant sensor (Tier 2).
• Appliance recycling. Recycle inefficient room air conditioners, refrigerators, and freezers to take them out of circulation.

Lighting Upgrades

• LED Lighting. Replace existing interior or exterior lamps and/or fixtures with LEDs.

HVAC Upgrades

• Central Air Conditioning. Install an appropriately sized, high-efficiency central air conditioning system that meets or exceeds ENERGY STAR standards.
• Mini-split Air Conditioning. Install high-efficiency mini-split system meeting or exceeding ENERGY STAR standards.
• Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner (PTAC) or Packaged Terminal Heat Pump (PTHP). Install high efficiency packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC) or packaged terminal heat pump (PTHP). The efficiency of new equipment must exceed the current building energy code minimum.
• Ground Source Heat Pump. Install ground source heat pump system meeting or exceeding ENERGY STAR standards.
• Furnace Blower Motor (ECM). Retrofit existing furnace distribution system supply fan motor with electronically commutated (EC) motor.
• Smart Thermostat. Install programmable, learning, or connected thermostats to configure heating and cooling temperature setpoint setbacks.
• Duct Sealing. Seal air leaks and add insulation to heating and cooling distribution system ducts in unconditioned spaces.

Domestic Hot Water Upgrades

• Low-flow water fixtures – Shower. Install low-flow showerheads. To qualify, the flow rate must be at least 0.5 gallons per minute less than the existing showerhead.
• Low-flow water fixtures – Faucet. Install a low-flow faucet aerator on bathroom or kitchen faucets. Flow rate must be less than 1.5 gallons per minute for bathrooms and less than 2.2 gallons per minute for kitchens.
• Pipe Insulation. Install insulation on uninsulated domestic hot water distribution piping. Applies only to electric domestic hot water heaters.
• Small-scale Electric Water Heaters. Replace existing domestic hot water heater with a 110V (15 Gal) Electric Water Heaters.

Other

• Low-flow water fixture – Toilet. Install WaterSense toilet.

Affordability Commitment

Alachua County is dedicated to ensuring that the housing improved by this program will remain affordable to low-income residents. Participating landlords must keep their property affordable as a condition of this program. This means that landlords that choose to participate in this program are agreeing not to raise their rent above the amount of inflation (as determined by the Consumer Price Index) for a length of time corresponding to the amount of funding they receive. The following table outlines the affordability commitment that corresponds to each award level.

​Award Level	​Affordability Commitment
​Up to $5,000	​3 years
​$5,001 to $10,000	​5 years
​$10,001 to $15,000	​7 years

 

Participating landlords can use the County’s affordability calculator (coming in 2024) to input their original rental rate from the start of their participation in the program to see the new maximum rent amount they can charge, based on the Consumer Price Index account of average annual inflation. Renters who use this tool to determine that their rent has been raised beyond the allowable amount are encouraged to contact us.

Additional Program Details

See our "Frequently Asked Questions" tab above​.

FAQs​​​​​​​​​​

What areas of Alachua County qualify for the program?

Under the current pilot program, only areas outside of the Gainesville municipal area qualify for participation. This is because the City of Gainesville has its own program, which you can find out more information here.

Any Alachua County resident who lives in the unincorporated areas of Alachua County, or one of the smaller municipalities may be eligible for the program.

Which rental units qualify for the program?

Units must have the following qualifications:

• Unit is in the unincorporated area of Alachua County or one of the smaller municipalities (NOT Gainesville. See here for information on a similar program for Gainesville residents)
• Landlord must be a willing participant in the program
• Tenants must pay utilities as part of their lease
• Building cannot have roof or structural damage
• Rental building must have four or fewer units

Can a renter join without my landlord?

Unfortunately no. The Energy Efficiency & Weatherization of Affordable Housing program is a willing participant program, so the owner of the units in question must be willing to participate.

What neighborhoods have been pre-qualified? How was this decided?

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have determined that certain Census tracts have higher development needs and these tracts are automatically eligible for inclusion in all programs which use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars, such as this one. These areas are called “Qualified Census Tracts” and residents in these areas automatically qualify for this program, as long as they meet the geographic, structural, size, and utility requirements outlined in the “Which rental units potentially qualify for the program?” section above.

In addition, your County officials in the SEEDS Office have expanded which tracts qualify based on the guidelines outlined in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Final Rule. HUD requirements for Qualified Census Tracts are much stricter than the ARPA guidelines for program inclusion. ARPA allows neighborhoods to qualify if the median family income is at or below 185% of the federal poverty guideline for a household size of three. The SEEDS Office has identified which Census tracts have median incomes which meet this standard and have qualified residents for this program. Residents in these areas automatically qualify for this program, as long as they meet the geographic, structural, size, and utility requirements outlined in the “Which rental units potentially qualify for the program?” section above.

I live in Gainesville, but I'm outside the colored-in area on the map. Can I still qualify?

Yes! The colored-in area of the map is the official Gainesville city limits, but many people who live near the city still have “Gainesville” in their official street address. Any home outside of the Gainesville municipal area can potentially qualify, even if “Gainesville” is in your address.​

What federal programs qualify me?

You are qualified if you qualify for any of the following federal programs:

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF),
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),
• Free- and Reduced-Price Lunch (NSLP) and/or School Breakfast (SBP) programs,
• Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidies,
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI),
• Head Start and/or Early Head Start,
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
• Infants, and Children (WIC),
• Section 8 Vouchers,
• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and
• Pell Grants

I think I qualify (or I'm not sure) — how do I get information?

You can reach out for more information:

aceep@rebuildingtogetherncf.org​
352-450-4965

Input your address below for more information on whether your location qualifies for the program. Please note that living in a qualified location does NOT automatically qualify you for the program. You will still need to submit an application to be reviewed by the County and/or the Community Weatherization Coalition to confirm whether your home is eligible.